Actor Paul Sorvino, known for streetwise tough guy roles in “Goodfellas“and”Law & Order,” died of natural causes Monday morning. He was 83.
Sorvino’s wife, the Emmy-winning actor Dee Dee Sorvino, was by his side, according to Sorvino’s publicist, Roger Neal.
“Our hearts are broken, there will never be another Paul Sorvino, he was the love of my life, and one of the greatest performers to ever grace the screen and stage,” Dee Dee Sorvino said in a statement released by Neal.
Sorvino, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, enjoyed more than five decades of work across film, television and the Broadway stage, portraying a variety of compelling and dramatic characters.
He may be best known for his work in Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas,” in which he played mobster Paul Cicero. He told AP Radio in 2004 that he was proud of his work in the 1990 film.
“But it’s only one small section of what I am and it’s completely antithetical to my personality,” Sorvino said. “It’s nothing like me as a human being.”
He is perhaps equally as well known for his stint from 1991 to 1992 on “Law & Order.” Although he was on the show for only one season, his 31 episodes as Sgt. Frank Cerreta forever affiliated him with the venerable television franchise.
Sorvino, an alumnus of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, made his Broadway debut in the 1964 musical “Bajour.” He later starred in shows such as “Skyscraper” and “An American Millionaire,” according to sorvino-vault-0000019568″ data-ylk=”slk:Playbill” class=”link “Playbill.
Throughout his film career, Sorvino delivered dramatic performances playing real people. In Warren Beatty’s “Reds,” he played Italian American communist Louis Fraina. In Oliver Stone’s “Nixon,” he played