Lorraine Braccostill has late costarsJames Gandolfini,Tony SiricoandRay Liottaon her mind.
Bracco joinedRachael Rayand her husbandJohn Cusimanoin commemorative cheers to the actress’s late pals on Friday’s episode ofRachael Ray Show.
“Let’s make a toast to friends of yours, Ray Liotta and Tony Sirico,” said Cusimano, 55.
“To Ray and Tony,” echoed Ray, 54.
Bracco, 67, chimed in, “And to Jimmy Gandolfini.”
“Oh, and Jim Gandolfini. Oh my God,” Ray said as Bracco replied, “We can’t forget Jim.”
“Who could ever?” agreed Ray.
Steven Bergman / AFF-USA.COM / MEGA
Bracco — who most notably starred with Gandolfini and Sirico in HBO’sThe Sopranos, and with Liotta inMartin Scorcese’s 1990 filmGoodfellas— opened up about how hard it’s been to lose some of her closest friends and colleagues over the years.
“It’s been a weird time,” she began. “Look, Tony Sirico was older, and I get it. As sad as I am, I get it. But Ray and Jimmy?”
Warner Bros.
“You know, what it says to me is to live every day as well and as much and give,” she says. “Give, give, give. That’s what I take away from it, really.”
Bracco added, “I adored all three of them.”
Lorraine Bracco inThe Sopranos.Craig Blankenhorn/HBO/Courtesy Everett Collection
Gandolfinidied suddenlyat 51 years old while in Italy with his family in 2013. His teenage son found his body. An autopsy later confirmed he’d had aheart attack.
Liottadied in his sleepthis past May in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He was 67.
Ray Liotta, James Gandolfini and Tony Sirico.Tiffany Rose/Getty, Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic, Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic
Not long after, Siricodiedin July at age 72. He had been diagnosed with dementia years prior and had been in anassisted living facilityin Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at the time of his death.
“I adore Tony Sirico,” shetweeted. “A stand up guy who always had my back and who loved my children and my parents.”
Reflecting on her “lifetime of memories with Tony” fromGoodfellastoSopranos"and way beyond," Bracco shared one moment with Sirico that she’s especially fond of.
“My God, did we have fun doing the Bensonhurt Spelling Bee (I’m still laughing). I hope he’s in heaven cracking everybody up now. Love you, my Pal… rest in peace.”
Rob Kim/FilmMagic
In her 2015 book,To the Fullest: The Clean Up Your Act Plan to Lose Weight, Rejuvenate and Be the Best You Can Be, Bracco recalled how Gandolfini’s death was a wake-up call.
His death, she wrote, served as a"jolting reminder"of how you can be “here today and gone tomorrow.”
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Rachael Rayairs weekdays (check local listings).
source: people.com
