Sopranos star Vincent Pastore dies aged 80

Vincent Pastore, the actor beloved for his portrayal of Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero in the hit HBO series The Sopranos, has died at the age of 80. His manager, Bob McGowan, confirmed the news on Saturday after being alerted by another client. McGowan had been trying to reach Pastore for a potential job when he learned of his death. He said Pastore was found in his home on City Island in New York, having not been heard from for several days.

McGowan remembered Pastore as an exceptionally loyal client and a generous individual. "He was the most loyal client and he always gave to charity," McGowan stated. "He was the kind of guy who would help anybody, which is rare in my business."

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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's career began in the 1980s, with early roles in notable films such as Goodfellas and Awakenings, both released in 1990. He frequently portrayed characters in gangster roles. His most iconic role was as Bonpensiero, a friend of Tony Soprano who secretly worked as an FBI informant, appearing in 30 episodes of The Sopranos. In a 2019 interview, Pastore described his character as "a rat who got a lot of people in trouble."

Born in the Bronx and raised in New Rochelle, New York, Pastore served in the Navy during the Vietnam War and later attended Pace University. He is survived by his daughter, Renee Pastore.

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a rat who got a lot of people in trouble