Paul Sorvino always dreamed of becoming an opera singer – eventually he found his calling in acting. Sorvino is best known for his role as Mafia Don Paul Cicero in GoodFellas. He passed away on July 25 at the age of 83. “I’m completely shattered. The love of my life and the most wonderful man who ever lived has passed away. I am heartbroken,” his wife Dee Dee wrote in an Instagram post.
His daughter, actress Mira Sorvino, added in sorrow: “My father, the great Paul Sorvino, has passed away. My heart is torn – a life full of love, joy and wisdom with him is over. He was the most wonderful father. i loved him so much Sending you love in the stars Dad as you ascend.” The GoodFellas star is survived by his wife, children Mira, Amanda and Michael, and five grandchildren.
Born on April 13, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York, Sorvino worked as a copywriter in an advertising agency before attending the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. In 1964 he made his Broadway debut in the musical “Bajour” before making his big screen debut in 1970 in Carl Reiner’s film “Where’s Poppa?”. This was followed by supporting roles in the critically acclaimed Broadway play That Championship Season and the Oscar-winning film A Touch of Class, before starring in television series such as Bert D’Angelo/Superstar and The Oldest Rookie .
Sorvino’s big break came in 1990 with the roles of mob boss Paulie Cicero in Martin Scorsese’s GoodFellas and club owner Lips Manlis in Warren Beatty’s Dick Tracy. The following year, he starred as Frank Cerreta in a single season of the NBC series Law & Order and as mobster Eddie Valentine in The Rocketeer. Sorvino was last seen in the 2021 crime thriller The Birthday Cake and had a recurring role in Godfather of Harlem.