Actor Tony Sirico, best known for his memorable turn as mobster “Paulie Walnuts” Gualtieri on “The Sopranos,” has died at the age of 79, his manager told CBS News on Friday.
“A wonderful, loyal customer,” wrote manager Bob McGowan. “He would do anything to help people in need.” McGowan did not give a cause of death. McGowan also sent CBS News a Facebook post from Sirico’s brother, Robert Sirico, who wrote that he announced Sirico’s death “with great sadness, but with incredible pride, love and many fond memories.” Sirico was born in Brooklyn in 1942. According to his IMDB profile, he first appeared on screen in 1977 and rose to fame years later for his roles in films such as “Goodfellas.” But his big break came on “The Sopranos,” where he played “Paulie Walnuts” Gualtieri, a fiery, loyal and bad-tempered henchman of New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano, played by the late James Gandolfini. The wise-cracking Nut was violent and often ruthless.
In a 2019 interview with the cast, Sirico said that “The Sopranos” creator David Chase was so impressed with his audition for a different role, that of an 80-year-old man, that Chase created the character of Paulie Walnuts specifically for him. . “When I originally auditioned for David, he looked at me and said, ‘sit there.’ He put a hat on me. The lines were, “these kids today.” I play an 80-year-old man,” Sirico said. Michael Imperioli, who played Christopher Moltisanti on “The Sopranos,” paid tribute to Sirico on Instagram. “Tony was like no other: he was as tough, loyal and as big as anyone I’ve ever met,” she wrote. “I will miss him forever,” Imperioli wrote. “He is truly irreplaceable.” Actress Lorraine Bracco, who starred with Sirico in both “Goodfellas” and “The Sopranos,” also paid tribute Friday, calling him “a stand-up guy who always had my back and who loved my kids and my parents”. “I hope he’s in heaven cheering everyone up now,” she added. “I love you my friend… rest in peace.” Sirico is survived by his two children, Joanne Sirico Bello and Richard Sirico, as well as grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews and many other relatives, Sirico’s brother said. While the family asked for privacy, Sirico’s brother said donations could be sent to Wounded Warriors, St. Jude’s Hospital and Acton Institute.