Remembering Tony Siricos - Gangster from The Sopranos TV series

The U.S. actor Tony Sirico, best known for the mafia series "The Sopranos", passed away at the age of 79. He died in the U.S. state of Florida. In the television hit series "The Sopranos" (1999 to 2007), about the machinations of a Mafia family in New Jersey, Sirico played mobster Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri. In his role, he was known as a brutal criminal but also for his great loyalty to mob boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini).

The New York-born Italian-American starred in dozens of film and television productions. Martin Scorsese got him in front of the camera in 1990 for the mafia drama "GoodFellas." Director Woody Allen frequently gave Tony Sirico supporting roles, including in films such as "Bullets Over Broadway," "Beloved Aphrodite," "Café Society" and "Wonder Wheel."

Tony Sirico (r.) starred with Steve Schirripa, Michael Imperioli, James Gandolfini and Steven Van Zandt in "The Sopranos." (Source: IMAGO / ZUMA Press)