Skip to content
MovieCove
Paul Sorvino

Paul Sorvino

Actor, also director and producer · Died July 25, 2022, aged 83 · Brooklyn, New York, USA

Paul Anthony Sorvino (April 13, 1939 – July 25, 2022) was a European-American businessman, entrepreneur, actor, opera singer, writer, and sculptor. He often portrayed authority figures on both sides of the law and was known for his roles as Paulie Cicero (based on Paul Vario) in the 1990 gangster film Goodfellas, and NYPD Sergeant Phil Cerreta on the TV series Law & Order. He took on supporting roles in A Touch of Class, Reds, The Rocketeer, Nixon, and Romeo + Juliet. He was the father of actors Mira Sorvino and Michael Sorvino.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 13, 1939
Died
July 25, 2022 (aged 83)
From
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also director and producer
Titles
108 on MovieCove · 160 credits in all
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 5% in 30 days

What are Paul Sorvino's films like?

Across their 87 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 86 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

A split, not a type: Light 29 · Serious 25 · Dark 32

Grounded 60 · Stylized 17 · Heightened 9

A split, not a type: Gentle 21 · Charged 29 · Intense 36

Steady 34 · Shifting 41 · Whiplash 11

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 45 · Some laughs 26 · Funny 15

Slow burn 33 · Even-paced 46 · Relentless 7

A split, not a type: Casual 41 · Engaged 39 · Full focus 6

A split, not a type: Easy watch 35 · Affecting 30 · Heavy 21

Resolved 60 · Open-ended 21 · Ambiguous 5

Roles they play

51 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 14 of 51 analyzed roles.

Shadow
14 of 51
Mentor
11 of 51
Threshold guardian
9 of 51
Hero
6 of 51
Ally
6 of 51
Herald
3 of 51
Shapeshifter
1 of 51
Trickster
1 of 51
Show the 51 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
52
Melancholic
35
Dread
18
Warm
17
Romantic
14
Other
87

How their films end · 18 with a twist

  • Happy31
  • Bittersweet33
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous18
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Paul Sorvino's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 72 of their 108 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (47).

Subscription and free streaming for Paul Sorvino's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

160 credits, 108 with a MovieCove page; 27 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Pursued(2025)

    as Grandpa

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films
  • The Great American Heist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Cheech

  • The Birthday Cake(2021)

    as Uncle Carmine

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films
  • Most Guys Are Losers(2020)

    as Grandpa Paul

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films
  • Bad Impulse(2019)

    as Lou Branch

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films
  • Godfather of Harlem(2019)

    Show 13 episodes · as Frank Costello

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows
  • Welcome to Acapulco(2019)

    as Senator Campbell

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films
  • Beneath the Leaves(2019)

    as Captain Parker

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films
  • Acts of Desperation(2018)

    as Chief Lassiter

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
  • Papa(2018)

    as Danny

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
  • Bad Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 6 episodes · as Nico Rizzuto Sr.

  • Price for Freedom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Shah of Iran

  • Undercover Grandpa(2017)

    as Giovanni

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films
  • Lost Cat Corona (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Uncle Sam

  • The Red Maple Leaf(2016)

    as Joseph Palermo

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • A Winter Rose(2014)

    as Skippy

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films
  • Rules Don't Apply(2016)

    as Vernon Scott

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films
  • The Hybrids Family(2015)

    as The Count

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films
  • The Brooklyn Banker(2016)

    Producer · as Benny

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
  • Executor(2017)

    as Father Antonio

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films
  • The Bronx Bull(2016)

    as Giuseppe LaMotta

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films
  • Detours(2016)

    as Joe DiMaria

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
  • Chasing Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Frank

  • The Bandit Hound(2016)

    as Chief Burton

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films
  • Kidnapped in Romania (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Alexandru Damian

  • Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival(2016)

    Producer · as God

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
  • Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Dominico Scarpa

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all shows
  • As Long As We Both Shall Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Jim

  • Cold Deck(2015)

    as Chips

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films
  • Sicilian Vampire(2015)

    as Jimmy Scambino

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
  • Grandfathered(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Martino

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows
  • Careful What You Wish For(2015)

    as Sheriff Big Jack

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
  • No Deposit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Alfie

  • Gutfeld!(2015)

    Show as Paulie

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all shows
  • A Place for Heroes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Vincent

  • Cosmos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Augustin Mouchot (voice)

  • Immigrant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Yeshiva Principal

  • The Goldbergs(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Ben 'Pop Pop' Goldberg

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows
  • Foreclosed(2013)

    as Bud

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
  • Once Upon a Time in Queens(2013)

    as Joe Scoleri

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
  • How Sweet It Is(2013)

    as Big Mike

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films
  • Divorce Invitation(2012)

    as Daniel Miller

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films
  • Elementary(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Robert Pardillo

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows
  • Jersey Shore Shark Attack(2012)

    as Mayor Palantine

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films
  • For the Love of Money(2012)

    as Red Parker

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films
  • Imaginary Friend(2012)

    as Jonathan

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
  • The Trouble with Cali (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · as Ivan

  • Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films
  • Kill the Irishman(2011)

    as Tony Salerno

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
  • Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe(2009)

    as Santa Claus

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films
  • The Wild Stallion(2009)

    as Nolan

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
  • Triggerman(2009)

    as Sheriff Roy Basehart

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films
  • Doc West(2009)

    as Roy Basehart

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • Repo! The Genetic Opera(2008)

    as Rotti Largo

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
  • Last Hour(2008)

    as Maitre Steinfeld

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films
  • Greetings from the Shore(2007)

    as Catch Turner

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
  • Mr. Fix It(2006)

    as Wally

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • L'onore e il rispetto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 6 episodes · as Beniamino

  • Gangland: Bullets over Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • The Apprentice: Martha Stewart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Goodnight, Joseph Parker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Charlie

  • Jack & Bobby(2004)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows
  • Mr. 3000(2004)

    as Gus Panas

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
  • The Cooler(2003)

    as Buddy Stafford

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
  • Mambo Italiano(2003)

    as Gino Barberini

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
  • Mafia Doctor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Nicola Dellarusso

  • Still Standing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 4 episodes · as Al Miller

  • Hey Arnold! The Movie(2002)

    as Scheck (voice)

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
  • Plan B (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Joe Maloni

  • Ciao America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Antonio Primavera

  • Streghe verso nord (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Gallio

  • Longshot(2001)

    as Laszlo Pryce

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films
  • Perfume(2001)

    as Lorenzo Mancini

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films
  • See Spot Run(2001)

    as Sonny Talia

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
  • The Amati Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Joe

  • That's Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 36 episodes · as Frank DeLucca

  • The Thin Blue Lie(2000)

    as Frank Rizzo

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
  • Cheaters(2000)

    as Constantine Kiamos

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
  • That Championship Season(1999)

    Director · as Coach

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
  • Harlem Aria (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Fabiano Grazzi

  • Houdini(1998)

    as Blackburn

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
  • Knock Off(1998)

    as Harry Johanson

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
  • Dead Broke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Harvey

  • Bulworth(1998)

    as Graham Crockett

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films
  • Men with Guns(1997)

    as Horace Burke

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
  • The Big House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 29 episodes · Actor

  • Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films
  • Most Wanted(1997)

    as CIA Deputy Director Kenny Rackmill

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
  • Money Talks(1997)

    as Guy Cipriani

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films
  • Dog Watch(1997)

    as Delgoti

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
  • American Perfekt(1997)

    as Frank

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • Romeo + Juliet(1996)

    as Fulgencio Capulet

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
  • Escape Clause(1996)

    as Lt. Gil Farrand

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • Love Is All There Is(1996)

    as Piero Malacici

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
  • Nixon(1995)

    as Henry Kissinger

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
  • Cover Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as J.J. Davis

  • Without Consent(1994)

    as Dr. Winslow

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • Backstreet Justice(1994)

    as Captain Phil Giarusso

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films
  • Parallel Lives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Ed Starling

  • Duckman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Variecom CEO (voice)

  • Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
  • The Firm(1993)

    as Tommy Morolto (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films
  • The Last Mile (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as The Tenor

  • The Rocketeer(1991)

    as Eddie Valentine

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
  • Don't Touch My Daughter(1991)

    as Lt. Willman

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films
  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 31 episodes · as Phil Cerreta

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows
  • GoodFellas(1990)

    as Paul Cicero

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films
  • Dick Tracy(1990)

    as Lips Manlis

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Nikolai Rozhenko

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows
  • The Oldest Rookie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 14 episodes · as Ike Porter

  • Almost Partners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Jack Wilder

  • Very Close Quarters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Kiril

  • A Fine Mess(1986)

    as Tony Pazzo

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films
  • Betrayed by Innocence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Mike Vogel

  • Vasectomy: A Delicate Matter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Gino

  • The Stuff(1985)

    as Colonel Malcolm Grommett Spears

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
  • Chiller(1985)

    as Reverend Penny

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films
  • Moonlighting(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as David Addison Sr.

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows
  • Surviving (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Harvey

  • With Intent to Kill(1984)

    as Doyle Reinecker

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Al Sidell

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows
  • Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
  • Chiefs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 3 episodes · as Sheriff Skeeter Willis

  • Off the Wall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Warden Nicholas F. Castle

  • That Championship Season(1982)

    as Phil Romano

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films
  • A Question of Honor(1982)

    as Carlo Danzie

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • I, the Jury(1982)

    as Detective Pat Chambers

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • Melanie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Walter

  • Reds(1981)

    as Louis Fraina

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
  • Cruising(1980)

    as Capt. Edelson

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films
  • Lost and Found (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Reilly

  • Dummy(1979)

    as Lowell Myers

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
  • The Brink's Job(1978)

    as Jazz Maffie

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
  • Slow Dancing in the Big City(1978)

    as Lou Friedlander

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
  • Bloodbrothers(1978)

    as Chubby De Coco

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
  • Oh, God!(1977)

    as Reverend Willie Williams

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
  • Seventh Avenue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 3 episodes · as Dave Shaw

  • Bert D'Angelo Superstar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • I Will, I Will...For Now (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Lou Springer

  • We'll Get By (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 11 episodes · as George Platt

  • Angel and Big Joe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Actor

  • Shoot It Black, Shoot It Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Ring

  • It Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Guy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Harry Walters

  • The Gambler(1974)

    as Hips

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films
  • Tell Me Where It Hurts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Joe

  • King Lear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Gloucester

  • The Day of the Dolphin(1973)

    as Curtis Mahoney

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
  • A Touch of Class(1973)

    as Walter Menkes

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
  • The Streets of San Francisco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Sergeant Bert D'Angelo

  • Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
  • Made for Each Other(1971)

    as Gig's Father

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
  • Cry Uncle(1971)

    as Coughing Cop

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films
  • The Panic in Needle Park(1971)

    as Samuels

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films
  • Great Performances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Gloucester

  • Where's Poppa?(1970)

    as Owner of Gus & Grace's Home

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
  • Skyscraper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 159 titles from 1965 to 2023; peak year 2008.

Film career

19652023

Peak 2008 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 17 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting159 of 159: 157 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score37thDirecting2 of 159: 0 only directing, 2 with another role

By decade

1960s1 · acting1970s25 · acting1980s22 · acting1990s31 · 31 acting · 1 crew2000s30 · acting2010s46 · 46 acting · 1 crew2020s4 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 2% of 50 roles
7075859500051015

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Paul Sorvino's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 35th percentile, the median of all 97; across their 86 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 34th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

34thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 86

Approval · how many liked their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 86

Reach · how many have seen their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 86

Midcredits score across 108 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th21
  • 25th to 49th40
  • Below 25th31

Shape of the crowd

56 of their 108 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive6
  • Cult Classic9
  • Crowd Pleaser27
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed56

Reviewers score the acting 61/100 in their films, across 78 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 38. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Paul Sorvino's work okay for kids?

Across up to 17 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles44–92 · median 65 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity17 titles19–76 · median 47 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity12 titles31–91 · median 60 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles13–74 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense10 titles36–87 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Paul Sorvino work with?

People who share at least 2 of Paul Sorvino's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Eric Roberts shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles