A familiar face in film and on television and stage since the early 1970s, Paul Sorvino was a Tony-nominated character actor and occasional lead whose imposing presence belied the versatility of his talents. His Italian-American heritage and Brooklyn roots assured him regular employment as policemen and gangsters, both of which he essayed in projects ranging from “Law and Order” (NBC, 1990- ) to Martin Scorsese’s flawless Mob epic, “Goodfellas” (1990). But Sorvino, who had trained for nearly two decades as an opera singer and ballroom dance instructor, could be counted on to tackle all manner
