Vincent Pastore, the Bronx-born actor best known as Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on HBO's landmark series "The Sopranos," was found dead at his home Saturday, a Vietnam veteran whose second act in Hollywood spanned more than three decades.
Pastore's manager of over 30 years, Robert Attermann, confirmed the death to USA TODAY on Aug. 1. A neighbor had not heard from Pastore in three days before his body was discovered at his home in the Bronx, New York. He was 80.
No cause of death has been disclosed. The circumstances surrounding Pastore's death are under investigation, though no investigating agency has been publicly identified.
Pastore is survived by his daughter, Renee.
Before Hollywood ever came calling, Pastore served his country. He enlisted as a sailor and spent three years in uniform during the Vietnam War, a detail that rarely headlined the celebrity profiles but said plenty about the man behind the tough-guy roles.
He broke into film with the kind of gritty crime dramas that defined a generation of American cinema. In 1990 he appeared in "Goodfellas." Three years later he landed a part in "Carlito's Way." Roles in "The Jerky Boys: The Movie" (1995), the HBO TV movie "Gotti" (1996), "The Deli" (1997), "Witness to the Mob" (1998), and "Mickey Blue Eyes" (1999) followed in steady succession.
But it was "The Sopranos" that made Pastore a household name. His portrayal of Salvatore Bonpensiero, the conflicted mob associate turned FBI informant alongside James Gandolfini's Tony Soprano, gave him a role audiences never forgot. The HBO series went on to win multiple Emmys and reshape television drama for good.
Pastore kept working long after the show's peak. He voiced a character in the animated film "Shark Tale" in 2004 and appeared in projects as recently as 2023's "Spinning Gold." His television credits stretched across shows including "Law & Order," "General Hospital," "Bull," and "Dancing with the Stars," among others. He also made a guest appearance on "Shark Tank."
In 2004, he launched "The Wise Guy," a radio show on SiriusXM, a fitting title for an actor who had spent decades inhabiting exactly those kinds of characters.
Attermann's statement painted a picture of a man whose character off-screen matched the loyalty he played on it. As Attermann put it:
"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. He genuinely appreciated the people who supported him and always made them feel valued."
The manager, who worked with Pastore for more than three decades, made clear the loss was not just professional.
"For me, losing Vinny is deeply personal. Over more than three decades, I had the honor of watching not only his remarkable career but also the incredible person he was. I will miss his friendship, his loyalty, his humor, and his generosity. He leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond his memorable performances. He will be greatly missed and never forgotten. May his memory be a blessing."
Pastore served, worked, and never forgot where he came from, the Bronx. In a town that chews people up, he stuck around for 80 years and left on his own terms.
