Tag: sorvino

Paul Sorvino, ‘Goodfellas’ and ‘Law & Order’ star, dies at 83

Posted on by Judith E. Ashton

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.

Paul Sorvino and his daughter Mira Sorvino at the premiere of

Paul Sorvino and his daughter Mira Sorvino at the premiere of

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

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‘Goodfellas,’ ‘Law & Order’ actor Paul Sorvino dies at 83

Posted on by Judith E. Ashton

Paul Sorvino, an imposing actor who specialized in playing crooks and cops like Paulie Cicero in “Goodfellas” and the NYPD sergeant Phil Cerreta on “Law & Order,” has died. He was 83.

His publicist Roger Neal said he died Monday morning of natural causes at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Sorvino had dealt with health issues over the past few years.

Mira Sorvino, his daughter, wrote a tribute on Twitter: “My father the great Paul Sorvino has passed. My heart is rent asunder- a life of love and joy and wisdom with him is over. He was the most wonderful father. I love him so much. I’m sending you love in the stars, Dad, as you ascend.”


Many responded to Mira Sorvino’s tweet with condolences and sympathy. Jane Lynch wrote, “Your father the ‘Danny Boy’ for my Aunt Marge at The Chicago Film Critics Awards in 2012. We all cried.” Rob Reiner, who appeared in one of his father’s films with Sorvino, said he was sending love. Lorraine Bracco tweeted two broken heart emojis.

In his over 50 years in the entertainment business, Sorvino was a mainstay in films and television, playing an Italian American communist in Warren Beatty’s “Reds,” Henry Kissinger in Oliver Stone’s “Nixon” and mob boss Eddie Valentine in “The Rocketeer.” He would often say that while he might be best known for playing gangsters (and his very good system for slicing garlic) his real passions were poetry, painting and opera.

Born in Brooklyn in 1939 to a mother who taught piano and father who was a foreman in a robe factory, Sorvino was musically inclined from a young age and attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York where he fell for the theatre. He made his Broadway debut in 1964 in “Bajour”

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