However, the landscape began to shift dramatically in 1990 with Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas, which infused humor into the gangster narrative, making it more relatable and engaging for viewers.

Paul Sorvino, an imposing actor who specialized in playing crooks and cops like Paulie Cicero in “Goodfellas” and the NYPD sergeant Phil Cerretta on “Law & Order,” has died. He was 83. His publicist ...