Tony Sirico

Tony Sirico Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: July 29, 1942

Death Date: July 8, 2022

Birth Place: Brooklyn, New York City, New York

Although never "connected," actor Tony Sirico had his share of run-ins with the law before packing the pistol away to play hoodlums in the movies. While doing time in Sing Sing, he saw a traveling thespian troupe of ex-cons called The Theater of the Forgotten and determined that he to would be an actor. Shortly after his release from prison, he earned his Screen Actors Guild card for his work in "Crazy Joey" (1974, about the life of mobster Joey Gallo), but the lean years that followed almost convinced him to strap the iron back on to earn his daily bread. Sirico persevered and began making slow inroads into the business, enjoying an early association with director James Toback. He also acted in four Woody Allen movies, beginning with "Bullets Over Broadway" (1994). In his own words, he's "done like 45 movies, played 40 gangsters and five crooked cops" (Daily News, February 7, 1999), a resume that eminently qualifies him for the unofficial group of New York actors called GAG--the Gangsters Actors Guild. Sirico had a small role in Martin Scorsese's classic mob picture "GoodFellas" (1990) and played assorted wiseguys in movies like Susan Seidelman's "Cookie" (1989), John Landis' vampire-mobster spoof "Innocent Blood" (1992) and "The Search for One-Eye Jimmy" (1996). In 1997, he also got a chance to act with future "Sopranos" co-stars Michael Imperioli and Vincent Pastore" in John Andrew Gallagher's "The Deli," but it would remain for "The Sopranos" (1999-2007), HBO's acclaimed dark comedy about the mob, to make him a star. "When I first read David Chase's script, I knew this was special. This is what I'd been looking for all my life . . . When I heard James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli and Nancy Marchand were in it, I knew it was going to be a total class act. I knew right away this was a role to kill for." (Daily News, February 7, 1999) Fortunately, he didn't break out the pistol but let that "certain authenticity" he would bring to his character do his talking for him, and he landed the role of Tony Soprano's icy enforcer Paulie Walnuts in the breakout hit. Tony Sirico died on July 8, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, FL at the age of 79.

Credits

Elmo's Holiday Spectacular: The Nutcracker and Other Tales

Self
Show
2023

Shooting the Sopranos

Actor
Show
2023

Respect the Jux

Actor
Bobby
Movie
2022

Sarah Q

Actor
Mr. Danny
Movie
2018

Wonder Wheel

Actor
Angelo
Movie
2017

Surprise! Instant Xmas Carol!

Actor
Show
2016

The GrinderStream

Guest Star
Series
2015
93%

Zarra's Law

Actor
Tony Zarra
Movie
2014

Friends and Romans

Actor
Bobby Musso
Movie
2014

Nicky Deuce

Actor
Charlie Cement
Movie
2013

Nicky Deuce

Actor
Charlie Cement
Show
2012

Jersey Shore Shark Attack

Actor
Captain Salie
Movie
2012

Karma Calling

Actor
G.
Movie
2009

A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa

Actor
Mobster
Show
2008

The Sno Cone Stand Inc

Actor
Bob Beasley
Movie
2008

Elmo's Christmas Countdown

Actor
Show
2007

American DadStream

Guest Voice
Enzo Perotti
Series
2005

MediumStream

Guest Star
Series
2005

The Fairly OddParentsStream

Guest Voice
Big Daddy
Series
2001

Smokin' Stogies

Actor
Tony Batts
Movie
2001

Turn of Faith

Actor
Jimmy
Movie
2001

It Had to Be You

Actor
Ricky Valentino
Movie
2000

Family Guy

Guest Voice
Vinny
Show
1999

Family GuyStream

Guest Voice
Vinny
Series
1999

The SopranosStream

Actor
Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri
Series
1999
92%

The Sopranos FREE

Actor
Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri
Show
1999

The Sopranos (With Audio Commentary)

Actor
Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri
Show
1999

Vig

Actor
Locasso
Movie
1998

Mob Queen

Actor
Joey (The Heart) Aorta
Movie
1998

The Deli

Actor
Tony
Movie
1997

CosbyStream

Guest Star
Series
1996

The Search for One-Eye Jimmy

Actor
Snake
Movie
1996

Secret Sins

Actor
Jack
Movie
1995

New York Cop

Actor
Mr. C
Movie
1995

Backtrack

Actor
Greek
Movie
1989

Miami ViceStream

Guest Star
Series
1984
71%

The Last Fight

Actor
Frankie
Movie
1983

Love and Money

Actor
Raoul
Movie
1982

One Man Jury

Actor
Charlie Nuts
Movie
1978

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