The Sopranos actor Tony Sirico has died

American actor Tony Sirico, best known as gangster Pauly Walnuts in the popular TV series, has died at the age of 79.The Sopranos“, as announced by his family. Sirico had a starring role in the HBO series, which began in 1999 and became a major television hit.

Although he played minor roles in six Woody Allen films from 1994 to 2016, Sirico was not particularly well-known before his role as a member of Tony Soprano’s mobster family, played by James Gandolfini.

In the series “The Sopranos” Pauly Walnuts was a criminal who at times showed noble feelings, at times comical, but always loyal to his boss.

He starred in Woody Allen films

Sirico often played Italian-Americans mobsters. He played a small role in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas. He also voiced the dog Vinny in the animated series ‘Family Guy’.

He participated in his films Woody Allen “Balls Over Broadway” (1994), “Venus Irresistible” (1995), “Everybody Says I Love You” (1996), “Breaking Up Harry” (1997), “Celebrities” (1998) and “Cafe Society” (2016).

“It is with great sadness, but also incredible pride, love and many fond memories that the family of Gennaro Anthony “Tony” Sirico wishes to inform you of his passing on the morning of July 8, 2022,” his brother wrote in a Facebook post. , Robert Sirico, a Catholic priest, without specifying the cause of death.

Born in Brooklyn on July 29, 1942, Sirico served a 20-month prison sentence for gun possession in the early 1970s, according to IMDB.com.

His first film role was in the 1974 film Crazy Joe, but the one that made him famous was in the series The Sopranos, written by David Chase.

“When I first read David Chase’s script, I immediately knew it was going to be something special,” Sirico said. “It was exactly what I’d been looking for my whole life…I knew right away that it was a role I could kill for,” he told IMDB.