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Joseph Siravo, Sopranos star, dies aged 64 after cancer battle

The Sopranos star and veteran Broadway actor, Joseph Siravo, has died at the age of 64 after losing his battle with cancer.

Joseph, who was best known for his role as Tony Soprano’s father on The Sopranos, was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer in 2017. He was later diagnosed with colon cancer and had part of his colon removed.

Co-star Garry Pastore confirmed the news of Joseph's death in a post on Instagram saying: "RIP my dear friend, who fought an incredible fight. I will miss you. See you on the other side."

His daughter, Allegra Okarmus, also shared a tribute to her father in a private on Instagram which has been shared by the BBC.

"I was by his side when my dear father passed away this morning, peacefully, in his beloved Treehouse... I am so immensely grateful to have had him here on earth and I know that he hasn't gone very far. He had many credits, but his favorite one by far was that of Nonno Joe," she wrote.

Joseph has a host of broadway and TV credits to his name after initially training in musical theatre at Stanford University and NYU Tisch University of the Arts.

Actor Joseph Siravo
Actor Joseph Siravo has died at the age of 64. Photo: Getty

On Broadway he starred in the Tony-award winning plays and musicals such as Oslo, Boys from Syracuse, and The Light In the Piazza, as well as off-Broadway productions such as Hamlet, Othello, and Up Against the Wind.

He also toured with the first national tour of the Tony-award winning musical Jersey Boys, playing the role of Angelo "Gyp" DeCarlo from 2006-2012.

On the screen Joseph had roles in Maid in Manhattan and the 2019 political drama The Report.

He also appeared on shows such as Blue Bloods, The Blacklist, Law & Order, New Amsterdam, and The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story.

But his most memorable role was arguably Tony Soprano's ruthless and volatile father Johnny "Johnny Boy" Soprano on the popular HBO series, a character he played throughout the show's six seasons.

Joseph Siravo on the season finale of ABC's
Joseph Siravo during the season finale of ABC's "For Life". Photo: Getty
Joseph Siravo, Johnny Ventimiglia, Nick Sandow and David Zayas
Joseph Siravo, Johnny Ventimiglia, Nick Sandow and David Zayas attend "The Wannabe" New York premiere in 2015. Photo: Getty

Joseph's Sopranos costar Michael Imperioli also paid tribute to his friend in an Instagram post.

"Joe was an excellent actor and a wonderful guy and he will be missed dearly," he wrote.

"His performance of Johnny Boy Soprano was spot on and he also made a perfect John Gotti in Nick Sandow's 'The Wannabe.' In my opinion he was the best of all the actors who've played the Teflon Don. Farewell Joe. Until the next life my friend."

The Sopranos actor tribute on Twitter
Tributes have flown in for the star online. Photo: Twitter

Broadway Director and Choreographer Sergio Trujillo wrote: "Joseph Siravo was an outstanding man, thoughtful and caring. You will be missed my dear friend. My thoughts and prayers are with his family."

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