To cite his most well-known character, right here’s to a “half o’ wiseguy.”
Tony Sirico — finest identified for his prolific portrayal of gangster Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri on HBO’s legendary “The Sopranos” — was remembered fondly by household, mates and fellow solid members as he was laid to relaxation Wednesday in South Brooklyn.
Born Gennaro Anthony Sirico Jr. on July 29, 1942, he died at age 79 on Friday, his brother and priest Father Robert Sirico introduced by way of social media. His funeral was broadcast by way of livestream Wednesday morning.
Robert celebrated his brother’s funeral mass at Basilica of Regia Pacis in Sirico’s native Brooklyn nabe, acknowledging solid members together with “loyal and exuberant followers” who got here to pay their respects to the beloved actor.
“My mates, if Paulie Walnuts can steal heaven, so are you able to and I,” Robert instructed the solemn crowd of almost 100 gathered contained in the historic Bensonhurst church, which included Sirico’s former “Sopranos” co-stars Lorraine Bracco, Steven Van Zandt and Joseph Gannascoli.
“I can think about what he’s going to say to Saint Peter. In all probability … ‘you don’t wanna be my enemy, Saint Peter.'”
Co-star Joseph Gannascoli on Sirico’s first phrases on the gates of Heaven
Fellow character actors in attendance included Tony Daniels, a okay a the voice of Tony the Tiger, and Angel Salazar from “Scarface.”
Van Zandt, who starred as Silvio Dante reverse Sirico on “The Sopranos,” instructed The Publish: “Tony was one among my lifelong finest mates — and one among a form ? Certainly one of a form. I’m actually going to overlook him.”
The function of a troublesome man got here naturally to Sirico: He was arrested 28 occasions all through his life, the primary coming at age 7 for stealing change from a newsstand.
“After all of the occasions I used to be pinched, I knew each decide on the town,” Sirico, who additionally performed made males roles in 1990’s “Goodfellas” and the 1996 “Gotti” movie, as soon as instructed the LA Instances. “I used to be a troublesome child. I all the time had that itch in my britches to seek out out who I used to be. I examined my [courage] each evening.”
In the course of the funeral service homily, Robert reminisced of a time a few years in the past that his brother refused communion, admitting he hadn’t been to confession in a really very long time.
Nonetheless, just a few weeks in the past, when Robert “sensed that the tip was coming” whereas visiting Tony in Florida, the veteran actor lastly went by along with his confession, the priest instructed these in attendance. Sources instructed The Publish Sirico was battling dementia beneath the care of his daughter, Joanne, within the Sunshine State on the time of his dying.
Whereas strolling out behind the casket, one attendee collapsed into the seats and his pal, Dion Licciodoni, instructed The Publish the person was having a panic assault. Sirico’s outdated neighborhood buddy additionally recalled, “Tony was a pal from the Bay Ridge neighborhood — we lived up the road from him.”
The late actor will probably be buried at Calvary Cemetery in Queens, in response to one unidentified attendee.
In the meantime, actor-producer Artie Pasquale, who appeared as Burt Gervasi on “The Sopranos,” paid homage to his cherished outdated pal after the service.
“Tony was great: He made everybody snort and may very well be severe, however he all the time introduced some life to the scene, or no matter state of affairs,” Pasquale instructed The Publish. “We’re gonna miss Tony. He was simply all the time dressed the most effective. At all times had the most effective tie, however he was nice and he’s actually going to be missed.”
Although he performed a loyal soldier to James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano, in actual life Sirico was by no means afraid to face as much as the boss — in his case, it was present creator David Chase.
“He was the one one who ever requested me to have a line modified. And I did it,” Chase instructed Selection. “One other character was speaking about Paulie, they usually stated he was a bully. Tony didn’t like that … He requested me to take the phrase ‘bully’ out of there. And I did,” the creator added, saying Sirico was “a part of one of many biggest casts of all time.”
Fellow “Sopranos” solid members, too, have been fast to see how Sirico not solely introduced the function to life however what enjoying Paulie meant to him.
“He was by no means happier than enjoying Paulie Walnuts. Excellent casting. Relaxation simple Tony. You probably did good,” David Proval, who performed Richie Aprile on “The Sopranos” posted to Instagram, calling Sirico “the actual deal.”
After the funeral on Wednesday, “Sopranos’ co-star Joseph Gannoscoli, who performed Vito Spatafore, shared with The Publish his concept of what his pal Sirico would say on the gates of -— sure — heaven.
“There wasn’t an enormous distinction between Tony Sirico the actor and the man you knew from Brooklyn…he was old-fashioned and you could possibly see that he got here from [the old school],” Gannascoli instructed The Publish.
“I can think about what he’s going to say to Saint Peter. In all probability ‘you don’t wanna have an issue’ or ‘you don’t wanna be my enemy, Saint Peter.’ ”
Post a Comment