1. Tony Sirico's acting career began with minor roles in films such as Crazy Joe and eventually led to significant roles in movies including Goodfellas and Mighty Aphrodite, as well as appearances in six other Woody Allen films.
15 Facts About Tony Sirico
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Tony Sirico was born in Brooklyn, New York City, on July 24,1942, to a family of Italian descent.
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Tony Sirico grew up in the East Flatbush and Bensonhurst neighborhoods of Brooklyn, and attended Midwood High School, but did not graduate.
4.
Tony Sirico's brother, Robert Tony Sirico, is a Catholic priest and co-founder of the free-market Acton Institute.
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Tony Sirico was convicted of several crimes and was arrested 28 times, including for disorderly conduct, assault, and robbery, before taking up acting.
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Tony Sirico stated that his prison was visited by an acting troupe composed of ex-convicts, which inspired him to give acting a try.
7.
Tony Sirico appeared in the 1989 documentary The Big Bang by James Toback, in which he discussed his earlier life.
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Tony Sirico's first confirmed role in film was extra in the 1974 film Crazy Joe, securing the role with the help of Richard Castellano.
9.
Tony Sirico played gangsters in a number of films, and made-for-TV films, including Goodfellas, Mob Queen, Mighty Aphrodite, Love and Money, Fingers, The One Man Jury, Defiance, The Last Fight, Innocent Blood, Bullets over Broadway, The Pick-up Artist, Gotti, Witness to the Mob, The Search for One-eye Jimmy, Cop Land, Turn of Faith, Hello Again, Mickey Blue Eyes, and Wonder Wheel.
10.
Tony Sirico played policemen in the films Dead Presidents and Deconstructing Harry.
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Tony Sirico was a close friend of Woody Allen, and appeared in seven of his films.
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Tony Sirico's most acclaimed acting job was that of Paulie Gualtieri in David Chase's Emmy award-winning drama The Sopranos.
13.
Tony Sirico originally auditioned for the role of Uncle Junior with Frank Vincent, but Dominic Chianese landed the role.
14.
David Chase instead offered him the role of Paulie Gualtieri; Tony Sirico agreed under the condition that his character "would not become a rat".
15.
Tony Sirico died on the afternoon of July 8,2022, at an assisted living facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at the age of 79.