How did 'Beansie' die? 'The Sopranos' star Paul Herman passes away on his 76th birthday
Paul Herman, a renowned actor who starred in a host of gangster films, has passed away on his 76th birthday.
Herman, who was part of the elite acting casts of 'The Sopranos', 'Goodfellas' and 'The Irishman', died on Tuesday, March 29, with the cause of his death yet to be established. The veteran actor was best known for playing Peter 'Beansie' Gaeta in the top-rated HBO drama 'The Sopranos'. The news of his demise was confirmed by fellow Sopranos star Michael Imperioli, who played Tony Soprano's nephew Christopher Moltisanti in the television series.
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"Our friend and colleague Paul Herman has passed away," Imperioli wrote on Instagram. "Paulie was just a great dude. A first-class storyteller and raconteur and one hell of an actor. Goodfellas, Once Upon a Time in America, The Irishman, and of course The Sopranos are some highlights. Paulie lived around the corner from me the last few years and I am glad we got to spend some time together before he left us." He added, "I'll miss him. Lots of love to his family, friends, and community of actors and filmmakers."
How did 'Beansie' die?
As mentioned, Herman completed a full circle as he died on the very day he was born, March 29. The actual cause of his death at 76 years is yet to be revealed.
A stellar acting career
Herman most recently played Whispers DiTullio in Martin Scorsese's crime epic 'The Irishman' (2019). In 2012, he played Randy in David O Russell's Silver Linings Playbook. The acting legend has appeared in more than a dozen Robert De Niro movies including 'Falling in Love', 'Once Upon a Time in America', 'Little Fockers', and 'American Hustle'. Meanwhile, his other Hollywood credits include 'At Close Range', 'We Own The Night', 'Heat', 'Crazy Heart', 'Quick Change', 'Sleepers', 'Cop Land', and 'The Fan'. That said, one of his most memorable performances was a drug dealer in Goodfellas.
Friends pay tribute
"The one and only," Herman's co-star Lorraine Bracco from 'Goodfellas' and 'The Sopranos' said on Instagram. "A loving soul with a great sense of humor, Paulie Herman. REST IN PEACE."
Fellow actress Frances Fisher offered, "Paulie Herman - Beloved by All. From the old NYC days at Cafe Central & Columbus to the West Coast nights at Ago, Paulie always had a smile and a table. Decades of memories in every conceivable haunt and hamlet. An actor, a horseman, a man about town, a bit of a health nut, a bottom line trusted friend."
"This was a great night with great guys not so long ago," Hollywood star James Woods chimed in, sharing an old photo on Twitter. "We lost Paul Herman yesterday. It’s a real heartbreaker because there was no sweeter man on earth. Nobody was a “star” in his pantheon; all his friends were just that. You always felt at home in his presence," he added.
This was a great night with great guys not so long ago. We lost Paul Herman yesterday. It’s a real heartbreaker, because there was no sweeter man on earth. Nobody was a “star” in his pantheon; all his friends were just that. You always felt at home in his presence. #RIPPaulHerman pic.twitter.com/YHxjGwPtbg
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) March 30, 2022
In the nineties, alongside his acting career, Herman also ran the Columbus Cafe with his brother Charlie. The joint was located opposite Lincoln Center Plaza in New York and was frequented by actors, gangsters, the FBI, and DEA agents. Herman reportedly had a small ownership stake in the cafe along with other actors including Mikhail Baryshnikov, according to the Daily Mail.