Frank Albanese, who played Tony Soprano’s uncle Pat Blundetto in HBO’s The Sopranos, has passed away at the age of 84, The New York Times reports. Albanese died on Monday, Oct. 5, in Staten Island, N.Y.
According to his friend Eddie Canlon, Albanese lost his battle to metastatic prostate cancer.
Prior to becoming an actor, Albanese, who also appeared in the 1990 crime film Goodfellas, was a heavyweight prizefighter who trained under champion Rocky Graziano. After scar tissue developed on Albanese’s brain, Graziano helped Albanese secure his first acting gig, a non-speaking role in 1968’s The Brotherhood.
Albanese, who is survived by his sister, also appeared in Dead Presidents and soap opera As the World Turns, among other roles.