Paul Herman

Paul Herman was a veteran American actor who regularly turned up in films set in his hometown of New York City. Beginning his career with bit parts in major movies of the 1980s, Herman became a semi-regular in Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese productions. He finally nabbed a more distinguished supporting part in Scorsese's "The Last Temptation of Christ" (1988), but didn't snag another notable role until he was cast as Beansie Gaeta in the lauded crime series "The Sopranos" (HBO, 1999-2007). Herman frequently appears in movies that star Robert De Niro, from "Once Upon a Time in America" (1984) to "Silver Linings Playbook" (2012). Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Paul Herman broke into acting relatively late, with his first screen roles not arriving until his mid-30s. With his average-guy presence, gap-toothed grin, and authentic New Yorker mannerisms, Herman soon found himself in small movie roles, with brief turns in Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in America" (1984) and Francis Ford Coppola's "The Cotton Club" (1984) among other early productions. Occasionally featured in a one-off guest spot on television, Herman primarily stuck to films, becoming a go-to supporting player for both Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese, starting with "The Purple Rose of Cairo" (1985) and "The Last Temptation of Christ" (1988), respectively. Often relegated to nameless background parts such as "Dealer" and "Bartender," Herman finally landed a substantial recurring role in 2000, when he first appeared as pizzeria owner Beansie Gaeta on the mob-centric drama series "The Sopranos" (HBO, 1999-2007). During this stint he was also cast as Marvin, an accountant on "Entourage" (HBO, 2004-11), who consistently warns the high-living main characters of their reckless spending. Equally at home in dramas or comedies, Herman continued to win parts in high-profile projects decades into his career, with small but memorable roles in the bittersweet Oscar-winning films "Crazy Heart" (2009) and "Silver Linings Playbook" (2012). Paul Herman died on March 29, 2022 at the age of 76.