Vincent Pastore, known for playing mobsters in film and TV, most notably Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on HBO’s The Sopranos, has died. He was 80. The veteran actor was found dead in his Bronx residence today, Aug. 1, by a neighbor. Pastore’s manager had not heard from him for three days though, according to a close friend, the actor’s driver had spoken to him on the phone Friday night. The death is believed to be from natural causes and is not being investigated by the medical examiner.
Born in the Bronx on July 14, 1946, Pastore fought in the Vietnam war before graduating from Pace University with a degree in drama. While working as a limo driver, he met Matt and Kevin Dillon who went to see him in a community play he was doing, and The Entourage star Kevin helped him get his first break.
After minor parts in early 1990s movies such as Goodfellas, Carlito’s Way and Men of Respect, Pastore rose to prominence with his roles in the 1995 feature The Jerky Boys: The Movie and the 1996 HBO TV movie Gotti, in which he appeared alongside future Sopranos co-stars Tony Sirico, Frank Vincent, and Dominic Chianese.
It was David Chase’s 1999 drama The Sopranos that gave Pastore his signature role, Big Pussy, Tony Soprano’s (James Gandolfini) longtime best friend and mob enforcer turned FBI Informant whose murder became one of the Emmy-winning series’ most memorable scenes.
‘The Sopranos’ Season 1 cast, from left: Tony Sirico, Steven Van Zandt, James Gandolfini, Michael Imperioli and Vincent Pastore
HBO
Pastore’s extensive feature credits also include Mickey Blue Eyes, Two Family House, Riding in Cars with Boys, Witness to the Mob, Deuces Wild, Mafia!, Serving Sara, This Thing of Ours, Shark Tale, Bachelor Party Vegas, Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn, Money Train, A Brooklyn State of Mind, The Deli, Spinning Gold and Guy Ritchie’s Revolver.
In TV, Pastore was a frequent guest star on Law & Order and had major roles on The Practice, Son of the Beach, Queens Supreme, Hawaii Five-0, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, the daytime drama One Life to Live and the miniseries The Last Don II. He most recently was a series regular on Gravesend and guest starred on Yellowjackets.
During the 2000s, Pastore was a fixture on reality television with appearances on Celebrity Apprentice, Celebrity Family Feud, Dancing With the Stars, Shark Tank and Celebrity Fit Club. He also hosted The Wiseguy Show on SiriusXM and performed with the band The Gangster Squad.
“Vinny was a great guy, he would help anyone and was very charitable,” Pastore’s longtime manager Bob McGowan said.
Pastore is survived by his daughter, Renee, son-in-law and granddaughter.
