Gennaro Anthony Sirico Jr. (/ˈsɪrikoʊ/; born July 29, 1942) is an
American actor best known for his role as Paul "Paulie Walnuts"
Gualtieri in The Sopranos. He has also made numerous appearances in
the films of Woody Allen.Sirico was born in New York City on July 29,
1942. He grew up in Brooklyn, in the East Flatbush and Bensonhurst
neighborhoods. Sirico's brother, Robert Sirico, is a Catholic priest
and co-founder of the free-market Acton Institute.Sirico was convicted
of several crimes and had been arrested 28 times, including for
disorderly conduct, assault, and robbery, before taking up acting. On
February 27, 1970, he was arrested at a restaurant, and found with a
.32 caliber revolver on his person. In 1971, he was indicted for
extortion, coercion and felony weapons possession, convicted, and
sentenced to four years in prison, of which he served 20 months at
Sing Sing. According to a court transcript at the time of his
sentencing, Sirico was the owner of a discotheque in Manhattan, and
also had pending charges for criminal possession of a dangerous drug.
Sirico has stated that he was visited by an acting troupe composed of
ex-convicts during his imprisonment, which inspired him to give acting
a try. He appeared in the 1989 documentary The Big Bang by James
Toback, in which he discussed his earlier life.
American actor best known for his role as Paul "Paulie Walnuts"
Gualtieri in The Sopranos. He has also made numerous appearances in
the films of Woody Allen.Sirico was born in New York City on July 29,
1942. He grew up in Brooklyn, in the East Flatbush and Bensonhurst
neighborhoods. Sirico's brother, Robert Sirico, is a Catholic priest
and co-founder of the free-market Acton Institute.Sirico was convicted
of several crimes and had been arrested 28 times, including for
disorderly conduct, assault, and robbery, before taking up acting. On
February 27, 1970, he was arrested at a restaurant, and found with a
.32 caliber revolver on his person. In 1971, he was indicted for
extortion, coercion and felony weapons possession, convicted, and
sentenced to four years in prison, of which he served 20 months at
Sing Sing. According to a court transcript at the time of his
sentencing, Sirico was the owner of a discotheque in Manhattan, and
also had pending charges for criminal possession of a dangerous drug.
Sirico has stated that he was visited by an acting troupe composed of
ex-convicts during his imprisonment, which inspired him to give acting
a try. He appeared in the 1989 documentary The Big Bang by James
Toback, in which he discussed his earlier life.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.