Stars we lost in 2022: Paul Sorvino - much more than the mobster from Goodfellas

The year 2022 was marked by the deaths of several actors from a generation that delivered great Hollywood crime classics. Another farewell on this list was that of Paul Sorvino on July 25, 2022.

The deaths of actors Ray Liotta (May 26, known for Goodfellas); James Caan (July 6, The Godfather); David Warner (July 24; Titanic, Star Trek); and director Bob Rafelson (July 23, Easy Rider) were part of this list.

And then, there was the passing of Hollywood icon Paul Sorvino at age 83.

Known, above all, for his role as Paulie Cicero in 'Goodfellas' (1990), the actor died of natural causes. In the photo, Paul Sorvino with Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci.

His wife Dee Dee Sorvino released a moving message on social media, saying goodbye to her husband.

"I am completely devastated. The love of my life & the most wonderful man who has ever lived is gone. I am heartbroken," she shared on Instagram.

Photo: Instagram - @deedeeorvino

Married in December 2014, Dee Dee Sorvino was the actor's third wife.

Together with Dee Dee Sorvino, the actor founded the 'Paul Sorvino Asthma Foundation', whose goal was to build specialized asthma centers for children and adults throughout the United States.

Paul Sorvino was a Hollywood legend who left behind a career of half a century with recognizable titles such as 'Nixon' (1995) and 'Houdini' (1998). In the photo, he appears with Warren Beatty, co-star of 'D. Tracy,' in 2016

In total, he made 172 appearances in 50 years, which leaves a more than interesting average of 3.5 projects per year, starting with 'Where's Poppa?' in 1970. In the photo, we see him with Robert De Niro in 2015.

While the mafia movies gave glory and fame to Paul Sorvino in 'Goodfellas', it would be the role of a policeman that continued his fame on television.

Phil Cerretta, the New York Police sergeant who played in 'Law & Order' between 1991 and 1992 (31 episodes in total), was another important role in the 50 years of his career.

Paul went down the aisle three times: Lorraine Davis (1966-1988), Vanessa Arico (1991-1996), and the aforementioned Dee Dee Benkie, whom he married at the end of 2014. In the photo, he appeared with Vanessa Arico and Mira Sorvino in 1995.

The actor left behind three children, two of them well-known performers (Mira and Michael), all of them from his first marriage to Lorraine Davis. Here he is pictured with Lorraine Davis, Amanda Sorvino, and Mira Sorvino in 1985.

One of the scenes best remembered in media such as The Washington Post is that of Paul Sorvino on the day his daughter Mira won the Oscar for best-supporting actress.

She won the Oscar in 1996 for her role as Linda Ash in 'Mighty Aphrodite'. Sorvino played a woman who, due to life circumstances, had to give her son up for adoption.

Mira especially honored her father when she accepted the award, and the proud actor melted in his seat. Later, he'd tell the LA Times that he had no words for that moment. "They don't exist in any language that I've ever heard — well, maybe Italian," the actor joked.

Mira Sorvino was one of his family members who said goodbye to the actor on social media. Just like Dee Dee Sorvino, she wrote an emotional post. She complemented it with a completely black photo on Instagram.

Photo: Instagram - @mirasorvino

"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."

Photo: Twitter - @mirasorvino

As a curious fact, Paul Sorvino considered himself more of an artist than an actor, as he made clear in an interview with 'Orlando Weekly' in 2014. And this comes from a guy with a half-century career as a performer.

"Most people think I’m either a gangster or a cop or something... The reality is I’m a sculptor, a painter, a best-selling author, many, many things - a poet, an opera singer, but none of them is a gangster ... It would be nice to have my legacy more than that of just a tough guy" he said jokingly.

The reason he left his role in 'Law & Order', apart from the frenetic filming pace, was because it affected his vocal cords and prevented him from singing opera properly. He is therefore much more than Paulie Cicero alone.