he solid of the Sopranos have led tributes to the “truly irreplaceable” Tony Sirico, who was described as “nothing like his character” in the hit HBO show.
The actor, regarded for his portrayal of Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri, died at an assisted residing facility in Florida on Friday, aged 79.
Michael Imperioli, who starred as Christopher Moltisanti in the Sopranos, said there was “no one particular else” like Sirico, who he explained as “my pricey good friend, colleague and associate in crime”.
“Tony was like no just one else: he was as tough, as loyal and as significant hearted as everyone I’ve at any time recognized,” he explained, sharing a image of the pair on Instagram.
“I was at his facet by so much: as a result of superior occasions and poor. But mainly fantastic. And we had a lot of laughs.
“We located a groove as Christopher and Paulie and I am proud to say I did a ton of my finest and most exciting work with my pricey pal Tony.
“I will pass up him for good. He is actually irreplaceable.
“I mail really like to his family members, close friends and his lots of several enthusiasts. He was beloved and will never ever be overlooked.
“Heartbroken nowadays.”
Lorraine Bracco, who performed Dr Jennifer Melfi on the Sopranos, reported she experienced “a life time of memories” with Sirico.
“I adore Tony Sirico,” she wrote, sharing two photographs of the pair with each other.
“A stand up dude who normally experienced my again and who cherished my small children and my dad and mom.
“I have a life time of recollections with Tony— starting off with Goodfellas to The Sopranos and way beyond— but my God, did we have entertaining performing the Bensonhurst Spelling Bee—I’m nonetheless laughing.
“I hope he’s in heaven cracking most people up now. Really like you, my Pal…rest in peace.”
Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who played Meadow Soprano, said Sirico was “tough and powerful, still sweet and a real artist” and that she was “lucky to have known” him.
“Oh Tony. I’m so heartbroken. I cherished you so significantly,” she wrote on Instagram.
“I have never been able to wander into a room that you were in devoid of you supplying me an great hug, drenching me in your cologne, and earning confident I realized any male that arrived close to me would have to remedy to you initially.
“You had been These a phenomenal actor. Stealing each and every scene you ended up in.
“You had been hard, and powerful, still sweet and a actual artist. There will under no circumstances ever be any individual like you.
“I really feel so fortunate to have acknowledged you and been beloved by you.”
Steven Van Zandt, who performed Sirico’s husband or wife in crime Silvio Dante, explained him as a “larger than lifetime character”.
“RIP Tony Sirico. Famous,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Silvio’s very best buddy ‘Paulie Walnuts’ in The Sopranos, Frankie ‘The Fixer’s’ older brother Antonino ‘Father Tony’ Tagliano in Lilyhammer.
“A greater than lifestyle character on and off screen. Gonna miss out on you a great deal my close friend.
“Deepest condolences to the spouse and children.”
Katherine Narducci, who performed Charmaine Bucco, spouse of chef Artie Bucco, wrote: “Rest In Peace.
“I want I could be sitting with all my Sopranos loved ones appropriate now.
“Sending adore to anyone of you… My Coronary heart goes out to Tony’s family . He was liked so dearly by everybody.”
Steve Schirripa, who performed the bumbling Bobby Baccalieri on the clearly show, shared a photograph of the two on the set of children’s clearly show Sesame Street, with puppets Bert and Ernie.
“Tony Thank You For All The Laughs My Pal Rest In Peace,” he wrote.
The show’s creator David Chase explained Sirico as “so uproarious, so amusing (and) so talented”.
“Tony was a jewel,” he claimed in a statement shared with the PA news agency.
“The way Buddhists refer to a jewel – supernatural and a grasp. But definitely not a Zen master.
“He was so uproarious, so humorous, so gifted.
“I’m pretty satisfied for him that in his mid-fifties and sixties he finally discovered how talented and loved he was.
“I was just wondering about him yesterday, surprisingly sufficient, and was reminded that he was a key cause for the good results of The Sopranos.
“I will skip him enormously, Gennaro. As will the world.”
Michael Gandolfini, son of the late James Gandolfini, who starred as Tony Soprano, mentioned Sirico was “one of a kind”.
“Tony Sirico was 1 of the kindest, fiercely faithful, and heartfelt adult males that I have at any time recognized,” he wrote on Instagram.
“He was always Uncle Tony to me, and Tony normally confirmed up for me and my loved ones.
“I’ll deeply miss out on his pinches on my cheek, and his infectious snicker. He was a phenomenal actor and an even better man.
“Tony was a person of a sort.
“He touched many with his gift and my coronary heart goes out to his family, his pals, and all of his admirers.
“We adore you Tony, thank you for all the joy you introduced to lots of. You will be missed.”
Sirico’s supervisor Bob McGowan advised the PA information agency: “He was a really faithful customer of 25 yrs and he’s an ex-military vet and generally gave to charities.
“He’s a huge contributor to the Wounded Warriors and would often go to children’s hospitals.
“He was a good guy, absolutely nothing like his character on the Sopranos.”
The Simpsons creator Al Jean joked that, next the latest deaths of other famed mobster actors Ray Liotta and James Caan, the trio would now be obtaining a “sit down in Heaven”.
“RIP the terrific Tony Sirico,” he claimed, sharing what appeared to be a cartoonised photograph of the actor.
“Having a sitdown with Jimmy and Ray up in Heaven.”
Actor James Urbaniak explained: “Tony Sirico received his element and entered the historical past publications.
“Pure hilarity and charisma. RIP, major dude.”
