Vale: Tony Sirico

US actor Tony Sirico, best known for The Sopranos, has died, aged 79.

Sirico had been living with dementia for the last few years in an assisted living facility in Florida.

A statement posted on Facebook by his brother Robert Sirico said, “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.”

Sirico played Paulie ‘Walnuts’ Gualtieri on The Sopranos in all six seasons alongside James Gandolfini and Edie Falco. He originally auditioned for the role of Uncle Junior, but Dominic Chianese landed the role. The show’s creator David Chase instead offered him the role of Paulie Gualtieri, which Sirico accepted with the condition that his character “would not become a rat”.

He also featured in A Bronx Tale, Goodfellas, Mob Queen, Mighty Aphrodite, Love and Money, Fingers, The One Man Jury, Defiance, The Last Fight, Innocent Blood and Lilyhammer.

He frequently appeared in Woody Allen films, including Deconstructing Harry, Celebrity, Bullets Over Broadway, Mighty Aphrodite, Everyone Says I Love You and Wonder Wheel.

In 2013 he appeared in three episodes of Family Guy as the voice of Vinny Griffin, the family’s pet dog, who replaced Brian Griffin after his death.

Source: SBS, The Guardian