Tony Sirico, the former mobster turned movie star best known as Paulie Walnuts on “The Sopranos,” died Friday. He was 79.
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But earlier in his life, it wasn’t an act. Sirico was arrested 28 times — first at age 7 — and spent two different stints in prison before getting into acting. When he took the role of Paulie, Sirico said he’d only do it if “Sopranos” creator David Chase promised him Paulie would never be a rat. He first made the police blotter at age 7, when he was busted for stealing nickels from a newsstand. A series of small-time crimes and weapons charges followed, but Sirico was only convicted twice — once on a weapons charge and once for armed robbery.James Caan, whose roles included"The Godfather,""Brian’s Song" and"Misery," died Wednesday, July 6, 2022, at age 82.
His first three credited acting appearances followed in 1977. He slowly picked up acting work through the 1980s, including an appearance on “Miami Vice” in 1989.His first big film was 1990′s “Goodfellas.” His role of Tony Stacks may have been small for the film, but it was huge for Sirico, who went on to star in many more movies across the 1990s: “29th Street,” “New York Cop,” “Bullets Over Broadway,” “The Search for One-eye Jimmy,” “Mighty Aphrodite” and several more.
Dan Grimaldi, who played Philly and Patsy Parisi on “The Sopranos,” knew his co-star since Sirico was 19. They both came from Brooklyn, with Sirico being three years older.
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