Who was Tony Sirico?

Hollywood actor Tony Sirico, best known for playing ‘Paulie Walnuts’ Gualtieri on the show ‘The Sopranos,’ died on Friday aged 79. 

“It is with great sadness, but with incredible pride, love and a whole lot of fond memories, that the family of Gennaro Anthony ‘Tony’ Sirico wishes to inform you of his death on the morning of July 8, 2022,” the statement posted on Facebook by his brother Robert Sirico said.

“The family is deeply grateful for the many expressions of love, prayer and condolences and requests that the public respect its privacy in this time of bereavement.”

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The actor had been living with dementia for the last couple of years and died at an assisted living facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Associated Press reported, quoting his manager, Bob McGowen. There was no immediate information on the cause of death.

Born on July 29, 1942, in New York City, Sirico grew up in the Flatbush and Bensonhurst neighborhoods where he said “every guy was trying to prove himself. You either had to have a tattoo or a bullet hole.”

He served in the Army before making his acting debut in the 1974 drama ‘Crazy Joe’ starring Henry Winkler. He went on the act in movies such as Goodfellas, Cop Land and Mickey Blue Eyes.

The actor frequently collaborated with filmmaker Woody Allen, appearing in several of his movies including Bullets Over Broadway, Mighty Aphrodite, Everyone Says I Love You, Deconstructing Harry, Celebrity and Wonder Wheel.

He is, however, best remembered for his role as Gualtieri on The Sopranos. He reportedly auditioned for the role of Uncle Junior, which Dominic Chianese eventually got. The show’s creator David Chase instead offered Sirico the role of Paulie Gualtieri. 

His other TV roles include Miami Vice, Chuck, Medium, Taxi Brooklyn and The Grindr.

He was recently seen in the film Respect the Jux.

Sirico is survived by daughter Joanne Sirico Bello; son Richard Sirico; his brother, Robert Sirico, a priest; and other relatives.