Veteran American actor Vincent Pastore, widely recognised for portraying Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero in HBO’s The Sopranos, has died at the age of 80.
Pastore was reportedly found dead at his residence in the Bronx, New York, on Friday after neighbours became concerned when they had not seen or heard from him for several days and alerted authorities.
The cause of death has not yet been made public, with investigations still underway.
Born in 1946 in the Bronx, Pastore completed high school before serving in the U.S. Navy. He later studied drama at Pace University, where he began pursuing his passion for acting.
His journey into professional acting gained momentum after meeting actors Matt and Kevin Dillon during a community theatre production. The brothers encouraged him to take acting seriously, paving the way for a successful career in film and television.
Over the years, Pastore built an impressive résumé with appearances in films such as Goodfellas, Carlito’s Way, Men of Respect and Gotti. He achieved worldwide fame in 1999 when he joined The Sopranos as Salvatore Bonpensiero, a close friend of mob boss Tony Soprano, played by James Gandolfini.
Beyond The Sopranos, he featured in numerous productions, including Mickey Blue Eyes, Two Family House, Riding in Cars with Boys, Witness to the Mob, Deuces Wild, Mafia!, Serving Sara, This Thing of Ours and Shark Tale.
Pastore is survived by his daughter, Renee Pastore, whom he had with his former wife, Nancy Berke.
Reacting to the news, fellow The Sopranos actor Michael Imperioli paid tribute to his longtime colleague, describing him as a cherished friend and collaborator.
“Vinny was a kind-hearted brother who cared deeply about his family and friends. I will always miss him,” Imperioli said.