American actor Paul Sorvino, famous for his role in Freedmen and father of actress Mira Sorvino, died Monday at the age of 83, his entourage announced. “I am devastated. The love of my life and the most wonderful man to have been born is gone. I am heartbroken”wrote his wife, Dee Dee Sorvino, on her Facebook page.
My father the great Paul Sorvino has passed. My heart is rent asunder- a life of love and joy and wisdom with him is over. He was the most wonderful father. I love him so much. I’m sending you love in the stars Dad as you ascend.
—Mira Sorvino (@MiraSorvino) July 25, 2022
“My father, the great Paul Sorvino, is dead”wrote on Twitter his daughter Mira Sorvino, winner of an Oscar in 1996 for the film Cursed Aphrodite by Woody Allen. “My heart is torn, a life full of love, joy and wisdom by his side has come to an end”she laments.
Born in April 1939 in New York, Paul Sorvino was best known for his role as Paul Cicero in Freedmen by Martin Scorsese, alongside Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta, released in 1990. The following year, he distinguished himself in the television series New York, Judicial Police where he played a policeman. In 1995, he took on the role of Henry Kissinger in the film Nixon by Oliver Stone.
Paul Sorvino had multiplied the supporting roles in the cinema or in television series but he was a multi-faceted artist, with in particular a gift for sculpture or opera. “Most people think I’m either a gangster or a cop or something, but in reality I’m a sculptor, a painter, a writer (…), but apparently I have a knack for playing this kind of roles”said Paul Sorvino in 2014 in an interview with the Orlando Weekly.