Biography for
Paul Sorvino More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

13 April 1939, Brooklyn, New York, USA

Height

6' 3" (1.91 m)

Mini Biography

Tall, dark and imposing Italian-American actor, Paul Sorvino has made a solid career of portraying authority figures. He originally had his heart set on a life as an opera singer. He was exposed to dramatic arts while studying at the New York Music and Dramatic Academy. He furthered his studies with Sanford Meisner and eventually made his film debut in Where's Poppa? (1970).

Sorvino suffered from severe asthma, and worked hard at mastering various breathing techniques to manage the illness. He wrote a best-selling book entitled "How to Become a Former Asthmatic". He also started the Sorvino Asthma Foundation based in New York City.

Sorvino has appeared in a variety of film, TV and theatrical productions over the the last four decades. He received critical praise for his role in the Broadway play "That Championship Season," and played the role again in the 1981 film alongside Robert Mitchum and Martin Sheen. Other noteworthy performances during the 1980s and 1990s included a stressed-out police chief in Cruising (1980), Mike Hammer's cop buddy in I, the Jury (1982), Lips Manlis in _The Gambler with James Caan, and in a standout performance as mob patriarch Paul Cicero in the powerhouse Goodfellas (1990).

Always keeping himself busy, Sorvino has performed in nearly 50 movies just in the past decade, including a dynamic and under-appreciated portrayal of Henry Kissinger in Nixon (1995), as Fulgencio Capulet in the updated Romeo + Juliet (1996) and in the Las Vegas thriller The Cooler (2003).

Sorvino is the proud father of Academy Award-winning actress Mira Sorvino.

IMDb Mini Biography By: firehouse44

Spouse

Vanessa Arico	(20 March 1991 - 1996) (divorced)
Lorraine Davis	(? - 1988) (divorced) 3 children

Trivia

Father of actress Mira Sorvino, Amanda Sorvino and Michael Sorvino.

Has severe asthma. Started the Sorvino Asthma Foundation

Is an enthusiastic opera singer, painter, sculptor, and cook

Italian-American, of Neapolitan descent (Naples, Italy).

His budding career was threatened when asthma compromised his ability to talk and sing. But the breathing exercises he learned thirty years ago have allowed him to breathe normally ever since.

Was named as "King of Brooklyn" at the "Welcome Back to Brooklyn" festival in 1993.

Speaks fluent Italian.

In July 2004 he was awarded the "Premio per gli Italiani nel Mondo" at a ceremony in Rome. The prize is distributed by the Marzio Tremaglia Foundation and the Italian government to Italian emigrants and their descendants who have distinguished themselves abroad. At the ceremony he performed the Neapolitan song "Torna a Surriento" with tenor Andrea Bocelli.

Was nominated for Broadway's 1973 Tony Award as Best Actor (Dramatic) for Jason Miller's "That Championship Season."

Shares birthday with Ron Perlman.

Ranked #10 on Tropopkin's Top 25 Most Intriguing People [Issue #100]

Founded the Dogfellas Dog Adoption organization in February of 2002 with his family. It is based in Manhattan and Pennsylvania.

Has appeared in movies with former "Law & Order" (1990) cast-mates on two occasions: with Steven Hill in The Firm (1993) and with Chris Noth in Mr 3000 (2004).

Is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy.

Father-in-Law of Christopher Backus.

In 1993 he founded the Paul Sorvino Asthma Foundation, with the goal of building asthma centers for children and adults across the United States.

Personal Quotes

When asked what he thought of Goodfellas (1990) when it first came out in 1990, he said: "I thought it was boring, excessively violent and not a good movie. I thought I was boring, I thought that I had hurt my career, I thought that this movie should not have been made and it's not a good movie". He then said three hours later after thinking more about it, "Do you know, I'm kind of coming through a clearing here and I'm thinking that's not a boring movie, that's a good movie, that's a great movie maybe, and I'm really good in it!"

On why he left "Law & Order" (1990): "One of the frustrating things about that role - one of the reasons George Dzundza left, I assume, and certainly why I left - is that there wasn't enough range...It wasn't a large enough vehicle for me to express what it was I want to express as an artist."

Where Are They Now

(March 2006) Currently resides in Gilbert, Pennsylvania.

Browse biographies section by name

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z