Tony Sirico, the actor who played Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri on The Sopranos, is dead at 79. Sirico played Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri on the iconic HBO series for every season. His brother announced that Tony Sirico is dead at 79 on Facebook, saying:
He had been living in an assisted living home in Fort Lauderdale, FL, at the time of his death. The Sopranos actor will never be dead to devoted fans of the series’ legacy. Sirico had initially auditioned to play Tony Sopranos’ Uncle Junior, but David Chase gave him the role of Paulie. The actor vowed never to play “rats” in any of his chosen roles. He also did voice acting in American Dad and Family Guy.
Paulie “Walnut” Gualtieri Lives On
The Sopranos ran for six seasons, from 1999 to 2007. Though Sirico is dead at age 79, his character will stay in the hearts of fans. The actor was 55 and living on a cot in his mother’s living room when he was cast as Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri. The Sopranos actor is dead at 79, but his character portrayal will keep him alive. In many ways, the many gangsters he played on television and in film resembled his real life. He was just seven years old the first time he was arrested, followed by numerous other arrests and imprisonments. Tony Sirico earned two Screen Actors Guild Awards for his role in The Sopranos; his role will never be dead to critics, even with his passing at 79. With his role as Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri, he was part of the reason why the show thrived.
Sirico had been close with James Gandolfini before his passing in 2013. Many former castmates have shared their regards for his passing. The Sopranos actor Tony Sirico is dead at 79 and survived by two children and many grandchildren.
