Hollywood heavyweight dead at 83
Paul Sorvino, the actor whose roles ranged from mob boss in Goodfellas to a brief stint on the long-running cop drama Law & Order, has died, he was 83.
Sorvino died on Monday of natural causes with his wife Dee Dee by his side, who issued a statement through Neal saying, "Our hearts are broken, there will never be another Paul Sorvino."
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Sorvino earned a Tony nomination for his role in That Championship Season and appeared in a long list of movies that included portraying Henry Kissinger in Nixon, Dick Tracy, Reds and The Rocketeer.
Sorvino is best remembered for Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas as Paul Cicero, the mobster who even in prison retained a passion for cooking and fine cuisine, thinly slicing garlic with a razor blade. Sorvino and his wife later went on to co-write the book Pinot, Pasta, and Parties.
Sorvino is survived by his wife and three children, including actress Mira Sorvino, and five grandchildren.
Mira tweeted on Monday afternoon that her heart had been “rent asunder” at the passing of her father.
“My father the great Paul Sorvino has passed,” she wrote. “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.”
On Instagram, she posted a black square with no caption.
Image: Getty