Tony Sirico was born on July 29, 1942, in New York City to a family of Italian descent. Growing up, he resided in the Brooklyn neighborhoods of East Flatbush and Bensonhurst, surrounded by the vibrant culture and community of his childhood.
His brother, Father Robert Sirico, is a Catholic priest and co-founder of the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty, a renowned American research and educational institution, or think tank, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Institute's mission is to promote a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles.
Prior to his successful acting career, Sirico was convicted of several crimes and was arrested a total of 28 times, including for disorderly conduct, assault, and robbery. On February 27, 1970, he was arrested at a restaurant, and found in possession of a.32 caliber revolver. In 1971, he was indicted for extortion, coercion, and felony weapons possession, convicted, and sentenced to four years in prison, serving 20 months at Sing Sing.
Sadly, Tony Sirico passed away on July 8, 2022, at the age of 79, due to undisclosed causes.
