Mira Sorvino is mourning the loss of her father, actor, and Goodfellas star Paul Sorvino, who died Monday at the age of 83.
And now, in the wake of the heartbreaking news, fans of both the Sorvinos are flocking to social media to share their gratitude for a heartfelt moment that happened between the two at the 68th Academy Awards in 1996.
Mira Sorvino Reflects On Her Father ‘Goodfellas’ Star Paul Sorvino’s Death
It all began when the actress accepted her first and only Oscar for her role in the Woody Allen film.
“One of my fav Oscar moments was when Mira Sorvino won Best Supporting Actress for Mighty Aphrodite and took a moment (to) thank her father, Paul Sorvino, who was visually moved,” one fan tweeted of the moment. “Mira, a Harvard graduate, showing what a humble person her parents raised.”
She did so by finishing her acceptance speech saying, “When you give me this award, you honor my father, Paul Sorvino, who has taught me everything I know about acting.”
Just as she said that the camera in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion cut to her dad in the audience, who suddenly choked up and covered his face with his hands.
One of my fav Oscar moments was when Mira Sorvino won Best Supporting Actress for Mighty Aphrodite and took a moment yo thank her father, Paul Sorvino, who was visually moved.
— Miss Yugoslavia (@StarcoVision) July 25, 2022
Mira, a Harvard graduate, showing what a humble person her parents raised. RIP Paul Sorvino. pic.twitter.com/nJpwaEnyuL
And as the camera focused on the emotional senior Sorvino, his daughter’s voice broke as she added, “I love you very much, dad.”
She held onto that love for her father throughout the years, and just after news broke about the “Goodfellas” star’s death Monday, she penned a touching tribute to him on Twitter.
“My father the great Paul Sorvino has passed,” she began. “My heart is rent asunder- a life of love and joy and wisdom with him is over. He was the most wonderful father. I love him so much.”
At the end of her tweet, she wrote, “I’m sending you love in the stars Dad as you ascend.”
On Instagram, the actor posted a simple black square as a response to the heartbreaking news.
A very Happy Birthday to my father Paul Sorvino. I miss you so much and hope to be together in person very soon! pic.twitter.com/9G3Oa9eMhf
— Mira Sorvino (@MiraSorvino) April 13, 2022
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Previously, Mira Sorvino had wished her father a happy birthday on Twitter back in April. At the time she wrote, “A very Happy Birthday to my father Paul Sorvino. I miss you so much and hope to be together in person very soon!”
Her post included a throwback black-and-white photo of her as a child giving her dad a kiss on the cheek.
As the daughter of an established actor, Sorvino has often spoken about how her father has impacted her acting career. In a 2018 video interview with Entertainment Weekly, Mira Sorvino revealed that her father initially wanted her to choose any profession besides acting.
“He said, ‘Acting should be a singular obsession, and if you wanted to do anything equally, you should do the other thing,’” she explained at the time.
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She informed the outlet that while taking a course at the International Center of Photography she realized acting was the path she wanted to express herself.
“It came to me so clearly and strongly that I went and told him,” she recalled. “He was like, ‘Well, then I give you my blessing.’”
This past Monday, Paul Sorvino’s publicist confirmed the actor’s death in a statement obtained by TODAY. “Sorvino passed from natural causes and had dealt with health issues over the past few years,” the statement read.
The statement also said that the “Godfather of Harlem” star died with his wife, Dee Dee Sorvino, by his side.