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The Sopranos alum Vincent Pastore has died. He was 80.
Pastore was found dead in his City Island residence in the Bronx on Saturday, August 1, by a neighbor, per Page Six. The outlet reported that police suspect Pastore died from natural causes.
“I had the privilege of representing Vinny for more than 30 years, long before The Sopranos made him a household name,” his manager, Robert Attermann, told Page Six on Saturday, confirming the actor’s death. “To the world, he will always be remembered as the unforgettable ‘Big Pussy,’ but to those of us who knew him, he was so much more.”
His statement continued, “Vinny was one of the kindest, most generous people I have ever known. He treated everyone with warmth and respect, never turning down a fan who wanted a photograph or an autograph.”
Pastore is best known for playing Tony Soprano’s mafioso henchman-turned-saboteur Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on the first two seasons of HBO’s The Sopranos. (Following Sal’s infamous exit story line, Pastore returned multiple times for guest appearances on the HBO drama.)
He broke into acting after obtaining a drama degree from New York’s Pace University. He had previously served in the U.S. military, fighting in the country’s Vietnam War. Pastore carved out a niche within the sprawling entertainment industry via various supporting roles in classic mob movies, including Goodfellas, Carlito’s Way, Witness to the Mob and Mafia!.
Away from the mob movie genre, Pastore lent his voice to the 2004 animated movie Shark Tale as the octopus Luca and voiced Terry on Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
Following the announcement of his death, Pastore was remembered as a “beloved friend and collaborator” by Sopranos costar Michael Imperioli on Saturday. (Imperioli portrayed Tony Soprano’s drug-addicted protege Christopher on the HBO drama.)
“This is a hard one for us, it seems like I’ve known Vinny forever. We did lots of work together and traveled all over the USA as well as Italy and Australia,” Imperioli, 60, wrote via Instagram. “Lots of good times. Lots of laughs. Vinny was a kind hearted brother who cared deeply about his family and friends. I will miss him always.”
Fellow Sopranos alum Edie Falco — who played Tony Soprano’s long-suffering wife Carmella — told Page Six on Saturday that Pastore’s death was “an awful loss” and “so unexpected.”
“Vinnie was always so full of life,” Falco, 63, noted.
Having worked with Pastore on both The Sopranos and Goodfellas, Lorraine Bracco remembered the actor as “such a charming and funny man” via her Instagram Story. (Bracco starred as Tony’s psychiatrist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi, on The Sopranos.)
“Just a beautiful soul. Absolutely heartbreaking.” Bracco, 71, added.
Junior Soprano actor Dominic Chianese shared via his own Instagram Story that he’d “lost a friend” on Saturday.
“Paying respect and sending Love in tribute,” Chianese, 75, continued. “You were a gem Vinnie🤍.”
Vincent is survived by a daughter, Renee Pastore, from his marriage to ex-wife Nancy Berke.
His final big-screen performance will be in the upcoming 1950s coming-of-age drama Bad News on the Doorstep, in which he costarred with Mischa Barton, Rob Gronkowski and Chazz Palminteri.
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