Mr BioFile Interviews by Scoop Malinowski
By Scoop Malinowski
Status: Actor most famous for the role of Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri on the HBO show “The Sopranos.”
DOB: July 29, 1942 ( – July 8, 2022) In: Brooklyn, NY
Hobbies/Interests: I love to play the horses – a lot. I love to chase the ladies – a lot [smile]. And I like to have a good time.
Favorite Movies: Oh God, where do you begin? Where do you begin? I guess Godfather. Pope Of Greenwich Village made me laugh a lot. We did a very cute movie years ago – me and Danny Aiello and Anthony LaPaglia – called 29th Street, that I thought was adorable. Periodic piece. And I could go on and on.
Favorite TV Shows: Well, I love The Sopranos. What can I say? I’m a big fan of 24. CSI always sits me down to watch. Lately, I’ve really been hooked on HBO’s Rome. Deadwood from HBO. There’s a lot of good stuff on. Medium on NBC – wonderful. Patricia Arquette is great.
Childhood Dream: Wanted to be a fighter. Fought in the (Golden) Gloves, fought in the Army. I’m glad I never flattened my nose. I got it out of me. Didn’t know that I really loved acting until I found it. And my God, once you got the itch for acting, forget about it. You can’t scratch it. (How did you find it, how did you start?) Well, I saw a group of actors perform one day – a little comedy sketch. And the minute I watched them, I knew I wanted to be an actor. I knew I could do it.
First Job: I delivered papers as a ten year old boy, a Brooklyn paper, something-Eagle. When I was eleven I was plucking chickens on Avenue K for 25 cents a chicken. That was big money in those days, the early ’50s.
Favorite Meal: A steak at Gallagher’s (NYC) will always suit me.
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: I’m a vanilla guy.
Greatest Moment Of Your Career: Wow, I’ve had a lot of great moments here. Every day’s a great moment… going to work in front of the cameras in Sopranos. Forget about it.
Most Painful Moment: Well, I’ve been filming for 33 years. It’s not like I’ve been lucky those years. 25 of them was a lot of rejection. And it hurts, especially when… but nevertheless.
Favorite Vacation Spot: I’m a Miami guy.
Embarrassing Career Memory: Can’t think of one.
People Qualities Most Admired: I like people with good hearts. People that laugh a lot. I like that.
Film Credits: Godfather II, Goodfellas, Mickey Blue Eyes, Miller’s Crossing, Bullets Over Broadway, Mighty Aphrodite, Dead Presidents, Innocent Blood, 29th Street, The Big Bang, It Had To Be You.
