‘A life of love, joy and wisdom with him is over – my heart is rent asunder’: Actress Mira Sorvino’s moving tribute to her beloved father Hollywood legend Paul who died aged, 83, on Monday with his wife by his side
- Paul Sorvino died of natural causes in Indiana on Monday morning at age 83
- Oscar-winner Mira Sorvino paid moving tribute to ‘most wonderful father’
- His wife, Dee Dee Benkie, was by his side when he unexpectedly passed away
- Paul once threatened to kill Harvey Weinstein over allegations against Mira
- Paul was most known for his role in mobster film Goodfellas with Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci
The beloved daughter of late Hollywood legend Paul Sorvino has paid moving tribute to ‘the most wonderful father’ after the Goodfellas actor passed away unexpectedly on Monday.
Mira Sorvino, 54, who won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1996, said that her ‘heart was rent asunder’ after the death of her father at the age of 83.
His publicist Roger Neal told DailyMail.com that he died of natural causes in Indiana with his wife Dee Dee Benkie by his side.
Mira tweeted: ‘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.’
Paul Sorvino became a movie legend over a 50 year career in television and Hollywood, most famous for his role as terrifying mob boss Paul Cicero in the 1990 smash hit gangster movie Goodfellas with Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci.
In April, Mira wished him a happy 83rd birthday. ‘A very Happy Birthday to my father Paul Sorvino,’ she wrote on Twitter alongside a black and white throwback image of herself and her father.
‘I miss you so much and hope to be together in person very soon!’ the Barcelona star added.
Paul Sorvino and his daughter, Mira Sorvino, who paid moving tribute to her father after he passed away on Monday. Pictured Paul and Mira
The Office actor Andy Buckley, Dee Dee Benkie, Paul Sorvino and Mira Sorvino are pictured together in February 2020. Tributes have been pouring in after Paul passed away at the age of 83
Paul Sorvino (center) is pictured with his first wife, Lorraine Davis (left) and their daughter Mira Sorvino (right) in December 1982 in New York City during the premiere of That Championship Season. Mira, now 54, said her heart was ‘rent asunder’ on the news of her father’s death
A classic: The star was best known for his role as Paul Cicero in the 1990 smash hit mobster movie Goodfellas with Ray Liotta, who also died this year, and Robert De Niro. From left, Liotta, De Niro, Sorvino and Joe Pesci
Mira Sorvino posted a tribute to her late father on Monday: ‘A life of love and joy and wisdom with him is over’
The actress made her Hollywood breakthrough performing as a happy-go-lucky prostitute in Woody Allen’s Might Aphrodite, for which she won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress.
Proud father Paul Sorvino cried when eldest daughter Mira won the Oscar in 1996. He the Los Angeles Times that night that he didn’t have the words to express how he felt.
‘They don’t exist in any language that I’ve ever heard – well, maybe Italian,’ he said of his daughter’s accomplishment.
But her rising star waned almost immediately – due in part, it is suspected, to the wrath of notorious Hollywood producer and convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein after she rejected his advances.
When Paul learned that Mira had been among the women allegedly sexually harassed and blacklisted by Harvey Weinstein in the midst of the #MeToo reckoning, he told TMZ that if he had known, Weinstein, ‘Would not be walking. He’d be in a wheelchair.’
‘He better hope that he goes to jail. Because if we come across [each other] I think he will be lying on the floor’, Sorvino told the newsoutlet in 2018.
‘He’s gonna go to jail that son of a b****. And good for him if he goes, because if he not, he has to meet me.’
He then added: ‘And I will kill that motherf*****.’
Mira claimed Weinstein’s attempts to engage with her began in 1995, when she was promoting her role in Mighty Aphrodite. He began to massage her shoulders while the two were alone in a hotel room at the Toronto Film Festival according to Mira, who said that he then tried to take things further but she was able to ward him off at the time.
Chris Backus, Mira Sorvino and Harvey Weinstein are pictured at HBO’s Annual Pre-Golden Globes Party on January 14, 2006 in Los Angeles. Mira claimed Weinstein’s attempts to engage with her began in 1995, when she was promoting her role in Woody Allen’s Mighty Aphrodite
When Sorvino learned that Mira had been among the women allegedly sexually harassed and blacklisted by Harvey Weinstein in the midst of the #MeToo reckoning, he told TMZ in 2018 that if he had known, Weinstein, ‘Would not be walking. He’d be in a wheelchair’
Sad farewell: Hollywood actor Paul Sorvino (pictured left in 2018) has died at the age of 83, it was shared on Monday. Paul and daughter Mira are pictured together on right in 2007
Mira Sorvino, Amanda Sorvino, Charlie Korsmo, Paul Sorvino and his second wife, Vanessa Arico, are pictured together in June 1990
A few weeks later he managed to bypass her doorman and make it up to her apartment around midnight, at which point she told him her boyfriend was on the way after calling a male friend to rush over.
Mira believes that this rejection of Weinstein ultimately hurt her career.
‘There may have been other factors, but I definitely felt iced out and that my rejection of Harvey had something to do with it,’ said the actress.
Mira later added that her story ‘pales in comparison’ to some of the others.
Paul also revealed that he was unaware of Weinstein’s treatment of his daughter prior to her interview with The New Yorker in 2017.
After the actor issued his commentary to TMZ, publicly denouncing Weinstein and threatening his life, Mira took to Twitter: ‘My love for my father has only continued to grow since this moment. All the love in my heart!’
‘He is the most loving father, the most brilliant actor, the most beautiful operatic tenor, the most talented visual artist- the wisest and most human advice giver, & best Grandpa ever!!’
Paul Sorvino’s wife of eight years, actress and political pundit Dee Dee Benkie, was by his side when he passed away.
‘Our hearts are broken, there will never be another Paul Sorvino, he was the love of my life, and one of the greatest performers to ever grace the screen and stage,’ Benkie said in a statement.
His publicist Roger Neal said he died Monday morning in Indiana of natural causes. His wife of eight years, Dee Dee Benkie, was by his side. Sorvino and Benkie are pictured together
Sorvino and Benkie are pictured during the filming of the 2019 film Welcome to Acapulco
Benkie shared a photo of Sorvino on June 2, captioning her post: ‘You liberals who are talking about gun grabs. Try and come get our guns’
Sorvino passed away Monday at his Indiana home (pictured) surrounded by his wife, Dee Dee
Benkie issued a statement saying she is ‘heartbroken’ after losing the ‘love of my life’
Paul Sorvino’s 1956 yearbook photo from the Lafayette High School in Brooklyn, New York
Benkie, who often shared photos of their life together, posted a photo of Sorvino holding a shotgun on June 2, as Democratic lawmakers pushed for stricter gun control in the US – following a slew of mass shootings.
She captioned the photo, which is believed to be one of his most recent: ‘You liberals who are talking about gun grabs. Try and come get our guns.’
Sorvino married Emmy Awar winner Benkie in 2014 after a chance meeting on the Neil Cavuto show on Fox News.
‘She was sent to me by god, she was the love of my life, when I met her there was an aura of light around her head, I felt that was my mother telling me she is the one,’ he said of Benkie, with whom he co-authored the book Pinot, Pasta, and Parties.
Sorvino is the latest movie mobster to pass away. His Goodfellas castmate Liotta, 67, died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was filming Dangerous Waters, in May.
The Godfather star James Caan, who also appeared alongside Sorvino in The Gambler, died from a heart attack earlier this month at age 82.
Sorvino’s work remains highly regarded by his colleagues and fans, who flooded social media with tributes after his passing.
Sorvino is the latest movie mobster to pass away. His Goodfellas castmate Ray Liotta, 67, (left) died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic, where he was filming Dangerous Waters, in May. The Godfather star James Caan, (right) who also appeared alongside Sorvino in The Gambler, died from a heart attack earlier this month at age 82
Ray Liotta, Martin Scorcese and Paul Sorvino attend the screening of Goodfellas on September 17, 1990 at Mann Bruin Theater in Westwood, California
‘The amazing Paul Sorvino has passed,’ Seinfield star Jason Alexander penned. ‘From Baker’s Wife on Bway to Shakespeare in the Park to all the incredible film/tv roles – he was magnificent in all.’
He added: ‘Blessings to his friends and family.’
Ralph Macchio, best known for his work in the Karate Kid films and its Netflix spinoff show Cobra Kai, said Sorvino was ‘many memorable roles in in so many genres.’
‘RIP to a [sic] one of the truest and honest actors I had had the pleasure of working with and getting to know,’ Macchio added, calling the actor: ‘The great Paul Sorvino.’
Sorvino’s Goodfellas castmate Lorraine Bracco, who also appeared in The Sopranos, issued her condolences to his loved ones, saying: ‘So sad to hear of the passing of Paul Sorvino…May he Rest In Peace.’
‘We participated in many charity events for RFK Foundation together. He was a very kind and giving man. He will be missed,’ shared 90210 actor Trevor Donovan.
Canadian actor Kim Coates added: ‘Just now heard we’ve lost a legend…Paul broke the mold.. his singing opera every day before takes were legend .. his soul .. legend. I’ll miss you Paul.’
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