Tony Sirico

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Template:Short description Template:Use American English Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for clobbered parameters".Template:Wikidata image GenaroTemplate:Refn Anthony Sirico Jr. (Script error: No such module "IPAc-en". Script error: No such module "Respell".; July 24, 1942 – July 8, 2022)Template:Refn was an American actor. Often cast as a mobster, he portrayed Paulie Gualtieri in The Sopranos and Vinny Griffin in Family Guy.

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 six 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

Sirico was born in Brooklyn, New York City,[1] on July 24, 1942,Template:Refn to a family of Italian descent.[2] He grew up in the East Flatbush and Bensonhurst neighborhoods of Brooklyn,[3] and attended Midwood High School, but did not graduate.[4] Sirico's brother, Robert Sirico, is a Catholic priest and co-founder of the free-market Acton Institute.[5] As a teenager, Sirico was shot in a dispute over a girl.[6] He subsequently served in the United States Army.[6]

Sirico was convicted of several crimes and was arrested 28 times, including for disorderly conduct, assault, and robbery, before taking up acting.[3][7] In 1967, he served time in prison for the first time as an adult.[6] 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.[8][9][10]

According to a court transcript at the time of his sentencing, Sirico also had pending charges for criminal possession of a dangerous drug.[8] Sirico stated that his prison was visited by an acting troupe composed of ex-convicts, which inspired him to give acting a try.[11] He appeared in the 1989 documentary The Big Bang by James Toback, in which he discussed his earlier life.[12]

Career

File:Dominic Chianese, Lorraine Bracco and Tony Sirico, May 2000 (2).jpg
Sirico (right) with Sopranos castmates Dominic Chianese and Lorraine Bracco in 2000.

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.[10] Michael Gazzo was Sirico's first acting coach.[13] 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.[4]

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".[10]

File:SopranosKuwaitUSO.jpg
Sirico (left) and James Gandolfini (right) with a member of the U.S. Air Force during a USO visit to Southwest Asia, 2010

In animation, Sirico provided the voice of "Big Daddy" Fairywinkle in The Fairly OddParents.[14] 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.[15] 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".[16] Sirico would later voice characters on Seth MacFarlane's other animated series American Dad!.[17]

In 2018, he reunited with former Sopranos actors Federico Castelluccio and Vincent Pastore in Sarah Q.[18]

Personal life

Sirico had two children, Joanne and Richard.[19] In 2008, he released a cologne called Paolo Per Uomo.[20]

Death

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

Film

Year Title Role Note
1974 Crazy Joe Extra [24]
The Godfather Part II Rosato Brothers Hood Uncredited[1]
1978 Hughes and Harlow: Angels in Hell Frankie Rio [1]
Fingers Riccamonza [3][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 [3]
1987 The Galucci Brothers Galucci Brother [31]
The Pick-up Artist Patsy Cabaluso [3]
Hello Again Tough Guy [27]
1989 White Hot Luke [32]
Cookie Carmine's Wiseguy [3]
The Big Bang Himself Documentary[12]
1990 Catchfire Greek Guy [33][30]
Goodfellas Tony "Stacks" [24]
1991 29th Street Fortunado [13]
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 [13]
Dearly Beloved Mr. Bedutz Short film[40]
1996 Everyone Says I Love You Escaped Convict [13]
1997 Deconstructing Harry Police Officer [39]
Cop Land Salvatore "Toy" Torillo [13]
The Deli Tony [13]
The Good Life Junior Never released[41]
1998 Mob Queen Joey "The Heart" Aorta [13]
Celebrity Lou DeMarco [13]
1999 Mickey Blue Eyes Risolli Guard [42]
2000 It Had to Be You Ricky Valentino [13]
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 [1]
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][1]
TBD Super Athlete Coach Lou Completed, posthumous release[27]

Television

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[13]
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"[1]
2013 Nicky Deuce Charlie Cement Television film[27]
2013–2016 Family Guy Vinny/Himself Voice[1][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

Music videos

Year Song Artist
1998 "Slang Editorial" Cappadonna

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2006 The Sopranos: Road to Respect Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri Voice[53]

Awards and nominations

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]

Notes

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References

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  5. "'Our Lady of Fatima' Celebrating a century of her message", Holy Family Radio. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
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  7. "Artie's Goose Is Coked", New York Post, May 2, 2006
  8. a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. "'Sopranos' actor has real life mob history", UPI, March 20, 2006.
  10. a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  12. 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.
  13. 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.
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  15. Family Guy's Shocking Death: Boss Reveals Why They Decided to Kill Off (Spoiler)!
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  24. 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.
  25. 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.
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  29. Canby, Vincent. "Unpredictable 'Love and Money'", The New York Times. February 12, 1982. Section C, Page 8. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  30. a b Gallagher, John A. (1989). Film Directors on Directing. ABC-CLIO. p. 255. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
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  33. Maltin, Leonard (2012). Leonard Maltin's 2013 Movie Guide: The Modern Era. Penguin Books. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  34. Muir, John Kenneth (2011). Horror Films of the 1990s. McFarland & Company. p. 238. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  35. a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. Willis, John; Monush, Barry (2000). Comprehensive Pictorial and Statistical Record of the 1994 Movie Season. Hal Leonard Corporation. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  37. Leydon, Joe. "Men Lie", Variety. May 3, 1994. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  38. Wilmington, Michael. "Premise gouges humor from promising 'One-Eye Jimmy'", Chicago Tribune. July 12, 1996. Section 7, p. N.
  39. 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.
  40. Reid, Beverly M. "'Sopranos' cast flourishes with late blooming actors", NJ.com. September 5, 2002. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  41. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. Booker, M. Keith; Daraiseh, Isra (2017). Tony Soprano's America: Gangsters, Guns, and Money. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 85. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
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External links

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