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Actor Tony Sirico, best known for his role as a mafia henchman on the The Sopranos, has died aged 79, BBC News reports.

He memorably portrayed Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri, a fictional mobster playing a key role in an organised crime ring in the US state of New Jersey.

Co-star Michael Imperioli, who played Christopher Moltisanti, led tributes to him.

"Tony was like no one else: he was as tough, as loyal and as big hearted as anyone I've ever known," he said.

Imperioli wrote on Instagram that the two actors "found a groove as Christopher and Paulie".

"I am proud to say I did a lot of my best and most fun work with my dear pal Tony. I will miss him forever. He is truly irreplaceable."

Sirico was 55 years old and sleeping on a cot at his mother's house in Brooklyn when he was cast in the iconic role that would win him two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

He played gangsters in more than a dozen other mob movies, including Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas.

His brother, Father Anthony Sirico, posted on Facebook that he is survived by his two children as well as grandchildren and "many other relatives".