Virico’s Paulie Walnuts, a bombastic and incredibly funny soldier to James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano with one-liners like no other, was a “Sopranos” director from the start. Sirico balanced Paulie’s menace with his deadpan humor and penchant for mischief, once calling Sun Tzu “Sun Tuh-Zoo”, later referring to the philosopher as “Chinese Prince Matchabelli”. Sirico appeared in all six seasons of “The Sopranos” after originally auditioning for the role of Uncle Junior. Dominic Chianese finally landed that part. Gennaro Anthony Sirico Jr. born on July 24, 1942 to an Italian family in New York, Sirico spent much of his early life in trouble with the law and has been associated with the real-life Colombo crime family. He was arrested 28 times – first as a seven-year-old after stealing nickels from a kiosk – before turning to acting. He went to prison twice, once on a charge of illegal gun possession and another for armed robbery. “I was very unstable,” Sirico told the LA Times in 1990 about that period of his life. “I wasn’t thinking it through. That’s how I connected with these guys and suddenly I’m a stickler. I was hanging out at every nightclub in New York.” “I have to admit it feels funny when someone spots me and asks for an autograph,” he continued. “I think it’s that old guilt. Maybe I feel like I don’t deserve the attention.” He made his acting debut in the 1974 mob drama Crazy Joe alongside Henry Winkler. This film preceded Sirico’s countless later roles as gangsters and criminals, from Martin Scorsese’s ‘Goodfellas’ in 1990 to Woody Allen’s ‘Bullets Over Broadway’ in 1994. Sirico appeared in many of Allen’s films, including ‘ Café Society” and “Café 2016″ Aphrodite” in 1995. In 1989, Sirico appeared in the documentary “The Big Bang”, in which he discussed his criminal past and how it affected his philosophy on life. In 2013, he appeared in a few episodes of “Family Guy” as the voice of Vinny Griffin, the family dog. His most recent acting appearance was in two episodes of “American Dad” as a mobster named Enzo Perotti. Sirico’s manager Bob McGowan called him “a very loyal and great customer” who “would always help people in need. He was a member of the wounded warriors.” In a post on Instagram, Sirico’s ‘Sopranos’ co-star Michael Imperioli wrote: ‘It pains me to say that my dear friend, colleague and partner in crime, the great TONY SIRICO passed away today. Tony was like no other: he was as tough, loyal and as big-hearted as anyone I’ve ever met. I’ve been by his side through so much: good times and bad. But mostly good. And we laughed a lot. He continued, “We found a groove as Christopher and Paulie and I’m proud to say I did my best and most fun work with my dear friend Tony. I will miss him forever. He is truly irreplaceable. I send love to his family, friends and many fans. He was loved and will never be forgotten. Devastated today.” On Facebook, Sirico’s family wrote that they are “deeply grateful for the many expressions of love, prayers and condolences and requests that the public respect their privacy during this time of mourning.” According to his family’s post, Sirico is survived by his two children, Joanne Sirico Bello and Richard Sirico, as well as grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews and other relatives.
