Paul Sorvino

Lorraine and Sorvino divorced in 1988, and Sorvino married Vanessa Arico in 1991. This marriage too didn’t work out and he was divorced again in 1996.

Sorvino has suffered from asthma since he was a child and has written a book ‘How to Become a Former Asthmatic’ based on his experiences. He has also founded the Sorvino Asthma Foundation.

Paul Sorvino was born on 13th April 1939 in Brooklyn, New York City, USA. His father was Ford Sorvino, an Italian immigrant who used to work in a robe factory as a foreman. His mother Angela Maria Mattea (nee Renzi) was born in Connecticut, but was of Italian descent. She was a homemaker and a piano teacher.

Sorvino attended Lafayette High School located in New York City. After completing his high school, he joined the American Musical and Dramatic Academy where he learned music and acting. Furthermore, he also studied with Sanford Meisner before making his film debut.

Paul Sorvino started his career as a copywriter in an advertising agency. For 18 years he also took voice lessons to make a career in opera singing. However, he had a change of mind while attending The American Musical and Dramatic Academy.

Soon he joined theatre and made his debut in Broadway in the 1964 musical ‘Bajour’. Six years later, Sorvino made his film debut in ‘Where’s Poppa?’ directed by Carl Reiner.

In 1971, he was seen in the movie ‘The Panic in Needle Park’ which also starred Al Pacino and Kitty Winn. The movie was directed by Jerry Schatzberg and Sorvino played a supporting role in it.

In 1972, Sorvino played the role of Phil Romano in Jason Miller’s Broadway play ‘That Championship Season’ for which he received critical praise.

His next role in the movie ‘It Couldn’t Happen to a Nicer Guy’ was a little risky and controversial as his character, Harry Walters, gets raped at gunpoint as a prank by a woman. The movie was considered to be bold and risqué even for the modern 1970s.

In 1972, Paul Sorvino played the role of Phil Romano in the Broadway play ‘That Championship Season’ for which he was appreciated by the critics and audience In 1973, he was nominated at Tony Awards for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play. . He repeated the role in 1982 in the film version of the play.

In 1995, he was seen in the film ‘Nixon’ where he played the role of the American diplomat and political scientist, Henry Kissinger. This is considered to be one of his strongest performances till date.