PAUL SORVINO was born on this day in 1939. In a 50 year movie and TV career, he is probably best known as Paul Cicero in GOODFELLAS (1990). The look of surprise on Ray Liotta's face in this scene was genuine, Sorvino's slap wasn't scripted.
Paul Sorvino
Sorvino at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival
Born: Paul Anthony Sorvino; April 13, 1939; New York City, U.S.
Died: July 25, 2022 (aged 83); Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Resting place: Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Paul Anthony Sorvino (/sɔːrˈviːnoʊ/, Italian: [sorˈviːno]; April 13, 1939 July 25, 2022) was an American actor. He often portrayed authority figures on both the criminal and the law enforcement sides of the law.
Sorvino was particularly known for his roles as Lucchese crime family caporegime Paulie Cicero (based on real life gangster Paul Vario) in Martin Scorsese's 1990 gangster film
Goodfellas and as NYPD Sergeant Phil Cerreta on the second and third seasons of the TV series
Law & Order. He also played a variety of father figures, including Juliet's father in Baz Luhrmann's 1996 film
Romeo + Juliet, as well as guest appearances as the father of Bruce Willis' character on the TV series
Moonlighting and the father of Jeff Garlin's character on
The Goldbergs. He was in additional supporting roles in
A Touch of Class (1973),
Reds (1981, as Louis C. Fraina),
The Rocketeer (1991),
Nixon (1995, as Henry Kissinger), and
The Cooler (2003).
Usually cast in dramatic supporting roles, he occasionally acted in lead roles in films including
Bloodbrothers (1978), and also in comedic roles including his turn as a bombastic Southern evangelist in Carl Reiner's
Oh, God! (1977). Sorvino was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor for the 1972 play
That Championship Season, and later starred in film and television adaptations. He was the father of actors Mira Sorvino and Michael Sorvino.
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