Vincent Pastore, Sopranos Star, Found Deceased at 80 in His Home

The Sopranos veteran Vincent Pastore has passed away at the age of 80.

Pastore was discovered deceased at his City Island home in the Bronx on Saturday, August 1, by a neighbor, according to Page Six. The report suggests that law enforcement believes Pastore died of natural causes.

“I had the honor of representing Vinny for over 30 years, long before The Sopranos turned him into a household name,” his manager, Robert Attermann, conveyed to Page Six on Saturday while confirming the actor’s passing. “To the public, he will always be remembered as the unforgettable ‘Big Pussy,’ but to those of us who knew him, he was so much more.”

He further stated, “Vinny was one of the kindest and most generous individuals I have ever encountered. He greeted everyone with warmth and respect, always willing to accommodate fans seeking a photograph or autograph.”

Pastore is widely recognized for portraying Tony Soprano’s mafioso henchman-turned-saboteur Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero during the first two seasons of HBO’s The Sopranos. (Following Sal’s famous exit storyline, Pastore made several guest appearances on the HBO series.)

He entered the acting world after earning a drama degree from Pace University in New York and had previously served in the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. Pastore found his niche in the entertainment industry through various supporting roles in classic mob films like Goodfellas, Carlito’s Way, and Witness to the Mob and Mafia!.

Outside the mob movie sphere, Pastore voiced Luca the octopus in the 2004 animated film Shark Tale and also voiced Terry in Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

In the wake of his passing, Pastore was honored as a “beloved friend and collaborator” by Sopranos co-star Michael Imperioli on Saturday. (Imperioli played Tony Soprano’s drug-addicted mentee Christopher in the HBO series.)

“This one hits hard for us; it feels like I’ve known Vinny forever. We collaborated on numerous projects and traveled extensively across the USA, as well as Italy and Australia,” Imperioli, 60, mentioned via Instagram. “Countless good times, countless laughs. Vinny was a kind-hearted brother who cared deeply about his family and friends. I will miss him always.”