NEW YORK - The man behind the exclusive Italian restaurant Rao's has died.

Frank Pellegrino died Tuesday in Manhattan after a battle with lung cancer. 

In addition to running his East Harlem restaurant, Pellegrino also worked as an actor.

He played an FBI agent on HBO's "The Sopranos", and had a small role in the movie "Goodfellas".

Pellegrino also wrote two cookbooks and expanded Rao's to locations in Las Vegas and Hollywood.

Frank Pellegrino was 72-years old.