Suzanne Shepherd, best known for portraying key female characters in “The Sopranos” and “Goodfellas,” died on Friday. She was 89.
The actress played the mother of Karen Hill (Lorraine Bracco) in 1990’s “Goodfellas” and the mother of Carmela Soprano (Edie Falco) in “The Sopranos.”
Shepherd’s death was announced via Facebook by actor and real estate agent Tom Titone on Saturday. He revealed that Shepherd, who lived on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, “passed away peacefully” early Friday morning.
“I studied with Suzanne as a young actor. She saw in me what I could not yet see in myself,” Titone captioned a series of photos he had taken of Shepherd.
“She introduced me to my husband. She was the officiant to our marriage under a beautiful gazebo in Central Park with a gathering of family and friends. For this, I will always be grateful.”
He added, ”She was a huge presence. A BIG personality. She roared with life and at it. May she rest now.”
Shepherd was also known for roles in movies like “Requiem for a Dream,” “A Dirty Shame,” “Uncle Buck,” and “Mystic Pizza.”
She also made guest appearances on the TV shows “Ed,” “Law & Order” and “Blue Bloods.”
Ray Abruzzo, who played Little Carmine Lupertazzi in “The Sopranos,” paid tribute to Shepherd on Instagram over the weekend.
“Sad to hear of the passing of Suzanne Shepherd. A force of nature. Actress, teacher. Played Carmella’s mother on Sopranos and Karen’s mother in Goodfellas,” he wrote Saturday.
Other costars shared their memories.
“She was a powerful actress, she was a force to act with,” Bracco emailed Pvnew. “May she rest in peace.”
“This is really a big loss to everyone that knew her,” “Sopranos” star Kathrine Narducci shared with Pvnew exclusively. “She was so loving and supportive to me, she would share all her acting tips with me and she loved helping actors.”
Narducci added that Shepherd was a longtime acting teacher who pushed her students “because she cared so much.”
And Falco also told Pvnew in a statement how much she treasured working with Shepherd.
“Suzanne was the consummate professional on set, but somehow never forgot how much fun our job can be,” the “Nurse Jackie” star wrote. “She was fun and deeply funny. She taught actors for many years and was revered by her students. She will be missed.”
Shepherd, a longtime regional theater director and Sanford Meisner-trained acting coach, is survived by her daughter, the artist Kate Shepherd; her son-in-law, Miles; daughter-in-law Joyce; and granddaughter Isabelle, according to The Sun.
Titone added that shivas will be held for Shepherd on Monday and Tuesday.
