"Casino" actor Vinny Vella, who starred in several other gangster movies, is dead at 72. He was battling cancer. Vella's representative posted a social media message late on Wednesday night to announce the actor's demise, reported tmz.com.

"We are saddened to report that Vinny Vella has passed and I'm sure that no one is more saddened than himself. Vinny loved life from his family to his friends and fans he was easily one of the funniest, endearing actors to have ever graced the screen," read the message.