Joseph Siravo, best known for his role as Tony Soprano's ruthless father on "The Sopranos," died Sunday after a battle with cancer at age 64. His daughter, Allegra Okarmus, confirmed the news on Instagram.
"I was by his side when my dear father passed away this morning, peacefully, in his beloved Treehouse," she wrote, according to BBC. "I am so immensely grateful to have had him here on earth and I know that he hasn’t gone very far. He had many credits, but his favorite one by far was that of Nonno Joe."
Siravo's co-stars also took to social media to pay tribute to the late actor.
"RIP my dear friend, who fought an incredible fight. I will miss you. See you on the other side," wrote Garry Pastore in an Instagram post.
"Our friend and colleague JOE SIRAVO has passed away," wrote Michael Imperioli on Instagram. "Joe was an excellent actor and a wonderful guy and he will be missed dearly. His performance of Johnny Boy Soprano was spot on and he also made a perfect John Gotti in Nick Sandow’s “The Wannabe.” In my opinion he was the best of all the actors who’ve played the Teflon Don. Farewell Joe. Until the next life my friend."
Although known as an on-screen actor, Siravo’s career began in theater. Born in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 12, 1957, he first became acquainted with the stage when he began performing with an all-male acapella group while attending Stanford University, where he graduated in 1977 with a BA, noted The Hollywood Reporter.
In 1980 he received his MFA from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts Theatre Program and from there went on to appear in several theatrical productions on Broadway, including the Tony Award-winning play "Oslo," as well as "The Light in the Piazza" and off-Broadway plays "Mad Forest," "Up Against the Wind," and "The Root," among others.
From 2006 to 2012 Siravo toured with the production of "Jersey Boys," in which he played Gyp DeCarlo. He further gained attention after being cast in "The Sopranos" as Johnny Soprano and then as Ron Goldman's father, Fred Goldman, in "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story."
Siravo’s other notable TV credits include: "For Life," "The Blacklist," "Made in Jersey," "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Law & Order." He also appeared in films like "The Report," "Motherless Brooklyn," "The Wannabe," and "Night Falls on Manhattan."
Outside of acting, Siravo taught in various actor-training programs in New York. He later joined the faculty of NYU Grad Acting.
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