Vincent Pastore, 'Sopranos' actor, dies at 80

Vincent Pastore, an actor celebrated for his portrayal of mobster Salvatore Bonpensiero in the iconic HBO series "The Sopranos," has died at the age of 80. Pastore's agent, Robert Attermann, confirmed his passing to the news agency AFP.

Pastore gained widespread recognition for his role as Bonpensiero, a character who secretly served as an informant for the FBI. His performance in "The Sopranos" became a memorable part of the show's acclaimed run.

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It falls easier for me to play a tough guy than a good guy.

Born in the Bronx, New York, in 1946, Pastore hailed from an Italian-American family. His life before acting included a stint in the U.S. Marines and experience as a nightclub owner. He often embodied gangster roles and tough characters throughout his career in film and television.

Pastore also had smaller roles in notable films such as Martin Scorsese's "GoodFellas" (1990) and Brian De Palma's "Carlito's Way" (1993). Reflecting on his acting choices in a 2000 interview with the New York Daily News, Pastore stated, "It falls easier for me to play a tough guy than a good guy." He attributed this to his upbringing in a rough neighborhood, describing himself as "an actor from the street" who gained much of his training on set.

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I grew up in a rough neighborhood. I didn't deal with the classics. I'm an actor from the street. I did a lot of my training on the set.