‘Goodfellas,’ ‘Sopranos’ Star Suzanne Shepherd Dies at 89

Suzanne Shepherd attends the Opening Reception for John Waters, Titled "Change of Lif
Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Paul Bois

Actress Suzanne Shepherd, who famously played Karen’s mother in Martin Scorsese’s beloved classic Goodfellas, died on Friday at the age of 89.

Shepherd reportedly died on Friday morning in her home in New York City, which her agent confirmed to Variety.

Shepherd was born on Oct. 31, 1934. She made her acting debut in the 1988 romcom “Mystic Pizza,” starring Julia Roberts, and appeared in such films as “Working Girl,” “Uncle Buck” and “Second Sight” before working on Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas.”

On the television side, she guest-starred in “Law & Order,” “Third Watch,” “Ed,” “Blue Bloods,” “Deadline,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.”

Shepherd’s role in Goodfellas undoubtedly led her to the role of Mary DeAngelis, the mother Carmela Soprano in HBO’s smash hit The Sopranos. She also starred alongside Ellen Burstyn in Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream.

“Sad to hear of the passing of Suzanne Shepherd. A force of nature. Actress, teacher,” fellow Sopranos actor Ray Abruzzo wrote on Instagram upon news of her passing.

Fans of her work remembered her fiercely memorable screen presence on social media.

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