Michael Imperioli

Actor Tony Sirico , best known for his role as A Mafia henchman on the The Sopranos , has died aged 79.

He memorably portrayed Paulie " Walnuts" Gualtieri, a fictional mobster playing a key role in an Organised Crime ring in the US state of New Jersey .

Co-star Michael Imperioli , who played Christopher Moltisanti , led tributes to Him .

" Tony was like No One else: he was as tough, as loyal and as big hearted as anyone I've ever known, " He Said .

Imperioli wrote on Instagram that the two actors " found a groove as Christopher and Paulie".

" I Am proud to say I did a lot of my best and most fun work with my dear pal Tony. I will miss Him forever. He is truly irreplaceable. "

Sirico was 55 years old and sleeping on a cot at His Mother 's house in Brooklyn when he was cast in The Iconic role that would win Him two Screen Actors Guild Awards .

He played gangsters in More Than a dozen other mob movies, including Martin Scorsese 's Goodfellas.

His brother, Father Anthony Sirico, posted on Facebook that he is Survived By his Two Children as well as grandchildren and " many other relatives".

Sirico was born in Brooklyn, New York , and was arrested 28 times - spending two stretches in prison.

Speaking to the LA Times in 1990, He Said : " Where I grew up, every guy was trying to prove himself. You either had to have a tattoo or a bullet hole. "

Actor James Caan , was quoted saying of his long-time friend: " He's been able to romanticise his past, throw in a few bangles and sparkles and use it as an actor. "

" What you see is really Him - he just adds a little pepper, a little cayenne, to spice it up. "

A great, loyal client, " his manager Bob McGowan wrote on Friday. " He would do anything to help people in need. "

Source of news: bbc.com