Pomona Rewind

  Few actors have made the transition from convicted criminal to cherished star of the small screen. But few actors were like Tony Sirico. Known to most audiences as Tony Soprano's edgy henchman Paulie Walnuts, he worked with directors like Francis Coppola, Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese and Hames Toback during his career and his CV included appearances in 'The Godfather Part II,' 'Good Fellas,' 'Casino,' 'Copland' and several Allen films. Born Genarro Antonio Siroco in New York in 1942, he was raised in the Brooklyn neighbourhoods of Bensonhurst and East Flatbush. In his teens, he fell on the wrong side of the law hanging out with a street gang. Sirico was arrested 28 times and convicted of crimes ranging from robbery to assault and disorderly conduct. He later  told the LA Times in 1990 : "Where I grew up, every guy was trying to prove himself. You either had to have a tattoo or a bullet hole." Tony would sustain a bullet wound, being shot

James Caan was one of those Hollywood actors you cannot help thinking should have been more appreciated. Women loved his rugged good looks. Men loved his earthy, blue collar screen persona. In interviews, Caan was honest, likeable, naturally funny and self deprecating. And while he certainly had his personal struggles, he was nevertheless a much better actor than he was often given credit for. Instead of being taken for granted, he deserved accolades from his peers but they never really materialised. Born in the Bronx in March 1940, his parents Sophie and Arthur Caan were Jewish immigrants from Germany.  His dad was a butcher who raised the family in Sunnyside in the New York borough of Queens. As a kid, when he was not boxing, he flogged meat on street corners with his dad. During high school and university years, he first set his heart on becoming an American football player. Caan lined out for Michigan State University where he was also a member of the Alpha Epsilon P fraternity. He