Tony Sirico, the actor who played Paulie ‘Walnuts’ on ‘The Sopranos,’ dies at 79

Tony Sirico, the actor best known as loyal gangster Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri in the HBO drama “The Sopranos,” has died. He was 79.

Sirico died Friday morning in an assisted living facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, his manager Bob McGowan confirmed to The Times. No cause of death was revealed, but the actor had dementia.

“He was a very loyal client of 25 years and he’s an ex-Army vet and always gave to charities,” McGowan said of his client, who was born Gennaro Anthony Sirico Jr. “He’s a big contributor to the Wounded Warriors.”