Goodfellas star Paul Sorvino’s widow has revealed how the late actor gave her his blessing to marry 80s TV icon John Schneider – two years after his death.
In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, actress and entertainer Dee Dee Sorvino said her late husband came to her in dreams approving of the romance with the Dukes Of Hazzard star.
John and Dee Dee wed in Las Vegas last week after a secret 11-month romance.
In an exclusive interview, both Dee Dee, 55, and John, 64, teared up admitting that they doubted ever finding love after losing their spouses in recent years.
Schneider was staggered by the romance: ‘I didn’t think the laughter would ever happen again,’ he said.
But showing off their emotional and comedic connection, Dee Dee teased they have sexual chemistry too as their marriage is filled with ‘lots of physical activity.’
Newly weds Dee Dee Sorvino and John Schneider opened up on finding love again after the deaths of their respective spouses at their wedding celebration at The Hollywood Museum on Thursday
Paul Sorvino, 83, died from kidney problems and pneumonia in July 2022, while Schneider’s wife Alicia Allain Schneider died from breast cancer in February 2023 aged 53
They hope their marriage will inspire others dealing with grief to find love again.
The couple opened up on finding love against all odds after an introduction at a Three Stooges celebration at The Hollywood Museum in Los Angeles last summer.
Schneider and Sorvino exchanged vows during a surprise wedding at one of Sin City’s famous wedding spots – Vegas Weddings in downtown Las Vegas on July 23.
Few friends had been aware they were dating before they tied the knot at the drive-thru venue – in a ceremony overseen by officiant and longtime Elvis impressionist Ron DeCar.
Speaking on the red carpet at the event, Dee Dee confessed that Paul, who passed from kidney issues and pneumonia in Florida in July 2022, ‘absolutely’ endorses this new union.
Tearing up she said: ‘There is no doubt in my mind that Paul Sorvino sent John to me. I am absolutely sure of it. I heard him.
‘I’ve gotten a lot of messages in my dreams and I just know it.
‘He told me many times before he died, because he was sick, ‘I really want you to find love’.
‘I said, ‘no way. It’s not happening. There’s no way there’ll be anyone after you.’
‘And then Paul brought me, John, I’m convinced. And so grateful again, you’ve got to have gratitude.’
The happy couple shared a smooch on the red carpet as they celebrated their union with friends. Dee Dee wore boots in the colors of the Dukes of Hazzard’s famous car, the General Lee
John and Dee Dee were joined by his former Dukes Of Hazzard co-star Catherine Bach on the red carpet for the wedding celebration party
Devastated Dee Dee expected to end her days alone after her Law And Order actor’s husband’s passing.
‘It was really tough before. I was so sad. I tear up thinking about him always, and then I met this one,’ she gushed, looking at John.
‘I never thought I would find anyone. And then John came and was a miracle…Paul sent him to me.’
John reflected on his shock at recovering from ‘despair’ and ‘intense grief’ after the loss of wife Alicia from breast cancer in February 2023.
‘You don’t climb into love, you fall into love.
‘When we met each other, the crazy dame at the end of the bar, I started laughing. I’ve been laughing ever since.
‘And I honestly never thought that was going to be possible. I didn’t think laughter was going to be part of my life ever again.
‘We are surprisingly content. We are surprisingly happy. We are in love. We’re not afraid to explore that. We’re not afraid to say it.’
Dee Dee reacted: ‘It’s all about the fun. If it’s not fun, it’s not worth it.’
Dee Dee then delivered a cheeky description of their passions.
‘We golf a lot. We like a lot of physical activity, you know what I mean? So it’s all good.’
Smirking, John replied: ‘I’m not quite sure how to follow that’, laughing: ‘She meant golf.’
Dukes of Hazzard alum John Schneider married Paul Sorvino’s widow Dee Dee on Tuesday – 17 months after the death of his wife Alicia
Paul Sorvino was best known for his role in Goodfellas on the silver screen and Law & Order on television. He also played Henry Kissinger in the 1995 movie Nixon
Alicia Allain had battled cancer after being diagnosed in 2019, later revealing that she was told she had just a few years to live
When Dee Dee repeated ‘physical activity; is ‘nice’, John naughtily replied: ‘We are adventurous there too.’
It’s a remarkable emotional turnaround for Schneider, who felt ‘lost and helpless’ in spring 2023.
‘The bridge between hopelessness and hope is laughter,’ he said. ‘As corny as that may sound, I never thought there was ever going to be laughter again in my life.
He noted: ‘Then I met this one and we started laughing immediately and we’re still laughing.’
The pair hope their joy will inspire others to find new partners after loss.
John confirmed: ‘If you’re on the road to grief, there’s hope. Don’t look for it.’
John and Dee Dee were joined by his former Dukes Of Hazzard co-star Catherine Bach, 70, on the red carpet for the wedding celebration party at the Hollywood Museum in the Historic Max Factor Building.
They posed beside the General Lee car from the Hazzard series.
Catherine said: ‘I’m thrilled and relieved that he has a woman that he can trust and somebody so smart and beautiful, who loves him so much.’
Hollywood Museum President Donelle Dadigan added: ‘This is a fairytale straight out of Hollywood. It is amazing they both lost love and went through tough times and now have found each other.
‘Dee Dee and Paul were like extended family at The Hollywood Museum and for John to meet her here is amazing. I have not seen Dee Dee smile like this in a long time. ‘
The couple posed with Catherine Bach and The Hollywood Museum Founder and President Donelle Dadigan – and the General Lee – on Thursday
Actor Rex Smith was among the guests who attended John Schneider and Dee Dee Sorvino’s wedding celebration
Guests at the bash, which served John’s Revenuer’s Reserve Moonshine liquor and Dee Dee’s Sorvino vino wine, included Streethawk actor Rex Smith, Kate Linder of soap Young & The Restless, Geoffrey Mark, Emmy nominee Lee Purcell and CNN host Sandro Monetti.
Asked whose alcohol rules at home, Dee Dee smiled: ‘Boy, that’s tough. I think it depends on the day. It depends on the day and the mood, but it’s all good.’
John joked: ‘Liquor is quicker.
‘I can’t really tell the difference between a great wine and a not so great wine. But I can tell the difference between a great moonshine and a fair moonshine because moonshine has been part of my life for a long, long time.’
Dee Dee added: ‘We’re going to have a liquor empire.’
Dee Dee, who has a one woman cabaret show in development, plans to release music with country singer John.
‘We’re going to collaborate on everything. I already thought about all that. We’re totally doing that…and a talk show and podcast.
‘And we love to just do everything together, Just wait – you’re going to be amazed at what we’re going to accomplish. And we talk about that.
‘We talk about dreams, goals, and there’s so much to do. I just feel like I wish we could live to 300 years old because we’re going to need that much time to do everything that we want to do. And we are super happy and I’m just so grateful.’
