Paul Herman, best known for his roles in mobster TV shows and movies, has died at the age of 76.
His death was confirmed on Instagram by those close to him including Entourage creator Doug Ellin and his The Sopranos co-star Michael Imperioli. No cause of death has yet been confirmed for Herman, who passed away on his birthday, March 29.
Ellin wrote that Herman was "generous, caring, hilarious and too young to be gone." Imperioli mentioned that Herman had lived close to him the last few years and he is glad he got to spend time with him before he died.
Herman starred in dozens of notable TV shows and movies across his career, frequently collaborating with Robert De Niro in his movies. As we look back on the indelible mark left by Herman in the entertainment industry, here's 12 of Paul Herman's most memorable performances.
1. Dear Mr. Wonderful
Herman's first credited onscreen role came at the age of 36 in Joe Pesci's movie Dear Mr. Wonderful. Playing the role of Hesh, Herman worked with Pesci for the first time here but would return to work with the Oscar-winner in a number of other projects. Frank Vincent also stars, another actor who'd go on to work in The Sopranos.
2. Once Upon a Time in America
Herman worked with Pesci again, and with De Niro for the first time in the 1984 epic Once Upon a Time in America. This was Herman's third acting credit in his career and he played the minor role of Monkey.
This marked the start of a long string of movies in the same year as he also appeared in The Pope of Greenwich Village, Falling in Love and The Cotton Club in 1984. The following year he worked with Woody Allen in The Purple Rose of Cairo.
3. Radio Days
Herman was once again invited back to work with another collaborator as he starred in Allen's 1987 Oscar-nominated movie Radio Days. Herman played one of the two burglars alongside Mike Starr while Mia Farrow played the lead Sally White.
4. The Last Temptation of Christ
The Last Temptation of Christ marked Herman's first time working alongside Martin Scorsese, which proved to be another fruitful relationship for Herman.
Herman was cast as one of Jesus' 12 disciples, playing Philip the Apostle alongside the likes of Willem Dafoe, Harvey Keitel and Barbara Hershey.
5. Big
Herman's propensity for starring in massive '80s movies continued when he was cast in Tom Hanks' breakout movie Big. He played the smaller role of Schizo in this family comedy.
6. Goodfellas
Herman was at his most prolific within the 1990s and he kicked off the decade with a small role in Scorsese's masterpiece Goodfellas, alongside De Niro and Pesci once again. Herman played a dealer from Pittsburgh in the movie.
In the subsequent years he went on to star in Cadillac Man, Billy Bathgate, Men Lie, and once again teamed up with Allen in Bullets Over Broadway.
7. Heat
De Niro teamed up with Herman for two movies in 1995: Casino and Heat. Casino saw Herman play a minor role as a gambler who rushes to a phone booth to copy De Niro's bets, but Heat saw him play Sergeant Heinz.
Between '95 and 2000 Herman starred in a dozen more movies before he got one of the most recognizable roles of his career.
8. The Sopranos
Across The Sopranos' 86 episodes, Herman only starred in five but he left a memorable impression as Peter 'Beansie' Gaeta. His character had a rough time of it, helping the DiMeo crime family money launder through his pizzerias. He was later hit by a car and became paraplegic due to his injuries. His last appearance in the series was in the last season in the episode "Remember When."
9. Entourage
Herman played the recurring role of Marvin the accountant in the popular show Entourage. Creator Ellin admitted in his Instagram tribute that Herman's character was based on his own father.
Herman starred in the first season of Entourage and made his last appearance in the Season 7 episode "Dramedy."
10. Crazy Heart
Herman had an important role in the 2009 musical drama Crazy Heart. He played Jack Greene, the manager of Jeff Bridges' character Bad Blake.
Around this time he also starred in major movies like We Own the Night, What Just Happened and Little Fockers.
11. Silver Linings Playbook
Another fruitful relationship began with filmmaker David O. Russell when Herman was cast in Silver Linings Playbook. Yet another De Niro collaboration in the 21st century, Herman played Randy in the Oscar-winning movie.
After working with Russell on this movie, he returned for American Hustle and Joy, all of which starred De Niro and Jennifer Lawrence.
12. The Irishman
Herman was invited back to collaborate with the likes of Pesci, De Niro, Scorsese and Al Pacino in the 2019 Netflix movie The Irishman.
Herman played Whispers DiTullio, a gangster who pays Frank Sheeran (DeNiro) to bomb the Cadillac Linen Service in Delaware.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Jamie Burton is a Newsweek Senior TV and Film Reporter (Interviews) based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on ... Read more
