Tony Sirico is dead. The American actor, known from the legendary mafia series “The Sopranos”, died on July 8, 2022 at the age of 79. The cause of death is not known. Sirico is said to have suffered from dementia in recent years.
Gennaro Anthony Sirico Jr. was born on July 29, 1942 in New York City. It was only too fitting that he played criminals again and again throughout his career: Before he made his first film, Sirico had 28 arrests – including for disorderly conduct, assault and robbery.
He had his first role in 1974 as an extra in the film “Crazy Joe”, in 1978 he started with the first somewhat larger roles. The role of the gangster – or more concretely: the mobster – was tailor-made for him. Martin Scorsese saw it that way too, when he hired him for the 1990 mafia classic film Goodfellas.
The series of productions in which Sirico played a mob member is long – and includes films such as “Mob Queen”, “Mighty Aphrodite” or “Gotti”. Sirico celebrated his greatest success from 1999 to 2007 with the HBO series “The Sopranos” – for many one of the best series ever.
“Sopranos” colleagues mourn Sirico
Michael Imperioli (who starred as Christopher Moltisanti in ‘The Sopranos’) wrote on Instagram: “It pains me to say that my dear friend, colleague and accomplice, the great TONY SIRICO, passed away today. Tony was like no other: he was as tough, as loyal and as generous as anyone I have ever known. I’ve experienced so much at his side: good times and bad. But mostly good ones. And we laughed a lot.”.
Imperioli continued, “We found a groove as Christopher and Paulie and I’m proud to say that I’ve done a lot of my best and funniest work with my dear pal Tony. I will miss him forever. He really is irreplaceable. I send my love to his family, his friends and his many, many fans. He was loved and will never be forgotten. My heart is broken today.”
Lorraine Bracco (who worked with Sirico on both Goodfellas and The Sopranos) also pays tribute to her colleague. “I adore Tony Sirico. An upstanding guy who always had my back and who loved my children and my parents. I have memories of Tony for a lifetime – from Goodfellas to the Sopranos and way beyond – but my god did we have fun at the Bensonhurst Spelling Bee – I’m still laughing. I hope he’s in heaven now and making everyone laugh. I love you buddy…rest in peace.”
Jamie Lynn Sigler, who played Meadow Soprano on The Sopranos, also released a statement. “I am devastated. i loved you so much I could never walk into a room you were in without hugging me, dousing me in your perfume and making sure I knew that any man who came near me would have to answer to you first “, she writes. “You were such a phenomenal actor. You stole every scene you were in. You were tough and strong, but also sweet and a real artist. There will never be anyone like you. I’m so lucky to have known you and to have been loved by you,” Sigler continued.