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How Paul Sorvino Achieved a Net Worth of $10 Million

Television , film, and stage actor Paul Sorvino was born Paul Anthony Sorvino on April 13, 1939, to Angela Maria Mattea and Ford Sorvino, an Italian immigrant to the United States who worked as a foreman at a robe factory. His mom was also Italian descent but was born in Connecticut. She worked as a homemaker and piano teacher as Paul Sorvino was being raised in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn.

Sorvino went to Lafayette High School and was classmates with famous painter Peter Max. He had an interest in acting when he was just a boy enjoying the American musical and dramatic Academy when he was still in high school. Sorvino won the roles of several authority-type figures on the law enforcement side of the law as well as the criminal side over the years. He enjoyed playing both types of characters.

When most people hear the name Paul Sorvino, they think of the movie Goodfellas and his role on the popular TV show Law and Order. In this article, we are exploring how Paul Sorvino made his fortune before he died at the age of 83 on July 25th, 2022.

The Start of a Long Career for Paul Sorvino

Paul Sorvino enrolled in voice lessons at first but eventually became completely focused on acting while he was still at the Academy. The then-opera singer and copywriter at an advertising agency started out his career in the entertainment industry in the area of theater and made his Broadway debut in the musical Bonjour in 1964.

This gained him critical praise for that role, as well as his performance in Jason Miller's 1972 Broadway hit play called That Champion Season. He went on to appear in theatrical productions as well as on-camera projects for almost 15 years. Some of his performances include The Gambler, Goodfellas, Cruising, and I, The Jury. He was able to make his film debut in Sanford Meisner's Where's Poppa?

Although Paul Sorvino is hands down best known for his role as Lucchese crime family member Paulie Cicero, a character based on the real-life gangster Paul Vario, in Goodfellas, a gangster-style film by famous director Martin Scorsese in 1990, he is also very well known for playing the part of Sergeant Phil Cerreta on the second season of the very popular TV series law and order.

TV Shows and Movies Over the Years

Over the years, he also played a variety of roles in which he portrayed father figures, such as when he played Juliet’s father in Baz Luhrmann's film Romeo Plus Juliet in 1996. He also had guest appearances in which he played the father of famous actor Bruce Willis’s character one of the popular TV show Moonlighting as well as Jeff Garland's character on The Goldbergs. He was cast in several additional supporting roles in movies such as Nixon, The Cooler, A Touch of Class, Reds, and The Rocketeer.

Changing it Up

Paul Sorvino liked to change it up occasionally so besides being cast in a variety of dramatic supporting roles, he was cast in occasional leading roles in films such as Bloodbrothers in 1978 and even comedy-style roles. For example, he was cast as a charismatic southern evangelist and Carl Reiner’s movie, Oh God, in 1977. Sorvino was nominated for a Tony Award for best actor in the 1970s for his role in that championship season and he later starred in many film and television adaptations of that role.

Paul Sorvino’s Personal Life

Paul Sorvino's first wife's name was Lorraine Davis and they split up in 1988 before he went on to marry Vanessa Arico in 1991. His second marriage lasted until 1996 and he remained single for the rest of his life after that. He was the proud father of Mira, Amanda, and Michael Sorvino whom he had with his first wife, Lorraine Davis.

Mira Sorvino has gone on to create a very lucrative and high-profile career in acting for herself after following in her father's footsteps. She is now an Academy Award-winning actress. In 2014, Paul Sorvino wed political pundit, Emmy award-winning TV and radio personality, and actress Dee Dee Benkie whom he was still married to at the time of his death.

 According to the US Sun, the pair met when they both appeared on the Fox News' show, Your World with Neil Cavuto, in 2013 in which they were each interviewed. Paul Sorvino was also an activist as well as an author, penning the book, Pinot, Pasta, and Parties. When he launched his food line, it featured pasta sauces from recipes handed down to him by his mother. Some of those recipes are also featured in Paul Sorvino’s book.

Paul Sorvino Net Worth

As Paul Sorvino got older, he continued to steadily appear in both on-camera productions as well as theater productions for nearly 15 years. He has been credited in both television and film productions, including Dick Tracy, Kill the Irishman, The Panic in Needle Park, A Touch of Class, We’ll Get By, Reds, The Rocketeer, Law & Order, Nixon, That’s Life, Bulworth, Perfume, The Cooler, and Mr. 3000 along with several others.

After he officially retired from acting, he still regularly performed opera, allowing his voice training during his early years to pay off in dividends. To add to the fortune he had amassed from all of his years in television and film acting and producing, he created a line of food called Paul Sorvino Foods.

It is believed that when the famous actor died, his net worth was at around $10 million. He has made the list of the richest actors in the world and his source of wealth came from stage productions as well as film and television movies and TV shows.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Paul Sorvino’s net worth was estimated to be around $10 million when he passed away due to ongoing health issues that he had been experiencing for some time leading up to the day he died.

While there are many details on his assets that are not publicly available, it is safe to say that most of his wealth was gained through his work as an actor in a variety of films, stage productions, and television shows. In other words, his main source of income throughout his entire life was his role as an actor in the entertainment industry.

The End of a Legacy

Paul Sorvino enjoyed a lengthy and distinguished career since he gave 100 percent to every job or project he worked on as not only an actor, but during his time as a copywriter, stints as a sculptor and painter, the time he spent working as a chef, and the time he spent behind the camera over the years as a television director and film director. It is only fitting that he died a millionaire.

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Allen Lee

Written by Allen Lee

Allen Lee is a Toronto-based freelance writer who studied business in school but has since turned to other pursuits. He spends more time than is perhaps wise with his eyes fixed on a screen either reading history books, keeping up with international news, or playing the latest releases on the Steam platform, which serve as the subject matter for much of his writing output. Currently, Lee is practicing the smidgen of Chinese that he picked up while visiting the Chinese mainland in hopes of someday being able to read certain historical texts in their original language.

Read more posts by Allen Lee

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