Paul Sorvino’s late Goodfellas co-star wife is talking openly about the actor’s last days performing opera and amusing staff in a Florida hospital as his health worsened.
In order to “not hurt” his close friends in his last year, the jovial, kind-hearted Sorvino kept his pneumonia and renal problems a secret. This was disclosed by his wife Dee Dee at a homage to her late husband.
Dee Dee made an emotional revelation about how Sorvino entertained staff and patients while confined to a bed at the Mayo Clinic in Florida by singing opera arias and sharing tales from his time in Hollywood. Dee Dee recalled how “beautiful nurses” waited in line to see her well-known spouse.
She spoke about how the 83-year-old was wheelchair-bound throughout the epidemic but never voiced any complaints about his failing health.
In the end, he found it to be quite difficult. We were at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, she added. “Paul made everyone in the hospital fall in love.” Naturally, Big Paulie won the hearts of everyone wherever Paul went.
It is difficult to amuse or be upbeat when you are ill, yet he managed to do so.
At a Celebration Of Life event held at The Hollywood Museum, Dee Dee Benkie paid tribute to her deceased husband Paul Sorvino on stage.
At the age of 83, Sorvino passed away naturally, and his wife Dee Dee was at his side. In 2014, Paul and Dee Dee were hitched.
Dee Dee said that during his dying days at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, her spouse performed opera and amused nurses.
Dee Dee spoke at the Celebration Of Life event last week at The Hollywood Museum at the Historic Max Factor Building in Hollywood, revealing the New Yorker’s fearless and upbeat viewpoint.
Paul is singing opera while lying in a hospital bed, and everyone in the hallway can hear him. And everyone starts to run. All the sexy nurses were there while he was narrating tales. Not surprising at all, Dee Dee replied.
Every nurse was beautiful than the next, she said, adding, “And that’s how it was with Paul.” That is not an issue for me. There was family.
“This guy was the essence of love. He loved his family, wife, the globe, his fans, and his craft.” According to his wife Dee Dee, “Paul Sorvino will never be replaced.”
Dee Dee stated, “Knowing how strong he was in the end, I have to tell you, you all would be proud of him and you would understand the love of the man,” to the gathering of relatives and friends.
“This guy was the essence of love. He loved his family, wife, the globe, his fans, and his craft.” Paul Sorvino will never, ever be replaced.
The third wife of Sorvino was Dee Dee, 55. The couple wed in 2014. She said the actor, who portrayed Paulie Cicero in the Martin Scorsese movie, did not want his fans, friends, or extended family to be concerned about him.
He did not want other people to feel sorry for him. He intended to lift your spirits. That was Paul’s main goal in life: to make you happy. He was in pain, but he wouldn’t moan. He wanted no one to find out.
During the epidemic, Sorvino accepted a transfer to rural Madison, Indiana, where he was treated like king, according to Dee Dee.
He adored Madison, which is a small but lovely town. Paul was using a wheelchair at the time.
He did not want anybody to be aware that he was ill, had any issues, or required dialysis. That task was quite difficult.
She said that after he had his second dosage of the Covid vaccination, he experienced negative side effects and intermittent pneumonia for a year.
He received a role in Godfather of Harlem at that time.
He went to the movie like a soldier, and they allowed him use a wheelchair. Dee Dee replied, “Big Paulie could sit on a chair.
There was nothing wrong with his acting, but he was difficult to move about, and nobody knew whether he was ill or not. I was aware of it. She said, “That was the great Paul Sorvino.”
The actor was most recognised for his part as Paulie Cicero in the 1990 mafia blockbuster Goodfellas, which also starred Robert De Niro and Ray Liotta, who passed away this year. Liotta, De Niro, Sorvino, and Joe Pesci, all from left.
Ray Liotta and Paul in their 1990 movie Goodfellas. In May, Liotta died away.
Sorvino was cast in Godfather of Harlem despite having health problems.
He went to film like a warrior, and they allowed him to do it in a wheelchair. Dee Dee stated, “Big Paulie could sit on a chair.”
Opera-loving On movie and television sets, Sorvino was renowned for breaking into song. He died on July 25.
During the occasion at The Hollywood Museum, co-star of Goodfellas Robert De Niro and director Martin Scorsese delivered heartfelt tributes via video.
I want to say my goodbyes to Paul, De Niro stated. I first met him when I was in my mid-20s and everyone in New York was auditioning for The Godfather. The casting director heard Paul and I read.
We performed an improv, and I was so delighted with what he had done that I told him, “You were wonderful,” to which he responded.
“We were a society that praised one another.” He was [excellent], nevertheless.
It left me with such a lasting impact all those years ago.
Eventually, we collaborated on Goodfellas. Although we didn’t have many scenes together, we created the poster.
Paul was a wonderful man. Every time someone like him leaves us, it makes me extremely sad. Paul, I’ll see you up there,” De Niro added.
At the occasion at The Hollywood Museum, Robert De Niro, who was a co-star in the film Goodfellas, paid a heartfelt homage through video.
In a video tribute at the occasion, Oscar-winning filmmaker Martin Scorsese complimented Sorvino as a “great guy.”
Working with him, Paul, I have to say, never opted for anything less than the deeper emotional reality. He remarked, “I learnt a lot from him.”
Martin Scorsese, the Oscar-winning filmmaker, called Sorvino a “great guy” and expressed regret over not having collaborated with him on further projects.
How should I discuss Paul? He is a master performer who added something priceless and irreplaceable to my movie Goodfellas and really taught me a lot in the process, stated director Martin Scorsese.
I recall pleading with Paulie to take the role in Goodfellas because it felt like a natural fit.
During the pandemic, Paul and Dee Dee relocated to storied Madison, Indiana, where he was “treated like royalty.”
Working with him, Paul, I have to say, never opted for anything less than the deeper emotional reality. He taught me a lot of things.
It was 1989 at the time, and we were just beginning to employ video aid.
Because of the hectic schedule, there were occasions when I was sat in front of the video monitor when he was acting in a scenario where he had to reject Ray Liotta.
We attempted it again, and then a third time, and I suggested, “Just a little more feeling.” Finally, he approached me and pleaded with me to come and observe him instead of watching the video.
And sure enough, when you stared at him closely, you could see the tears starting to fill up in his eyes. I saw that he understood the situation.
It was a terrific lesson about depending less on technology and more on human interaction, emotion, and creativity.
“Actors like Paul are hard to come by. He was an expert actor. Never let me forget you.
A memorial to Sorvino featuring images from his illustrious career and costumes from blockbuster movies can be seen in the Hollywood Museum’s lobby.
Dee Dee also discussed her husband’s many accomplishments, including penning a best-selling book, encouraging kids to read, and enjoying his status as “a chick magnet.”
A speech by actor Joe Mantegna was given in front of 300 friends, family members, and coworkers.
During the touching ceremony, the American Legion honoured Sorvino, and Fr. Darren Malino offered prayers.
Sorvino was honoured at the Hollywood Museum’s lobby.
A speech by actor Joe Mantegna was given in front of 300 friends, family members, and coworkers.
Paul’s brother, five grandkids, and three children all received small urns from Dee Dee.
The primary urn containing Paul’s ashes will be buried at Hollywood’s Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Dee Dee also mentioned a number of her husband’s accomplishments, including writing a best-selling book, encouraging kids to read, and relishing his status as “a chick magnet.”
When Dee Dee travelled to Italy, he would chuckle at how the people there saw him as their own local hero: “You would have thought Elvis came back to life.” Paulie was chased by people wherever we went.
When they first met, an orb of light flashed from over Dee Dee’s head, and Sorvino said he knew she was the ‘one,’ MC Roger Neal recounted.
The American Legion honoured Sorvino during the touching ceremony, and Fr. Darren Malino offered prayers.
Paul’s unique portrait was given to Dee Dee by artist Mario Della Casa.