Tony Sirico, recognized for Paulie Walnuts position on ‘The Sopranos,’ dies at age 79

Actor Tony Sirico, recognized for his position as Paulie Walnuts within the widespread American tv present ‘The Sopranos,” died Friday at 79, his household and supervisor introduced.

Sirico — who grew up across the Italian mobsters he later portrayed in quite a lot of movies and reveals — died Friday morning at an assisted-living facility in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in accordance with Bob McGowan, his supervisor of 25 years. McGowan mentioned he didn’t know the reason for dying.

“He was a very good man,” McGowan mentioned, including that Sirico “at all times gave to charities” and visited hospitals to consolation kids.

In a Fb put up the actor’s brother, Robert Sirico, mentioned: “The household is deeply grateful for the various expressions of affection, prayer and condolences and requests that the general public respect its privateness on this time of bereavement.”

Michael Imperioli, Sirico’s co-star who performed Christopher Moltisanti on “The Sopranos,” posted a photograph of the duo on Instagram Friday night, writing that he was “heartbroken right this moment.”

“We discovered a groove as Christopher and Paulie and I’m proud to say I did a number of my finest and most enjoyable work with my pricey pal Tony,” Imperioli’s put up mentioned. “I’ll miss him ceaselessly.”

On “The Sopranos” — which Rolling Stone rated as the best TV present of all time in 2016 — Sirico performed the violent henchman to mobster Tony Soprano, shaking down rivals and doing his boss’s soiled work when requested.

Sirico was a pure match for the half, having grown up within the Italian mob world himself. Born in New York Metropolis in 1942, he was arrested 28 instances starting at age 7, he informed the Los Angeles Instances in 1990.

“After all of the instances I used to be pinched, I knew each choose on the town,” he informed the publication. “In our neighborhood, for those who weren’t carrying a gun, it was such as you have been the rabbit throughout rabbit-hunting season.”

“He was that individual,” McGowan mentioned of Sirico’s character on “The Sopranos.” “He grew up with that world.”

Throughout his final jail keep within the early 1970s, the Instances reported, he noticed a efficiency by a bunch of ex-con actors that impressed him.

All through the 1980s and 90s, Sirico performed the sort of gangsters he grew up round, showing in minor roles in among the most influential mobster movies, together with Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas.” He had acted in 27 movies by 1990 and died in 13 of them, he informed the Instances that 12 months.

He landed the position as Paulie on “The Sopranos” in 1999, finally showing in practically each episode of its six-season run.

McGowan mentioned Sirico was an Military veteran and longtime supporter of the Wounded Warrior Mission. In 2010, Sirico and his “Sopranos” co-star James Gandolfini joined chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers Adm. Mike Mullen for a USO tour visiting troops throughout the Center East.

Sirico is survived by his two kids, Joanne Sirico Bello and Richard Sirico, siblings, grandchildren, and different family, his brother wrote on Fb.

Stevie Van Zandt, who performed Silvio Dante on “The Sopranos,” tweeted Friday that Sirico was “legendary” in his position as “Silvio’s finest buddy” on the present.

“A bigger than life character on and off display screen,” Zandt wrote. “Gonna miss you a large number my buddy.”