Frances Esemplare (September 3, 1934 – December 9, 2017) was an American actress best known for her multi-episode recurring role as Maria Nuccia "Nucci" Gualtieri, mother of Paulie Gualtieri (played by Tony Sirico) on The Sopranos from 2001 until 2007.[1]
Frances Esemplare | |
|---|---|
| Born | Frances Spalluto September 3, 1934 |
| Died | December 9, 2017 (aged 83) Staten Island, New York, U.S. |
| Other names | Frances Ensemplare |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Spouse | Gaetano Esemplare |
Early life
editBorn Frances Spalluto, Esemplare was a lifelong resident of Staten Island, New York.[1]
Career
editBeginning in 2001, she was cast as Nucci Gualtieri, mother of mobster Paulie Gualtieri, on the HBO television series, The Sopranos. First introduced as Paulie Gualtieri's elderly mother, it is later revealed in the series that she is Gualtieri's biological aunt, who adopted him as a child. Frances Esemplare debuted in the May 2001 episode, "Army of One," and her character remained on the show until "Kennedy and Heidi" in May 2007. Esemplare appeared in eight episodes during her recurring role on the series, from season 3 to season 6.
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Sue Lost in Manhattan | Diner Patron | |
| 2006 | The Immaculate Misconception | Ma |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–2007 | The Sopranos | Maria Nuccia "Nucci" Gualtieri | 8 episodes |
Death
editFrances Esemplare died on December 9, 2017, at the age 83. Esemplare was buried in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, on December 13, 2017.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Frances Esemplare obituary". Staten Island Advance. 2017-12-12. Archived from the original on 2017-12-15. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
External links
edit
 | This article about an American television actor born in the 1930s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |