Wiseguy killed before 'Sopranos' series

NEW YORK, June 4 (UPI) -- "The Sopranos" actor Steve Schirripa knew the health of his wiseguy character was in jeopardy when he was visited by the show's creator.

That never happened before during his six years on the popular HBO crime family drama.

Schirripa said he and creator David Chase sat at the kitchen table when Chase said, "'I guess you know why I'm here.' It was like a friggin' hit."

And it was. Schirripa's Bobby "Bacala" Baccalieri was gunned down while buying toy trains in Sunday's next-to-the-last episode of "The Sopranos," the New York Post reported Monday.

Schirripa, an original cast member, said he had hoped his character would be standing in next Sunday's series finale, "but it was nice to finish the whole thing."

Noting he had no say in his own whacking, Schirripa said, "I couldn't have asked for a better scene. It was the first time I ever died on camera and that was a new experience for me."