Sopranos actor Vinny Vella has died at the age of 72.
The actor, who also appeared in Martin Scorsese film Casino, was suffering from liver cancer. A statement released by his representative said: “We are saddened to report that Vinny Vella has passed and I'm sure that no one is more saddened than himself.
“Vinny loved life from his family to his friends and fans he was easily one of the funniest, endearing actors to have ever graced the screen.”
It contnued: “Arguably the fastest on the draw, king of the comebacks. His verbal jousting was legendary but many know Vinny for his favorite saying - 'Who's better than you?' Well Vinny, I think we all can agree on the answer to that, it was you, it always was you!
His son, Vinny Jr, paid trbute to his father, writing: “RIP to my father. I love you so much and I’m so heart broken. You are no longer in pain- no more suffering pops. I love you.”
Vella played Artie Piscano in Scorsese's 1995 gangster film Casino and appeared opposite Robert De Niro again four years later in comedy, Analyze That.
Vella had smaller roles in films including Ghost Dog, Donnie Brasco and Kissing Jessica Stein and was the subject of a documentary titled Hey, Vinny.
