Photo: Walter McBride/Corbis
Patti LuPoneis honoring her late brotherRobert LuPoneafter his death.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE on Tuesday, the Tony Award-winning actress paid tribute to her sibling — who played Tony Soprano’s neighbor Dr. Bruce Cusamano onThe Sopranos— afterhe died from pancreatic cancerover the weekend. He was 76.
Ozier Muhammed/Newsday RM via Getty
MCC Theater, which Robert co-founded, confirmed his death from pancreatic cancer viaInstagram.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce that MCC founding Co-Artistic Director, Bob LuPone, passed away Saturday, Aug 27 after a three year battle with pancreatic cancer,” the theater company shared.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“While the company was ostensibly formed to create new work for the American stage, it was always Bob’s fierce need for engagement with the art, the artists, and the audience that animated and inspired us,” they wrote, in part.
“Bob was a force, an advocate, complex in the richest ways, overflowing with a youthful enthusiasm, and deeply wise as he looked in to our souls,” the pair added. “He was our best friend.”
The late actor also appeared onSex and the CityandGuiding Light. He was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for his work onAll My Children.
Jim Spellman/WireImage
He received a Tony nomination for his performance as Zach inA Chorus Line. The show won the Tony for best musical as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1976.
Under his leadership, MCC Theater produced shows includingFrozen,School Girlsand the Pulitzer Prize-winningWit.
Robert was the director of the MFA drama program at the New School for Drama from 2005 to 2011 and served as the president of the board of directors of A.R.T./New York.
source: people.com
