What’d ya hear? What’d ya say?” – a frequent greeting call Sopranos fan favorite Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri was one to utter.
Well, I read the news today, and, oh boy, I didn’t like what I saw, Chrissy.
Tony Sirico – whose featured work before landing his signature role as Paulie also included: GoodFellas, Cop Land, Mickey Blue Eyes, the Woody Allen films Bullets over Broadway, Mighty Aphrodite and Deconstructing Harry, and Family Guy – passed away three weeks before his 80th birthday on Friday, July 8. Though no cause of death was listed, he was reportedly under assisted living care and had been diagnosed with dementia in recent years. Sirico leaves behind two children and a palpable dent of the pop cultural persuasion far beyond how well his famed character’s antics translated to the “meme” takeover.
“Tony Sirico will always be remembered for his role in The Sopranos, where he is a funny, stubborn, hard-ass mobster who also had a big heart,” said Nick Mancuso, 27, of Hauppauge.
Those who have not yet indulged in HBO’s runaway breakout prestige hour drama – spoilers, be warned – should take comfort in knowing Sirico, an ex-con who served time in the 1970s for extortion, coercion, and felony weapons possession – only agreed to star in the 1999-2007 series on the condition his character “never become a rat.”
Hence, while many staples of the show fell like dominoes as the seasons powered forward, Paulie remained arguably as constant a fixture as Tony Soprano himself. Sirico achieved such by utilizing his past troubles with the law to authentically create an idiosyncratic force who operated to the beat of not a different drum, but a different instrument altogether. The assignment could have come off as a mere cartoonish mob man pastiche had it been delegated to a trained actor. But ask Sirico or his beloved fans, and they’d contend he was trained – on the streets and in the clink.
“When I think about Paulie Walnuts,” Mancuso added, “I think about how the Sopranos made him a part of their family- he was Meadow and A.J.’s “uncle.” Everyone has an uncle in their life that’s not blood-related, but they call them uncle anyway. A lot of times, those are the guys like Paulie who have no families themselves. When you think of Tony Sirico, you think of Paulie Walnuts; without him, who knows how The Sopranos would have unfolded?”
We wouldn’t soon want to know. In a summer where the mob media-loving world has also bid farewell to GoodFellas’ ensemble-leading narrator Ray Liotta and, also last week, The Godfather’s hotheaded firstborn Sonny, James Caan, Sirico’s departure is another crushing blow. Just as the common man mourns his loss, so too do his former co-stars.
“Oh Tony. I’m so heartbroken,” Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who played Meadow Soprano on the series, posted on Instagram. “I loved you so much. I have never been able to walk into a room that you were in without you giving me an enormous hug, drenching me in your cologne, and making sure I knew any man that came near me would have to answer to you first. You were SUCH a phenomenal actor. Stealing every scene you were in. You were tough, and strong, yet sweet and a real artist. There will never ever be anyone like you.”
Emmy Award-winning Michael Imperioli, best known for his portrayal of Christopher Molitsanti, Boss Tony Soprano’s protégé and “nephew” that isn’t really his nephew, shared much screen time with Sirico – and similar sentiment as Sigler in memoriam. “…as loyal and as big hearted as anyone I’ve ever known,” said Imperioli. “I was at his side through so much: through good times and bad. But mostly good. And we had a lot of laughs. We found a groove as Christopher and Paulie and I am proud to say I did a lot of my best and most fun work with my dear pal Tony.”
And, in closing: equally profound parting words from the late James Gandolfini’s son, Michael, 23, who played young Tony in The Sopranos’ 2021 prequel movie, The Many Saints of Newark.
“Tony Sirico was one of the kindest, fiercely loyal, and heartfelt men that I’ve ever known. He was always Uncle Tony to me, and Tony always showed up for me and my family. I’ll deeply miss his pinches on my cheek, and his infectious laugh. He was a phenomenal actor and an even better man. Tony was one of a kind. He touched many with his gift and my heart goes out to his family, his friends, and all of his fans. We love you Tony, thank you for all the joy you brought to many. You will be missed.”
