'The Sopranos' star Tony Lip passes away

New York: Veteran actor Tony Lip has died at the age of 82. The star, who was best known for his portrayal of mob kingpin Carmine Lupertazzi in hit TV show 'The Sopranos', passed away in hospital in Teaneck, New Jersey on January 4.

The exact cause of his death is unknown but family members said that Lip's health had been failing in recent years, reported New York Times.

Born Frank Anthony Vallelonga, Lip played minor league baseball in North Carolina with the St Louis Browns organisation, then served in the American Army from 1951 to 1953 in Germany.

The star, who was best known for his portrayal of mob kingpin Carmine Lupertazzi in the show passed away on Jan 4.

During the 1960s, he worked as general manager of the famed Copacabana nightclub in Manhattan, New York City where he met 'The Godfather' director Francis Ford Coppola and casting director Louis DiGiaimo, who gave him a minor role in the movie as a wedding guest.

Lip went on to star in successful films 'Goodfellas', 'Raging Bull' and 'Donnie Brasco'.

In 2005, he co-wrote and released a cookbook titled Shut Up And Eat!, in which he and Italian-American actors James Gandolfini, Danny Aiello and Chazz Palminteri shared their

families' favourite Italian recipes.

His funeral will take place on January 8 in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.

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