Usually cast in dramatic supporting roles, he occasionally acted in lead roles in films including Bloodbrothers , and also in comedic roles including his turn as a bombastic Southern evangelist in Carl Reiner 's Oh, God! Sorvino was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor for the play That Championship Season , and later starred in film and television adaptations.
He was the father of actors Mira Sorvino and Michael Sorvino. Sorvino was born on April 13, , and raised in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn. His father, Ford Sorvino, was an Italian Neapolitan immigrant who worked in a robe factory as a foreman. Sorvino attended Lafayette High School where he was a classmate of Peter Max , a painter and artist , graduated, and then went to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.
Sorvino began his career as a copywriter in an advertising agency. He took voice lessons for 18 years. Sorvino received critical praise for his performance as Phil Romano in Jason Miller 's Broadway play That Championship Season , a role he reprised in the film version. Fraina in Warren Beatty 's film Reds. Sorvino also helped found the American Stage Company, a group that launched several successful Off-Broadway shows, in Sorvino initially was excited about the role but left after 29 episodes, citing the exhausting schedule demanded by the filming of the show, a need to broaden his horizons, and the desire to preserve his vocal cords for singing opera.
Sorvino's exit from the series came in an episode in which Sgt. Cerreta is shot in the line of duty and transferred to an administrative position in another precinct. He was replaced by Jerry Orbach. Sorvino founded the Paul Sorvino Asthma Foundation; he intended to build asthma centers for children and adults across the United States. In , he directed and again starred in albeit playing a different role a TV version of That Championship Season. In Hey Arnold!
He directed and starred in the film, and his daughter Mira also acted in a lead role in the film. The Genetic Opera. Sorvino's final motion picture The Ride was released posthumously in Sorvino appeared alongside Dean Cain , D. Sweeney , and his wife Dee Dee in his final performance. Sorvino's scenes were filmed in Jacksonville, Florida.
