Tony Sirico, Best Known For His Role In 'The Sopranos' Has Passed Away At Age 79
On July 8th, Tony Sirico passed away at age 79. He was most well known for his role as Paulie Walnuts on HBO's The Sopranos. Sirico's longtime manager, Bob McGowan, broke the news saying Sirico was a "very loyal and long-term client" who always gave to charity. Mr. McGowan did not provide a cause of death at the time of his statement.
Michael Imperioli, Sirico's co-star on The Sopranos, shared his condolences via Instagram:
“Tony was like nobody else: he was as tough, as loyal, and as big-hearted as anyone I've ever known. I was at his side through so much: through good times and bad. But mostly good. And we had a lot of laughs."
A Brooklyn native, Tony Sirico was best known for his roles as an Italian mobster in both Goodfellas and The Sopranos. When he auditioned for the HBO show, he told an interviewer at the time that he was 55 and sleeping on his mom's couch. Sirico initially auditioned for the role of Uncle Junior, but creator and producer David Chase gave him the role of the iconic Paulie Walnuts instead.
He was loved by fellow co-stars and cast members alike as evident by the outpouring of remorse within the industry. Tony Sirico will be sorely missed especially by fans of the classic mobster movie.
Source(s): CNN