Tony Sirico, best known for his prolific portrayal of gangster Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri on HBO’s legendary “The Sopranos”, was remembered fondly by family, friends and fellow cast members as he was laid to rest Wednesday in South Brooklyn.
Born Gennaro Anthony Sirico Jr. on July 29, 1942, he died at age 79 on Friday, his brother and priest Father Robert Sirico announced via social media. His funeral was broadcast via livestream Wednesday morning.
Robert celebrated his brother’s funeral mass at Basilica of Regia Pacis in Sirico’s native Brooklyn nabe, acknowledging cast members along with “loyal and exuberant fans” who came to pay their respects to the beloved actor.
“My friends, if Paulie Walnuts can steal heaven, so can you and I,” Robert told the solemn crowd of nearly 100 gathered inside the historic Bensonhurst church, which included Sirico’s former “Sopranos” co-stars Lorraine Bracco, Steven Van Zandt and Joseph Gannascoli.
Fellow actors that came to remember the actor included, Tony Daniels (AKA the voice of Tony the Tiger) and Angel Salazar from ‘Scarface’.
The role of a tough guy came naturally to Sirico. He was arrested 28 times throughout his life, the first coming at age 7 for stealing change from a newsstand.
“After all the times I was pinched, I knew every judge in town,” said Sirico, who also played made men roles in 1990’s “Goodfellas” and the 1996 “Gotti” film. “I was a tough kid. I always had that itch in my britches to find out who I was. I tested my courage every night.”
Robert reminisced of a time many years ago that his brother refused communion, admitting he hadn’t been to confession in a very long time.
However, a few weeks ago, when Robert sensed that the end was coming while visiting Tony in Florida, the veteran actor finally went through with his confession. Sirico was battling dementia and was being taken care of by his daughter Joanne at the time of his death.
While walking out behind the casket, one attendee collapsed into the seats and his friend, Dion Licciodoni said, “The man was having a panic attack. Tony was a friend from the Bay Ridge neighborhood. We lived up the street from him.”
The late actor will be buried at Calvary Cemetery in Queens. Many friends and family said he will be forever missed and never forgotten.
