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Tony Sirico
Tony Sirico, 2010.jpg
Sirico in 2010
Born
Gennaro Anthony Sirico Jr.

(1942-07-29)July 29, 1942
Died July 8, 2022(2022-07-08) (aged 79)
Occupation Actor
Years active 1974–2022
Children 2
Family Robert Sirico (brother)

Gennaro Anthony Sirico Jr. ( July 29, 1942 – July 8, 2022) was an American actor best known for his role as Peter Paul "Paulie Walnuts" Gualtieri in The Sopranos. He also made numerous appearances in the films of Woody Allen.

Early life

Sirico was born in New York City on July 29, 1942, to a family of Italian descent. He grew up in Brooklyn, in the East Flatbush and Bensonhurst neighborhoods. Sirico's brother, Robert Sirico, is a Catholic priest and co-founder of the free-market Acton Institute.

Career

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. Michael Gazzo was Sirico's first acting coach. Sirico played gangsters in a number of 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, 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'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".

In late 2013, he voiced the character of Vinny Griffin, who for three episodes was the family's pet dog on Family Guy, replacing Brian Griffin after his death; Brian would later be brought back via time travel. 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".

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

Personal life

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

Sirico had two children, Joanne and Richard.

In 1999, Sirico and Sopranos co-star Vincent Pastore met with James Clemenza and his brother Jerry, Colombo crime family soldiers, at a Christmas party in Little Italy, Manhattan. Clemenza was under FBI surveillance at the time.

In 2008, Sirico released a cologne called Paolo Per Uomo.

Sirico died at an assisted living facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on July 8, 2022, aged 79. No cause was given, but he had been diagnosed with dementia some years before his death.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Note
1974 Crazy Joe
1978 Hughes and Harlow: Angels in Hell Frankie Rio
Fingers Riccamonza
The One Man Jury Charlie Nuts
1980 Defiance Davey
1981 So Fine Associate
1982 Love and Money Raoul
1983 Exposed Thief
The Last Fight Frankie
1987 The Galucci Brothers Galucci Brother
The Pick-up Artist Patsy Cabaluso
Hello Again Tough Guy
1989 White Hot Luke
Cookie Carmine's Wiseguy
The Big Bang Himself Documentary
1990 Catchfire Greek Guy
Goodfellas Tony Stacks
1991 29th Street Fortunado
1992 Innocent Blood Jacko
1993 New York Cop Mr. C
Romeo Is Bleeding Malacci
1994 Men Lie
Bullets Over Broadway Rocco
The Search for One-eye Jimmy Snake
1995 Dead Presidents Officer Spinelli
Mighty Aphrodite Boxing Trainer
Casino Extra (Nicky's crew: signal happy gambler)
Dearly Beloved Mr. Bedutz Short film
1996 Everyone Says I Love You Escaped Convict
1997 Deconstructing Harry Police Officer
Cop Land Toy Torillo
The Deli Tony
The Good Life Junior Never released
1998 Mob Queen Joey (The Heart) Aorta
Celebrity Lou DeMarco
1999 Mickey Blue Eyes Risolli Guard
2000 It Had to Be You Ricky Valentino
2001 Smokin' Stogies Tony Batts
2002 Turn of Faith Jimmy
2008 The Sno Cone Stand Inc Bob Beasley
2009 Karma Calling G
2010 Skate Skate Short film
2014 Zarra's Law Tony Zarra
Friends and Romans Bobby Musso
Family on Board Rocco Short film
2015 Touched Anthony
2016 Café Society Vito
2017 Wonder Wheel Angelo
2018 Sarah Q Mr Danny
TBA Respect the Jux Bobby Post-production
Super Athlete Coach Lou Completed

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1977 Kojak Greek God Episode: "Case Without a File"
1982 Police Squad! Poker Player Episode: "Ring of Fear (A Dangerous Assignment)"
1989 Miami Vice Frank Romano Episode: "Fruit of the Poison Tree"
Perfect Witness Marco Television film
1992 In the Shadow of a Killer Tony Andretti Television film
1996 Cosby Teddy Episode: "Happily Ever Hilton"
Gotti Joe Dimiglia Television film
1998 Witness to the Mob Thomas Gambino Television film
Vig Locasso Television film
1999–2007 The Sopranos Paul "Paulie Walnuts" Gualtieri 74 episodes
2005 The Fairly OddParents Big Daddy Voice
2 episodes
2007 Elmo’s Christmas Countdown Famous Bert TV special
2008 A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa Mobster TV special
2010 Chuck Matty Episode: "Chuck Versus the Fake Name"
Medium Big Daddy Episode: "Bring Your Daughter to Work Day"
2012 Jersey Shore Shark Attack Captain Salie Television film
2013–2014 Lilyhammer Tony Tagliano Episodes: "2.8: Ghosts" and "3.8: Loose Ends"
2013 Nicky Deuce Charlie Cement Television film
2013–2016 Family Guy Vinny/Himself Voice
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"
2016 The Grinder Sebastian Episode: "Grinder v Grinder"
2017–2019 American Dad! Enzo Perotti / Mobster Voice
2 episodes

Video games

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

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2000 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series The Sopranos Won
2001 Nominated
2002 Nominated
2003 Nominated
2005 Nominated
2007 Nominated
2008 Won

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Tony Sirico para niños

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