The actor is also survived by several grandchildren, including four children whom Mira shares with her husband, actor Christopher Backus: Mattea, 17, Johnny, 16, Holden, 13, and Lucia, 10. Family, friends and Hollywood colleagues of "Goodfellas" star Paul Sorvino will gather at the Hollywood Museum Wednesday evening for a . She was born to her parents in 2012 (age 10 years). Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. Resend Activation Email. Mr. Sorvino worked as a waiter and a bartender, sold cars, taught acting to children and appeared in commercials for deodorant and tomato sauce. Phil Cerreta on "Law & Order" in the show's early years. This account has been disabled. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. In 2012 he directed the indie film The Trouble With Cali, scripted by his daughter Amanda Sorvino. Paul Sorvino found out in January 2018 that Harvey Weinstein allegedly physically harassed his girlfriend Mira and then blacklisted her in the entertainment industry after she turned down Weinstein's sexual requests. As of July 2022, the last American legendary actor has four beautiful grandchildren two boys and two girls from his first daughter and child, Mira Katherine Sorvino who is an American actress. He was 83. Mr. Sorvinos final screen roles were in 2019. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Mr. Sorvinos second wife, from 1991 until their 1996 divorce, was Vanessa Arico, a real estate agent. "My father the great Paul Sorvino has passed. The film also starred Robert Mitchum as the former basketball coach and Bruce Dern, Stacy Keach and Martin Sheen as other members of the team that gather for a reunion that will, in fact, see much disharmony come to light. Mattea Angel Backus is the eldest grandchild of the actor. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. May 29, 2006, in Los Angeles, California, United States. Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. He was born to his parents in 2009, hence, he is currently 13 years old. A would-be singing star, he found success in Hollywood playing a variety of roles, but they were often quiet, dangerous men, like Paulie Cicero in Goodfellas.. Sorvino was born in Brooklyn in 1939 and began his career as a copywriter at an ad agency before attending the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Paul Sorvino, best known for starring in "Goodfellas" and "Law & Order," has died. We have set your language to The elder Mr. Sorvino, a robe-factory foreman, was born in Naples, Italy, and emigrated to New York with his parents in 1907. Sorvino began his career in advertising but entered the Hollywood scene after attending the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. This is a carousel with slides. Paul's third child, Michael, also performed in the play. Try again later. My heart is rent asunder- a life of love and joy and wisdom with him is over. Paul Sorvino, the tough-guy actor and operatic tenor and figurative sculptor known for his roles as calm and often courteously quiet but dangerous men in films like Goodfellas and television shows like Law & Order, died on Monday. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. In addition to his wife, he is survived by children Mira, Amanda and Michael and 5 grandchildren. Sorvino made his screen debut with small roles in Wheres Poppa? in 1970 and in The Panic in Needle Park the next year. Verify and try again. (1970).Sorvino suffered from severe asthma, and worked hard at mastering various breathing techniques to manage the illness. She is the sister of the famous award-winning actress Mira Sorvino. He was a married man with three children two beautiful daughters (Mira Sorvino and Amanda Sorvino), and a handsome son (Michael Sorvino). When you find the spine of a character, Mr. Sorvino said, it makes all the decisions for you., That didnt happen, he recalled, until one day when he was adjusting his necktie, looked in the mirror and saw something in his own eyes. She wrote: However, when the Bad Impulse star discovered this, he expressed anger while talking to TMZ. and was among the ensemble in William Friedkins bank robbery comedy "The Brinks Job.". [2] His mother, Angela Maria Mattea (ne Renzi; 1906-1991), was a homemaker and piano teacher of Italian ( Molisan) descent who was born in Connecticut. Most recently, in 2018, when the movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was on trial for criminal sexual acts and Mira Sorvino had accused him of harassment Mr. Sorvino predicted that Mr. Weinstein would die in jail. 2. By Daniella Segell. based on information from your browser. He is survived by his wife Dee Dee (Benkie) Sorvino, three children, Mira Sorvino, Amanda Sorvino, Michael Sorvino, and grandchildren Mattea Angel Backus, Holden Paul Terry Backus, Lucia Backus, Johnny Christopher King Backus. Market data provided by Factset. Sorvino, who founded the Paul Sorvino Asthma Foundation, is survived by his wife, Dee Dee, whom he married in 2014, and his three adult children, including Amanda and actors Mira Sorvino and Michael Sorvino, as well as five grandchildren. Be the first one to comment on this story. Mr. Sorvino began making bronze sculpture in the 1970s and considered his nonperforming arts work particularly satisfying. See Paul Sorvino full list of movies and tv shows from their career. And in at least 20 roles, he played law officers with titles like detective, captain or chief. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. He played a corrupt senator in Welcome to Acapulco, a spy-comedy film, and the crime boss Frank Costello in the Epix series Godfather of Harlem.. Mira has also taken comfort in those who have acknowledged her loss by reaching out in the wake of the Goodfellas actor's death. Paulie might have moved slow, says Henry Hill, played by Ray Liotta, his neighborhood protg in the film, but it was only because he didnt have to move for nobody. (Mr. Liotta died in May at 67. Advertisement. In a 1994 episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the actor appeared as the Klingon Worfs human foster brother,Dr. Nikolai Rozhenko. Mira Sorvino is taking time to honor the legacy of her late father, actor Paul Sorvino. Recovering with only minor bruises, after being hit by a car in Manhattan on October 7, 2011, while hailing a cab. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Failed to remove flower. He stated: As per his IMDb profile, Sorvino had several projects in his kitty that were on the verge of completion. He was 83. The "Law & Order" actor died of natural causes, according to his representative Roger Neal. He also started the Sorvino Asthma Foundation based in New York City.Sorvino appeared in a variety of film, TV, and theatrical productions over five decades. His father, Ford Sorvino, was an Italian ( Neapolitan) immigrant who worked in a robe factory as a foreman. Find where to watch Paul Sorvino's latest movies and tv shows . In 1986 he guested on Moonlighting, playing the father of Bruce Willis David Addison. Weve updated the security on the site. The young Sorvino was intelligent, an avid reader and an exceptional scholar. Taking to her Twitter handle on July 26, the 54-year-old star wrote a heartfelt note for her "wonderful father.". His original career dream was to sing he idolized the Italian American tenor and actor Mario Lanza and he began taking voice lessons when he was 8 years old or so. In her acceptance speech, she said her father had taught me everything I know about acting.. Mr. Sorvino received a Tony Award nomination for best actor in a play and reprised the role in a 1982 film adaptation. His mother, Angela (Renzi), was a piano teacher, of Italian descent. He was born to his parents onMay 29, 2006, in Los Angeles, California, United States. Try again later. Paul Sorvino's eldest child, Mira, won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1996 for her role in the romantic comedy film Mighty Aphrodite. He happens to be the third child of his parents. The news of his death was confirmed by Sorvino's third wife, Dee Dee Benkie, via his publicist Roger Neal. Then his luck changed. Try again later. He was born in Brooklyn, New York City. He was 83. "My father the great Paul Sorvino has passed. My father the great Paul Sorvino has passed. He wrote a best-selling book entitled "How to Become a Former Asthmatic". He often portrayed authority figures on both sides of the law, and is possibly best known for his roles as Paulie Cicero, a portrayal of Paul Vario in the 1990 gangster film Goodfellas, and NYPD Sergeant Phil Cerreta on the police procedural and legal drama television . She was the love of my life. When he saw what he called that lethal Paulie look, Mr. Sorvino told The Lowcountry Weekly, a South Carolina publication, in 2019, I knew at that moment I had embraced my inner mob boss.. Mira Sorvino and Amanda Sorvino), and a handsome son (Michael Sorvino). Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Johnny Christopher King Backus is the second eldest among Pauls grandchildren and happens to be the first grandson of the actor. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. The actor made his Broadway debut in the musical Bajour in 1964. He married Lorraine Davis, an actress, in 1966, and they had three children before divorcing in 1988. Now in part it has come to pass. Started the Sorvino Asthma Foundation. He was 83. Mira Sorvino (@MiraSorvino) July 25, 2022, Sorvino worked continually, with more than 170 credits and dozens of roles in recent years including guest appearances in Godfather of Harlem, Bad Blood, Undercover Grandpa, The Goldbergs and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.. | "She was sent to me by God. He appeared next as a New Yorker robbed by a prostitute in The Panic in Needle Park (1972) but did not fall victim to the cops-and-gangsters stereotype right away. After his first child, Mira, was born, he wrote advertising copy for nine months, but the office job gave him an ulcer. He furthered his studies with Sanford Meisner and eventually made his film debut in Where's Poppa? In addition to his wife and his daughters Mira and Amanda, Sorvino is survived by a son, Michael, and five grandchildren. "I miss you Dad!!!" He is 16 years old as of July 2022. No one really tells you how to finish something., Acting onstage is like doing sculpture, he said. In 1963, he received his Actors Equity card as a chorus member in South Pacific and The Student Prince at the Theater at Westbury on Long Island. Her father's family were Italian immigrants. The Academy Award winner, 54, paid tribute to the Goodfellas acting legend in a heartfelt statement on Twitter after Paul. He finished shooting Pursued and The Ride while My Jurassic Place and The Chameleon was yet to be completed. Sorvino attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and had thoughts of becoming an opera singer before making his Broadway debut in the mid-1960s. He received a Tony nomination for his role in "That Championship Season". (Image via Ron Galella/Getty) As mentioned above, Mira Sorvino is not the only child that. Legal Statement. Members of her family, including her actor brother Michael Sorvino, sit together in one of the restaurant's famous red banquettes, underneath the patriarch's caricature. The actor died Monday morning with his wife Dee Dee Sorvino by his side. I am heartbroken .". Sorvino married his wife Dee Dee in 2014. Paul Sorvino, an imposing actor who specialized in playing crooks and cops like Paulie Cicero in "Goodfellas" and the NYPD sergeant Phil Cerreta on "Law & Order," has died. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Im sending you love in the stars Dad as you ascend.. Paul as previously stated is the father of three children, in this article, we will be diving into his personal life to know the number of grandchildren he has from his three children and who they are. As of July 2022, the last American legendary actor has four beautiful grandchildren - two boys and two girls from his first daughter and child, Mira Katherine Sorvino - who is an American actress. The actor worked at least as much in television as he did on the bigscreen. On Tuesday, the Mighty Aphrodite actress, 54, thanked legendary New York City restaurant Sardi's for hosting her family as they paid tribute to Paul, who died July 25 at the age of 83 from natural causes. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Paul Anthony Sorvino I found on Findagrave.com. Paul is survived by his third wife, Dee Sorvino; his three children, Mira, Amanda, and Michael; and five grandchildren. The next year he appeared in comic play Mating Dance; unsure if he wanted to continue acting, he worked as an executive at an advertising firm. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer. There are 4 grandkids of Paul Sorvino. Paul Sorvino was an actor known for his performances as Paulie Cicero in "Goodfellas" and NYPD Sergeant Phil Ceretta in "Law & Order.". Your login session has expired. "A life of love and joy and wisdom with him is over. Make sure that the file is a photo. Phil Cerreta on NBCs Law & Order, but he found the shooting schedule too demanding and difficult on his voice. Custom Content. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Sorvino is most known for his role in "Goodfellas.". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Survivors include his other children, Amanda and Michael, and five grandchildren. They all share the same parents Mira Sorvino and her husband Christopher Backus. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. All rights reserved. Mr. Sorvino, second from left, with other cast members of That Championship Season, which started Off Broadway before moving to Broadway. For one season (1991-92), he was Sgt. Paul Sorvino, an imposing actor whose roles ranged from the mob boss in Goodfellas to an early stint on the long-running cop drama Law & Order, has died, according to his publicist Roger Neal. In July 2004, he was awarded the "Premio per gli Italiani nel Mondo" at a ceremony in Rome. Frank Cerreta on NBCs Law & Order, as Mafia don Pail Cicero in Martin Scorseses beloved gangster film Goodfellas and as Kissinger in Oliver Stones Nixon., Mira Sorvino tweeted, My father the great Paul Sorvino has passed. And he played Fulgencio Capulet, Juliets intense father with an ancient grudge, in Baz Luhrmanns Romeo + Juliet (1996). My father the great Paul Sorvino has passed. Sorvino married his wife Dee Dee in 2014. Actor Paul Sorvino, known for both film and theater performances, poses for a portrait, April 27, 1979. Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines of the week, Olivia Newton-John's daughter Chloe reveals 'promise' she made to mother before her death, Emma Stones 'And' co-star Willem Dafoe had her slap him 20 times to get scene right, Prince Harry's 'attacks' on 'villain' Camilla led to Frogmore Cottage eviction: expert, Film industry reacts to death of 'Saving Private Ryan' star Tom Sizemore: 'You're a legend', Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves take bumpy second flight after 'CHAOS' on Lufthansa plane: 'Wish me luck'. "Thank you so much @SardisNYC for the perfect memorial repast you hosted for Dad. "The love of my life & the most wonderful man who has ever lived is gone . By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. He started a career as an advertising . You can always change this later in your Account settings. I am heartbroken. He was 83. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. ), Mr. Sorvino almost abandoned the role because he couldnt fully connect emotionally, he told the comedian Jon Stewart, who interviewed a panel of Goodfellas alumni at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival. Italian-American, with ancestry from Vomero, Naples, Campania, and Casacalenda, Province of Campobasso, Molise. Father of actress Mira Sorvino. To use this feature, use a newer browser. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. His mother, Angela (Renzi), was a piano teacher, of Italian descent. He later transitioned into films and television and is most known for his roles in "Goodfellas" and "Law and Order. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. His. As Mattea Angel Backus and Lucia Backus, his grandchildren are also renowned. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. He was exposed to dramatic arts while studying at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. His "tough guy" image followed him throughout his career. There was a problem getting your location. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Mira wrote in a first tweet. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. His publicist, Roger Neal, confirmed the death, at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla. No specific cause was given, but Mr. Neal said that Mr. Sorvino had dealt with health issues over the past few years., Mr. Sorvino was the father of Mira Sorvino, who won a best supporting actress Oscar for Woody Allens Mighty Aphrodite (1995). Frank Cerreta, the partner of Christopher Noths Det. Sorvino is perhaps best remembered for director Martin Scorseses 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. The actor was afforded the rare chance to play a romantic lead in the 1978 film Slow Dancing in the Big City, directed by John Avildsen right after he helmed Rocky, but the story of a newspaper columnist whos a big lug (but one whos famous around New York) whos paired with a dying dancer played by Anne Ditchburn was definitively sunk by a sentimental script. He was currently playing Frank Costello on "Godfather of Harlem.". This marriage too didn't work out and he divorced his second wife in 1996. He is perhaps most remembered for playing Paul Cicero in "Goodfellas," which was released in 1990. He had made his mark onstage as a very different but perhaps equally soulless character in That Championship Season (1972), Jason Millers Pulitzer Prize-winning tragicomedy about the sad reunion of high school basketball players whose glory days are decades past. Thats why I prefer it, he told The Sun-Sentinel, a Florida newspaper, in 2005. She was born to her parents on November 3, 2004, hence, she is currently at the age of 17. "A week ago, @StPatsNYC & Fr Enrique Salvo gave my father the most moving, inspiring memorial mass we ever could have wished for," Mira also shared on Twitter Monday, alongside photos from the church service. Market data provided by Factset. We literally felt him in the room-not only as all his descendants sat below his caricature-but because we had spent so many happy hours w/him in one of his favorite restaurants! What does the man have to do? Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Acting in movies is like being an assistant to the sculptor.. He was born on April 13, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York to mother Marietta (Angela Maria Mattea Renzi) Sorvino and father Fortunato (Ford) Sorvino. Sorvino died on Monday of natural causes with his wife Dee Dee by his side. Paul Anthony Sorvino was born on April 13, 1939, in Brooklyn, the youngest of three sons of Fortunato Sorvino, known as Ford, and Marietta (Renzi) Sorvino, a homemaker and piano teacher.. (Sorvino and his wife later co-wrote the book Pinot, Pasta, and Parties.). The Associated Press contributed to this report. Sorvino learned a lot about drama -- and performing -- from her acting parents, Paul Sorvino and Lorraine Davis, who met at a class in the 1960s conducted by esteemed teacher Sandy Meisner. [March 2006]. Editor at Ghanafuo.com! Dee Dee and Sorvino married in 2014 after a chance meeting during a Fox News Channel show. A system error has occurred. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/242005161/paul-anthony-sorvino. 2023 Variety Media, LLC. Sorvino gave a moving performance to go alongside that of LeVar Burton in the 1979 TV movie Dummy, in which Burton played a deaf-mute who had never learned to write or sign and thus had no way to communicate himself or defend himself when hes wrongfully charged with murder until a empathetic, hearing-impaired attorney played by Sorvino takes his case. CNN Paul Sorvino, an imposing actor whose roles ranged from the mob boss in "Goodfellas" to an early stint on the long-running cop drama "Law & Order," has died, according to his publicist. Paul grew up in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn and attended Lafayette High School. Sorvino attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and appeared in a long list of cinematic and television roles that included portraying Henry Kissinger in "Nixon" (1995), "Dick Tracy" (1990), "Reds" (1981) and "The Rocketeer" (1991). Because if not, he has to meet me, and I will kill the [expletive deleted] real simple, Mr. Sorvino said in a widely aired video interview. It would be nice to have my legacy more than that of just tough guy.". Lorraine and Sorvino divorced in 1988, and Sorvino married Vanessa Arico in 1991. Mr. Sorvino is survived by his wife Dee. He will be interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles in the Garden of Legends alongside other famous performers. Father of actress Mira Sorvino. ", Paul Sorvino has died from natural causes, according to his representative. ", In the 1970s, he acted alongside Al Pacino in "The Panic in Needle Park" and with James Caan in "The Gambler," reteamed with Reiner in "Oh, God!" He was also a parent to daughter Amanda and son Michael. With him, from left, were Walter McGinn, Richard Dysart, Michael McGuire and Charles Durning. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. He was the most wonderful father. He was the most wonderful father. Sorry! At the time of his death in 2022, there were three more films in which he appeared yet to be released, including The Ride in which he worked alongside his wife Dee Dee Sorvino.Sorvino was the proud father of Academy Award-winning actress Mira Sorvino. After the actress shared her emotional tweets, fans responded to her candor by offering her love and support. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? "All were touched by grace-hope & light filled us as we expressed our love for our beloved father as he now dwells in the heart of Our Father. He was married thrice from 1966 to July 2022 when he passed away. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. He received critical praise for his role in the Broadway play "That Championship Season", and played the role again in the 1981 film alongside Robert Mitchum and Martin Sheen. "Our hearts are broken, there will never be another Paul Sorvino, he was the love of my life, and one of the greatest performers to ever grace the screen and stage," she said in a statement. Before his death, Paul Sorvino enjoyed being a father to his three kids, Mira, Amanda and Michael. In 1993, he founded the Paul Sorvino Asthma Foundation, with the goal of building asthma centers for children and adults across the United States. Add to your scrapbook. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. Mattea Angel Backus, Johnny Christopher King Backus, Lucia Backus, and Holden Paul Terry Backus are the four grandchildren of Paul.