Actor Tony Sirico, best known for playing henchman Peter Paul “Polly Walnuts” Gualtieri in HBO’s “The Sopranos,” has died, according to his manager, Bob McGowan.
As per his IMDB profile, he was 79 years old.
McGowan did not specify a cause of death, but called Sirico a “very loyal and long-term customer” of 25 years and “always a giver”.
Sirico’s “Sopranos” co-star Michael Imperioli also shared the news on Instagram, saying that Sirico died on Friday.
“Tony was like no other: he was as tough, as loyal and as big-hearted as I have ever known,” he wrote. “I was by his side: through the good times and the bad. But mostly the good. And we had a lot of laughs.”
Brooklyn native Sirico earned several credits in the late ’80s and ’90s in films such as “Goodfellas,” “Mighty Aphrodite,” and “Mickey Blue Eyes.”
But he became famous — especially in cable houses — through “The Sopranos,” playing the colorful but brutal-when-needed Paulie Walnut.
At the time of his audition, he recalled in an interview, he was 55 years old and sleeping on his mother’s couch. He auditioned for a different character, but producer David Chase approached him with a different role, which proved iconic in its own right.
“He said, ‘You want good news or bad news?'” Sirico recalled in a 2021 interview. “I said, ‘Give me the bad news.’ He said, ‘You didn’t get Uncle Jr. But I have something in mind. Would you be willing to do a recurring role on the show? I have a character called Polly Walnuts.'”
After the show ended, Sirico appeared in shows such as “Lilyhammer,” “The Grinder” and “Family Guy.”
But “The Sopranos” — thanks to the show’s newfound popularity via streaming — remains his most memorable work.
“We found a groove as Christopher and Paulie and I am proud to say that I had my best and most fun work with my dear friend Tony,” said Imperioli. “I will miss him forever. He is truly irreplaceable. I send love to his family, friends and his many fans. He was dear and will never be forgotten. Heartbroken today.”
Michael Gandolfini, son of the late “Sopranos” star James Gandolfini, also paid tribute to Sirico on Instagram.
“Tony Sirico was one of the most kind, fiercely loyal and heartfelt men I have ever known,” he wrote. “He was always Uncle Tony to me, and Tony was always there for me and my family. I will deeply miss his quirk on my cheek, and his infectious laughter. He was a phenomenal actor and an even better person.” “
