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Paul Sorvino, Star of Goodfellas, Has Passed Away Aged 83

“Goodfellas” actor Paul Sorvino has died aged 83 from natural causes, a source close to him reported yesterday.

Mr. Sorvino became known worldwide for playing Paulie Cicero in Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” and for his “tough guy” role in “Law & Order.”

His publicist Roger Neal made the announcement Monday, saying the actor had died at home but did not elaborate on the cause of his death. “We were all taken by surprise,” he stated.

Mr. Sorvino’s wife, the Emmy-winning actress Dee Dee Sorvino was reportedly by his side when he died, Mr. Neal added.

After the announcement of her husband’s death, Ms. Sorvino released a statement through the publicist, saying: “He was the love of my life, and one of the greatest performers to ever grace the screen and stage.”

“There will never be another Paul Sorvino,” she added. The actor is survived by his wife and three children, including Oscar-winning actress Mira Sorvino.

The actor was born in Brooklyn in 1939 and began his career in the entertainment industry with the 1964 musical “Bajour.” He made it to the big screen four years later, with Carl Reiner’s comedy “Where’s Poppa?”

Mr. Sorvino was 1.93m tall and used to play tough guys in movies and on the small screen. Throughout his decades-long career, he acted in more than 50 movies and dozens of TV shows.

The actor was an imposing figure in the industry, appearing alongside other big stars like Al Pacino in 1971’s “The Panic in Needle Park” and James Caan in 1974’s “The Gambler.”

Mr. Sorvino’s most iconic role was in “Goodfellas.” In the 1990 mobster classic, he played underworld boss Paul “Paulie” Cicero, a character inspired by real-life mobster Paul Vario from Brooklyn.

His acclaimed performance in “Goodfellas” and his role in several episodes of “Law & Order” cemented his image as a “tough guy,” recurrently playing cops or criminals.

The 83-year-old suffered from ill-health over the years but managed to play two more roles in 2019, including the Luciano family mob boss Frank Costello on “Godfather of Harlem.”

Mira Sorvino, who won an Oscar for her role in Woody Allen’s “Mighty Aphrodite,” paid tribute to her father in a message 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,” she wrote.