Veteran American actor Vincent Pastore, best known for his portrayal of Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero in the acclaimed television series The Sopranos, has died at the age of 80.
According to his longtime manager, Bob McGowan, Pastore was found dead at his home on City Island, New York, after friends and colleagues became concerned when they had not heard from him for several days. McGowan said he had been trying to reach the actor regarding a potential acting job before learning of his death from fellow The Sopranos actor Vincent Curatola.
Describing Pastore, McGowan said:
“He was the most loyal client and he always gave to charity. He was the kind of guy who would help anybody, which is rare in my business.”
Pastore began his acting career in the 1980s and appeared in several notable films, including Goodfellas and Awakenings, both released in 1990.
He became widely recognized for his role as Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero, one of Tony Soprano’s closest friends who later becomes an FBI informant, appearing in 30 episodes of The Sopranos. The performance remains the defining role of his career.
Born in the Bronx, New York, Pastore was raised in New Rochelle. He served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War before attending Pace University.
He is survived by his daughter, Renee Pastore.