Tony Sirico

Tony Sirico plays Paulie Gualtieri in The Sopranos. The hair and the tracksuits are instantly recognisable, but his delivery is what makes Paulie so memorable: the indignation, the certainty about some extraordinary piece of reasoning, the refusal to let a minor grievance remain minor.

Sirico's scenes with Michael Imperioli are especially enjoyable. Neither character is inclined to concede a point, and the friction produces some of the series' funniest exchanges without making their world harmless. Sirico also appeared in Goodfellas. Paulie is the role that defines his television work, and an excellent example of how a supporting character can become essential to the personality of an entire show.