As reported by Variety and various other outlets, actor Tony Sirico has died at the age of 79. Sirico was best-known for playing Peter Paul “Paulie Walnuts” Gualtieri on HBO’s The Sopranos. He also played seemingly dozens of mobsters and colorful characters in many other movies and TV shows.
We Muppet fans also fondly remember Sirico’s hilarious appearance in the Sesame Street special Elmo’s Christmas Countdown in 2007. Sirico and fellow Sopranos star Steve Schirripa starred in a sketch called “The Bert and Ernie Christmas Special.”
A year later, Sirico and Schirripa worked with the Disney-owned Muppets in the TV special A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa, making a cameo as “Mafia guys.”
Sirico had great screen presence, and he worked well with Muppets. He will be missed.
Click here to practice your “Bert laugh” in memory of Tony Sirico on the Tough Pigs forum!
by Ryan Roe – Ryan@ToughPigs.com
