Free Republic

Tony Sirico, one of the main stars of "The Sopranos," is dead ... TMZ has confirmed.Tony played Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri, one of Tony Soprano's main guys for every season of the HBO hit show. His brother Robert announced his passing on Facebook saying "It is with great sadness, but with incredible pride, love and a whole lot of fond memories, that the family of Gennaro Anthony "Tony" Sirico wishes to inform you of his death."Sirico was a big supporter of the U.S. military -- he and James Gandolfini once traveled to Iraq for a rally for the troops there. He...

July 16, 2004 -- Sopranos gangster "Paulie Walnuts" joined a mob of diehard Republicans yesterday at a Queens fund-raiser that helped pump cash into President Bush's campaign. Actor Tony Sirico, who plays the mobster on the hit HBO series "The Sopranos," joined more than 100 people at the Belle Harbor Yacht Club, which was sponsored by the Rockaway Republicans. "I'm here because I'm a far-to-the-right Republican," he said. At another Bush gathering in Midtown, rap impresario Sean "Puffy" Combs showed up at Connolly's Bar to help promote his new MTV show and get out the vote.