Tony Sirico
Tony Sirico | |
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![]() Sirico in 2000 | |
Born | Genaro Anthony Sirico Jr. July 29, 1942[1] New York City, U.S. |
Died | July 8, 2022 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. | (aged 79)
Burial place | New York City, U.S. |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1974–2022 |
Children | 2 |
Family | Robert Sirico (brother) |
Genaro Anthony Sirico Jr. (/sɪˈriːkoʊ/; July 29, 1942 – July 8, 2022)[2] was an American actor known for his portrayal of Paulie Gualtieri in The Sopranos.
Born in Brooklyn to an Italian-American family, Sirico had a tumultuous early life marked by multiple arrests and periods of imprisonment for crimes including robbery, assault, and extortion. His interest in acting was sparked during a prison sentence, following a visit by an acting troupe of ex-convicts. Sirico's acting career began with minor roles in films such as Crazy Joe and eventually led to significant roles in movies including Goodfellas and Mighty Aphrodite, as well as appearances in 6 other Woody Allen films.
Aside from his film career, Sirico made notable contributions to television and animation, voicing characters in The Fairly OddParents and Family Guy. His role in The Sopranos earned him acclaim. Sirico's life off-screen was marked by his service in the United States Army, and his philanthropic efforts, including USO visits to Southwest Asia. He died in 2022, aged 79.
Early life
[edit]Sirico was born in Brooklyn, New York City,[3] on July 29, 1942, to a family of Italian descent.[2] He grew up in the East Flatbush and Bensonhurst neighborhoods of Brooklyn,[4] and attended Midwood High School, but did not graduate.[5] Sirico's brother, Robert Sirico, is a Catholic priest and co-founder of the free-market Acton Institute.[6] As a teenager, Sirico was shot in a dispute over a girl.[7] He subsequently served in the United States Army.[7]
Sirico was convicted of several crimes and was arrested 28 times, including for disorderly conduct, assault, and robbery, before taking up acting.[4][8] In 1967, he served time in prison for the first time as an adult.[7] On February 27, 1970, he was arrested at a restaurant, and found with a .32 caliber revolver on his person. In 1971, he was indicted for extortion, coercion, and felony weapons possession, convicted, and sentenced to four years in prison, of which he served 20 months at Sing Sing.[9][10][11]
According to a court transcript at the time of his sentencing, Sirico also had pending charges for criminal possession of a dangerous drug.[9] Sirico stated that his prison was visited by an acting troupe composed of ex-convicts, which inspired him to give acting a try.[12] He appeared in the 1989 documentary The Big Bang by James Toback, in which he discussed his earlier life.[13]
Career
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Dominic_Chianese%2C_Lorraine_Bracco_and_Tony_Sirico%2C_May_2000_%282%29.jpg/220px-Dominic_Chianese%2C_Lorraine_Bracco_and_Tony_Sirico%2C_May_2000_%282%29.jpg)
Sirico's first confirmed role in film was as an extra in the 1974 film Crazy Joe, securing the role with the help of Richard Castellano.[11] Michael Gazzo was Sirico's first acting coach.[14] Sirico played gangsters in a number of films, and made-for-TV films, including Goodfellas, Mob Queen, Mighty Aphrodite, Love and Money, Fingers, The One Man Jury, Defiance, The Last Fight, Innocent Blood, Bullets over Broadway, The Pick-up Artist, Gotti, Witness to the Mob, The Search for One-eye Jimmy, Cop Land, Turn of Faith, Hello Again, Mickey Blue Eyes, and Wonder Wheel. He also played policemen in the films Dead Presidents and Deconstructing Harry. Sirico was a close friend of Woody Allen, and appeared in seven of his films.[5]
Sirico's most acclaimed acting job was that of Paulie Gualtieri in David Chase's Emmy award-winning drama The Sopranos. He originally auditioned for the role of Uncle Junior with Frank Vincent, but Dominic Chianese landed the role. David Chase instead offered him the role of Paulie Gualtieri; Sirico agreed under the condition that his character "would not become a rat".[11]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/SopranosKuwaitUSO.jpg/220px-SopranosKuwaitUSO.jpg)
In animation, Sirico provided the voice of "Big Daddy" Fairywinkle in The Fairly OddParents.[15] On Family Guy, he voiced the character of Vinny, who for three episodes in late 2013 was the family's pet dog, replacing Brian Griffin after his death; Brian would later be brought back via time travel.[16] Sirico also made a live-action cameo in the episode "Stewie, Chris, & Brian's Excellent Adventure", where he threatens Stewie, who had insulted Italians, calling them "ridiculous people". Vinny would return in a cameo appearance at the end of the Season 15 premiere, "The Boys in the Band".[17] Sirico would later voice characters on Seth MacFarlane's other animated series American Dad!.[1]
In 2018, he reunited with former Sopranos actors Federico Castelluccio and Vincent Pastore in Sarah Q.[18]
Personal life
[edit]Sirico had two children, Joanne and Richard.[19] In 2008, he released a cologne called Paolo Per Uomo.[20]
Sirico died on the afternoon of July 8, 2022, at an assisted living facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at the age of 79. No cause of death was given, but he had been diagnosed with dementia some years before his death.[21] Sirico's funeral mass was held at the Basilica of Regina Pacis, and he was interred at Calvary Cemetery in Queens, New York.[22][23]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Note |
---|---|---|---|
1974 | Crazy Joe | Extra | [24] |
The Godfather Part II | Rosato Brothers Hood | Uncredited[3] | |
1978 | Hughes and Harlow: Angels in Hell | Frankie Rio | [3] |
Fingers | Riccamonza | [4][25] | |
The One Man Jury | Charlie "Nuts" | [26] | |
1980 | Defiance | Davey | [27] |
1981 | So Fine | Associate | [28] |
1982 | Love and Money | Raoul | [29] |
1983 | Exposed | Thief | [30] |
The Last Fight | Frankie | [4] | |
1987 | The Galucci Brothers | Galucci Brother | [31] |
The Pick-up Artist | Patsy Cabaluso | [4] | |
Hello Again | Tough Guy | [27] | |
1989 | White Hot | Luke | [32] |
Cookie | Carmine's Wiseguy | [4] | |
The Big Bang | Himself | Documentary[13] | |
1990 | Catchfire | Greek Guy | [33][30] |
Goodfellas | Tony "Stacks" | [24] | |
1991 | 29th Street | Fortunado | [14] |
1992 | Innocent Blood | Jacko | [34] |
1993 | New York Cop | Mr. C | [35] |
Romeo Is Bleeding | Malacci | [36] | |
1994 | Men Lie | Porno Witness | [37] |
Bullets Over Broadway | Rocco | [24] | |
The Search for One-eye Jimmy | "Snake" | [38] | |
1995 | Dead Presidents | Officer Spinelli | [39] |
Mighty Aphrodite | Boxing Trainer | [14] | |
Casino | Extra, Nicky's Crew: Signal Happy Gambler | [26] | |
Dearly Beloved | Mr. Bedutz | Short film[40] | |
1996 | Everyone Says I Love You | Escaped Convict | [14] |
1997 | Deconstructing Harry | Police Officer | [39] |
Cop Land | Salvatore "Toy" Torillo | [14] | |
The Deli | Tony | [14] | |
The Good Life | Junior | Never released[41] | |
1998 | Mob Queen | Joey "The Heart" Aorta | [14] |
Celebrity | Lou DeMarco | [14] | |
1999 | Mickey Blue Eyes | Risolli Guard | [42] |
2000 | It Had to Be You | Ricky Valentino | [14] |
2001 | Smokin' Stogies | Tony "Batts" | [43] |
2002 | Turn of Faith | Jimmy | [43][44] |
2008 | The Sno Cone Stand Inc | Bob Beasley | [45] |
2009 | Karma Calling | Lord Ganesh | [43][46] |
2010 | Skate | Skate | Short film[47] |
2014 | Zarra's Law | Tony Zarra | [39] |
Friends and Romans | Bobby Musso | [3] | |
Family on Board | Rocco | Short film[47] | |
2015 | Touched | Anthony | [48] |
2016 | Café Society | Vito | [27] |
2017 | Wonder Wheel | Angelo | [43] |
2018 | Sarah Q | Mr. Danny | [27] |
2022 | Respect the Jux | Bobby | Posthumous release[27][3] |
TBD | Super Athlete | Coach Lou | Completed, posthumous release[27] |
Television
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1977 | Kojak | Greek God | Episode: "Case Without a File"[43] |
1982 | Police Squad! | Poker Player | Episode: "Ring of Fear (A Dangerous Assignment)"[49] |
1989 | Miami Vice | Frank Romano | Episode: "Fruit of the Poison Tree"[35] |
Perfect Witness | Marco | Television film[28] | |
1992 | In the Shadow of a Killer | Tony Andretti | Television film[28] |
1996 | Cosby | Teddy | Episode: "Happily Ever Hilton"[50] |
Gotti | Joe Dimiglia | Television film[14] | |
1998 | Witness to the Mob | Thomas Gambino | Television film[28] |
Vig | Locasso | Television film[43] | |
1999–2007 | The Sopranos | Paul "Paulie Walnuts" Gualtieri | 74 episodes[26] |
2005 | The Fairly OddParents | Big Daddy Fairywinkle | Voice[50] Episodes: "Talking Trash" and "Big Wanda" |
2007 | Elmo's Christmas Countdown | Famous Bert | TV special[51] |
2008 | A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa | Mobster | TV special[35] |
2010 | Chuck | Matty | Episode: "Chuck Versus the Fake Name"[52] |
Medium | Big Daddy | Episode: "Bring Your Daughter to Work Day"[52] | |
2012 | Jersey Shore Shark Attack | Captain Salie | Television film[39] |
2013–2014 | Lilyhammer | Tony Tagliano | Episodes: "2.8: Ghosts" and "3.8: Loose Ends"[3] |
2013 | Nicky Deuce | Charlie Cement | Television film[27] |
2013–2016 | Family Guy | Vinny/Himself | Voice[3][27] Episodes: "Life of Brian", "Into Harmony's Way", "Christmas Guy", "The Boys in the Band", and "Stewie, Chris & Brian's Excellent Adventure" (live action) |
2014 | Taxi Brooklyn | Tony | Episode: "Revenge"[52] |
2016 | The Grinder | Sebastian | Episode: "Grinder v Grinder"[52] |
2017–2019 | American Dad! | Enzo Perotti / Mobster | Voice[52] 2 episodes |
Video games
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | The Sopranos: Road to Respect | Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri | Voice[53] |
Awards and nominations
[edit]Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | Screen Actors Guild Award[54] | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | The Sopranos | Won |
2001 | Nominated | |||
2002 | Nominated | |||
2003 | Nominated | |||
2005 | Nominated | |||
2007 | Nominated | |||
2008 | Won[55] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "'Sopranos' actor Tony Sirico dies at 79". NPR. July 9, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- ^ a b "Tony Sirico Biography". The Biography Channel/A+E Networks. Archived from the original on May 22, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g Gates, Anita (July 8, 2022). "Tony Sirico, an Eccentric Gangster on 'The Sopranos,' Dies at 79". The New York Times. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f Goldstein, Patrick (July 15, 1990). "A Real Tough Guy: Tony Sirico's rap sheet: 28 arrests and 27 acting jobs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- ^ a b Encinas, Joshua (July 9, 2022). "Tony Sirico, the Brooklyn-born actor who played Paulie Walnuts on The Sopranos, has died". Brooklyn Magazine. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ "'Our Lady of Fatima' Celebrating a century of her message", Holy Family Radio. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
- ^ a b c Schudel, Matt (July 9, 2022). "Tony Sirico, 'Sopranos' actor who played Paulie Walnuts, dies at 79". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
- ^ "Artie's Goose Is Coked", New York Post, May 2, 2006
- ^ a b "From Sing Sing To Bada Bing!". thesmokinggun.com. February 25, 2001.
- ^ "'Sopranos' actor has real life mob history", UPI, March 20, 2006.
- ^ a b c "How Tony Sirico's Criminal Past Prepared Him To Play Paulie Walnuts On 'The Sopranos'". Uproxx. Christian Long. August 24, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
- ^ Rothstein, Mervyn (March–April 2001). "The Sopranos: Mob Rule – The wiseguys of HBO's The Sopranos take a shot at another season of the award-winning show". Cigar Aficionado. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
- ^ a b James, Caryn. "Reviews/Film; Life, Sex, Death and Chaos", The New York Times. May 11, 1990. Section C, p. 10. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Hamill, Denis. "From Hoodfella to Couldfella in Sopranos, Tony Sirico Hits the High Note of His Checkered Career", New York Daily News. February 7, 1999. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- ^ David Perlmutter (May 4, 2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 187. ISBN 978-1-5381-0374-6.
- ^ Family Guy's Shocking Death: Boss Reveals Why They Decided to Kill Off (Spoiler)!
- ^ Dick, Jeremy (July 9, 2022). "Tony Sirico, Paulie Walnuts on The Sopranos, Dies at 79". movieweb.com. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ "Five 'Sopranos' stars are reuniting for this brand new movie". Shortlist. Alex Finnis. January 25, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (July 8, 2022). "Tony Sirico Dies: 'The Sopranos' Star Who Played Paulie Walnuts Was 79". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
- ^ "Get a whiff of new cologne, Paolo, by 'Sopranos' star Tony Sirico". nydailynews.com. November 12, 2008.
- ^ Perez, Lexy; Gajewski, Ryan (July 8, 2022). "Tony Sirico, 'The Sopranos' Actor, Dies at 79". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ Mitchell, and, Alex; Jaramillo, Valentina; Fofana, Oumou (July 13, 2022). "'Sopranos' star Tony Sirico's funeral in Brooklyn: 'Paulie Walnuts can steal heaven'". New York Post. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ "'Paulie Walnuts' Sopranos actor is laid to rest in his native Brooklyn". Brooklyn Eagle. July 13, 2022. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
- ^ a b c Hamill, Denis. "The Man Inside Paulie Walnuts: After life as a young hood, 'Sopranos' star enjoys his role as a make-believe gangster", New York Daily News. January 16, 2000. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- ^ Garbicz, Adam (2013). Kino wehikuł magiczny – Podróż piąta: Przewodnik osiągnięć filmu fabularnego. Podróż piąta: 1974–1981 Wersja uzupełniona i skorygowana. Planet RGB Limited. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- ^ a b c Klein, Brennan (July 9, 2022). "Sopranos Stars Pay Tribute To Paulie Actor Tony Sirico After His Death". Screenrant. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Ashton, Will (July 9, 2022). "Tony Sirico Dies at 79". Collider. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Tony Sirico". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ Canby, Vincent. "Unpredictable 'Love and Money'", The New York Times. February 12, 1982. Section C, Page 8. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- ^ a b Gallagher, John A. (1989). Film Directors on Directing. ABC-CLIO. p. 255. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- ^ "Murió Tony Sirico, el inolvidable Paulie Gualtieri de The Sopranos". Tiempo Argentino (in Spanish). July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ Del Rosario, Alexandria (July 8, 2022). "Tony Sirico, actor who played Paulie 'Walnuts' on 'The Sopranos,' dies at 79". LA Times. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ Maltin, Leonard (2012). Leonard Maltin's 2013 Movie Guide: The Modern Era. Penguin Books. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- ^ Muir, John Kenneth (2011). Horror Films of the 1990s. McFarland & Company. p. 238. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
- ^ a b c Wilkinson, Joseph (July 8, 2022). "Tony Sirico, Paulie Walnuts on 'The Sopranos,' dead at 79". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ Willis, John; Monush, Barry (2000). Comprehensive Pictorial and Statistical Record of the 1994 Movie Season. Hal Leonard Corporation. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
- ^ Leydon, Joe. "Men Lie", Variety. May 3, 1994. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
- ^ Wilmington, Michael. "Premise gouges humor from promising 'One-Eye Jimmy'", Chicago Tribune. July 12, 1996. Section 7, p. N.
- ^ a b c d Hamill, Denis. "No more mob for Tony Sirico; he plays cop in new flick", New York Daily News. June 12, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
- ^ Reid, Beverly M. "'Sopranos' cast flourishes with late blooming actors", NJ.com. September 5, 2002. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
- ^ "The wild, untold story of The Good Life". Little White Lies. February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ Booker, M. Keith; Daraiseh, Isra (2017). Tony Soprano's America: Gangsters, Guns, and Money. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 85. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "Tony Sirico List of Movies and TV Shows". TV Guide. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ George De Stefano (2007). An Offer We Can't Refuse: The Mafia in the Mind of America. Social Science. p. 363. ISBN 978-1429927628.
- ^ B. Alan Orange (July 23, 2007). "Tony Sirico and Morgan Fairchild Tend to The Sno Cone Stand, Inc". MovieWeb. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ Hu, Brian (March 14, 2009). "SFIAAFF 2009: An interview with Karma Calling director Sarba Das". University of California, Los Angeles. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ a b McGuire, Keegan (April 19, 2021). "What Has Tony Sirico Been Up To Ever Since The Sopranos Ended?". Looper. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ Murray, Bill (2015). ""Touched" - a feature film about childhood sexual abuse". National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (July 8, 2022). "Tony Sirico Dies: 'The Sopranos' Star Who Played Paulie Walnuts Was 79". Deadline. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ a b Dick, Jeremy (July 8, 2022). "Tony Sirico, Paulie Walnuts on The Sopranos, Dies at 79". Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ Sesame Street: The Bert and Ernie Christmas Special with Tony Sirico and Steve Schirripa, archived from the original on November 2, 2021, retrieved October 5, 2021
- ^ a b c d e Lexy Perez; Ryan Gajewski (July 8, 2022). "Tony Sirico, 'The Sopranos' Actor, Dies at 79". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ Bardhan, Ashley (November 21, 2021). "Happy anniversary, Tony Soprano". Destructoid. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ "SAG Awards Search". Screen Actors Guild Awards. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ Milliken, Mary (January 28, 2008). "SAG honours "Sopranos" after final TV season". Reuters. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
External links
[edit]- Tony Sirico at IMDb