Vincent Pastore, the character actor best known for playing Salvatore ‘Big Pussy’ Bonpensiero on The Sopranos, has died. He was 80.
Pastore was found in his home on New York’s City Island after not being heard from for several days, his longtime manager, Bob McGowan, told The Associated Press. McGowan said he learned of the death Saturday from fellow Sopranos actor Vincent Curatola. McGowan had been trying to reach Pastore about a possible job.
‘He was the most loyal client and he always gave to charity,’ McGowan said. ‘He was the kind of guy who would help anybody, which is rare in my business.’ No immediate cause of death was released.
Pastore built a decades-long career playing tough guys and mobsters. He appeared in films dating to the 1980s, including roles in Goodfellas and Awakenings, both released in 1990. He is best remembered for his 30-episode run on The Sopranos as Salvatore ‘Big Pussy’ Bonpensiero, a friend of Tony Soprano who is revealed to be an FBI informant.
Born in the Bronx and raised in New Rochelle, New York, Pastore served in the Navy during the Vietnam War and later attended Pace University, according to his IMDb biography. He is survived by his daughter, Renee Pastore.
Pastore’s portrayal of conflicted, streetwise characters made him a recognizable presence in film and television; his work on The Sopranos, in particular, left a lasting mark on one of television’s most acclaimed dramas.