Tony Sirico Dead at 79: 'Goodfellas' Actor Tragic Past Revisited After His Passing

Tony Sirico, who famously appeared on "Goodfellas" and the hit HBO flick "The Sopranos," has died. He was 79.

Variety and CNN quoted a statement from Sirico's manager, Bob McGowan, about the actor's tragic passing. He did not disclose his cause of death, but he referred to him as a loyal and long-term client who always gave to charity.

Sirico and McGowan worked together for 25 years.

Following his death, his dark past before he became an actor resurfaced.

Tony Sirico Faced Near-Death Experiences

Before he starred in "Goodfellas" in 1990, the Los Angeles Times published his profile and revealed his tragic experiences before his debut.

Sirico spoke about his multiple arrests over the past years - 28 incidents, to be exact - and how it all started when he was seven.

Per the actor, he was involved in a newsstand theft when he was younger. He also received a weapons charge and armed robbery. He was once caught with three guns.

When asked why he needed so many firearms, Sirico defended himself and said he had to equip himself with those due to the bad neighborhood.

Daily Star also looked back at the time when he was shot for kissing someone else's girlfriend outside his local church. Three men reportedly pulled up and called him before shooting him.

"I was in no position to do anything, because I have my tongue deep down in her soul. So they go, 'Boom!' And shoot me in the leg," he continued.

He also got shot in the back when he tried to run toward the car.

Tony Sirico's Legacy Explored

But setting aside his troubles as a young man, Sirico went on to make changes in his life when he became an actor.

Among his works, he was best known for his role in "The Sopranos."

In 2021, he recalled how he was sleeping on his mother's couch when David Chase offered him a different role instead of the one he auditioned for.

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"He said, 'You want the good news or the bad news?' I said, 'Give me the bad news.' He said, 'You didn't get Uncle Junior. But I have something in mind. Would you be willing to do a recurring role on the show? I have a character called Paulie Walnuts,'" he said.

Sirico then became part of other shows like "Family Guy," "The Grinder," and "Lilyhammer."

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