Vincent Pastore, the actor who played Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on The Sopranos, has died at age 80.
Key facts
- •Vincent Pastore died in his sleep at his home in the Bronx at age 80.
- •His death was confirmed by his friend Steve Villano.
- •Pastore began his acting career in his forties and appeared in nearly 200 roles.
- •He played Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on The Sopranos for two seasons.
- •His early film work included roles in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas and the 1996 biopic Gotti.
Vincent Pastore, an actor best known for his role as mobster Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on the HBO series The Sopranos, has died at the age of 80. His death was confirmed by his friend Steve Villano, who stated that Pastore passed away in his sleep at his home in the Bronx, New York, on Saturday.
Career and Notable Roles
Pastore began his acting career in the late 1980s, often portraying mob-related characters. His early film credits include appearances in Goodfellas, New Jack City, and Carlito’s Way. He also appeared in multiple episodes of Law & Order before landing his breakout role in the 1996 HBO biopic Gotti, which featured several actors who would later join him on The Sopranos. Over his career, Pastore accumulated nearly 200 on-screen credits. His filmography includes roles in Made, Mickey Blue Eyes, and Revolver, as well as television appearances on Blue Bloods and Hawaii Five-0. One of his final roles was an appearance as himself on the series The Curse.
Role on The Sopranos
On The Sopranos, Pastore’s character, Big Pussy, served as a central figure during the show's first two seasons. The character transitioned from being a trusted associate of Tony Soprano to an FBI informant. The character was killed in the Season 2 finale, though he made subsequent appearances in the series through dream sequences.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Rolling Stone.
