Paul Sorvino Cause of Death Tragic: 'Goodfellas' Star Dead at 83
Paul Sorvino, who appeared in "Goodfellas" and "Nixon," died. He was 83.
Sorvino's wife, Dee Dee, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that the actor died by her side on Monday. She expressed how broken the family members' hearts are after Sorvino's death, calling him the love of his life and "one of the greatest performers to ever grace the screen and stage."
She shared the same saddening news on Twitter and uploaded pictures of them together.
"I am completely devastated. The love of my life & the most wonderful man who has ever lived is gone. I am heartbroken," she wrote.
Meanwhile, his daughter Mira also showed her pain through a separate post.
"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 to love in the stars Dad as you ascend," she penned.
The statements did not disclose Paul Sorvino's cause of death. But the news outlet disclosed that he died of natural causes at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. His representative, Roger Neal, also told Fox News Digital that he dealt with health issues in the years leading to his death.
Fans and colleagues paid tribute to the actor after learning the news.
Paul Sorvino's Record-Breaking Legacy
Before rising to fame in the acting industry, Sorvino started his career as a singer at Catskills hotels when he was a teenager. Although he dreamt of becoming an opera singer, his asthma led him to act instead. Still, he debuted on Broadway in the musical comedy "Bajour."
To expand his knowledge in the industry, he attended American Musical and Dramatic Academy where he met Sanford Meisner and William Esper.
He also penned the book "How to Become a Former Asthmatic" in 1985 and founded the Sorvino Children's Asthma Foundation.
Sorvino then found himself playing a role for the first time in "Where's Poppa?" in 1970. It opened the doors for him to more projects, including "The Day of the Dolphin," "A Touch of Class," "Made for Each Other," "We'll Get By," and "Bert D'Angelo, Superstar."
In 1973, he scored a Tony nomination and a Drama Desk Award for his role in the Broadway production "That Championship Season." The play by Jason Miller became a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for drama.
But among his projects, he became best known in the 1990 flick, "Goodfellas." He once opened up about his role during the 25th anniversary of the movie, telling New York Times (via The Hollywood Reporter) that he was overjoyed but scared when he got the part.