Vale: ‘Big Ang’

US reality TV star Angela “Big Ang” Raiola, best known for Mob Wives, has died aged 55.

She died on Thursday after a battle with lung and brain cancer.

Jennifer Graziano, creator and executive producer said, “I am saddened to say that at 3:01 a.m., Ang lost her battle with cancer. She passed peacefully surrounded by friends and family.”

The VH1 series, which began in 2011, features Staten Island women connected to men with alleged mob ties. According to the network’s site, Raiola was the niece of Salvatore “Sally Dogs” Lombardi, who was a reported captain of the Genovese crime family.

Far from shying away from the Mafia connection, her bio on the site said, “Big Ang always strived to be popular with ‘the mob.’ ”

Known for her raspy voice, large stature and love of plastic surgery, she quickly became a popular member of the Mob Wives cast.

The New York Daily News reported that in 2001, Raiola served four months under house arrest after pleading guilty to selling cocaine.

Her success led to the VH1 spinoff Big Ang, which focused on her life as proprietor of the Drunken Monkey Bar and Grill and Big Ang’s Secrets beauty salon.

Source: CNN