The star, who was best known for his portrayal of mob kingpin Carmine Lupertazzi in hit TV show The Sopranos, passed away in hospital in Teaneck
New York:
Veteran actor Tony Lip has died atthe age of 82.
The star, who was best known for his portrayal of mobkingpin Carmine Lupertazzi in hit TV show The Sopranos,passed away in hospital in Teaneck, New Jersey on January 4.
The exact cause of his death is unknown but familymembers said that Lip's health had been failing in recentyears, reported New York Times.
Born Frank Anthony Vallelonga, Lip played minor leaguebaseball in North Carolina with the St Louis Brownsorganisation, then served in the American Army from 1951 to1953 in Germany.
During the 1960s, he worked as general manager of thefamed Copacabana nightclub in Manhattan, New York City wherehe met The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola andcasting director Louis DiGiaimo, who gave him a minor role inthe movie as a wedding guest.
Lip went on to star in successful films Goodfellas,Raging Bull and Donnie Brasco.
In 2005, he co-wrote and released a cookbook titled ShutUp And Eat!, in which he and Italian-American actors JamesGandolfini, Danny Aiello and Chazz Palminteri shared theirfamilies' favourite Italian recipes.
His funeral will take place on January 8 in FranklinLakes, New Jersey.
The star, who was best known for his portrayal of mobkingpin Carmine Lupertazzi in hit TV show The Sopranos,passed away in hospital in Teaneck, New Jersey on January 4.
The exact cause of his death is unknown but familymembers said that Lip's health had been failing in recentyears, reported New York Times.
Born Frank Anthony Vallelonga, Lip played minor leaguebaseball in North Carolina with the St Louis Brownsorganisation, then served in the American Army from 1951 to1953 in Germany.
During the 1960s, he worked as general manager of thefamed Copacabana nightclub in Manhattan, New York City wherehe met The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola andcasting director Louis DiGiaimo, who gave him a minor role inthe movie as a wedding guest.
Lip went on to star in successful films Goodfellas,Raging Bull and Donnie Brasco.
In 2005, he co-wrote and released a cookbook titled ShutUp And Eat!, in which he and Italian-American actors JamesGandolfini, Danny Aiello and Chazz Palminteri shared theirfamilies' favourite Italian recipes.
His funeral will take place on January 8 in FranklinLakes, New Jersey.
