Hollywood says goodbye to Tony Sirico
Actor Tony Sirico, best known for his role as gangster Paulie Walnuts in the cult series 'The Sopranos', has died.
Actor Tony Sirico, best known for his role as gangster Paulie Walnuts in the cult series 'The Sopranos', has died. The news was shared by his manager Bob McGowan, and the actor was 79 years old. McGowan did not reveal the cause of his longtime client's death.
His colleague from 'The Sopranos', Michael Imperioli, also said goodbye to him on social networks. He revealed that the actor died this Friday.
'Tony was like no other: he was tough, loyal and he had a bigger heart than anyone I knew. I was with him a lot, through good and bad times, but mostly good. And we laughed a lot ', wrote Imperioli.
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Sirico appeared in several films in the 80s and 90s, such as 'Goodfellas', 'Mighty Aphrodite' and 'Mickey Blue Eyes', but he rose to fame playing the legendary Paulie in 'The Sopranos'.On one occasion, he revealed that he got the role when he was 55 years old and that at the time he was sleeping on his mother's couch. He originally applied for another character but was offered the role of Paulie.
'They asked me if I wanted the good news or the bad news first, and I chose the bad news. They said I didn't get the role of Uncle Junior, but they asked me if I would play Paulie Walnuts,' he said in an interview last year. Sirico agreed, and the rest is history.
Michael Gandolfini, the son of the main actor in the series, the late James Gandolfini who played Tony Soprano, also said goodbye to the actor.
' Ton Sirico was one of those dear, fervently loyal people, with a big heart. He was always Uncle Tony to me and always supported me and my family. I will deeply miss his habit of pinching my cheeks and his infectious laugh. He was a phenomenal actor and an even better man,' Michael wrote.
Post By: Vanessa F.