Vincent Pastore, 'The Sopranos' Actor, Dies at 80

Vincent Pastore, the actor widely recognized for his portrayal of Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero in the acclaimed HBO series "The Sopranos," died on Saturday at the age of 80. He was discovered deceased in his New York apartment, and authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.

Pastore's career spanned four decades, during which he appeared in more than 150 film and television projects. His role as Bonpensiero, a mobster and informant within Tony Soprano's crew, became his most iconic. The character's complex relationship with Soprano, ultimately leading to his demise, was a pivotal storyline in the series.

For their performances in "The Sopranos," Pastore and his castmates received the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2000 and earned another nomination the following year. The series served as a major breakthrough for Pastore.

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Our dear friend and collaborator Vincent Pastore has passed away. This is a very hard blow for us; I feel like I've known Vinny my whole life. We worked a lot together and traveled all over the United States, Italy, and Australia. We shared many good times and many laughs.

Before "The Sopranos," Pastore had supporting roles in notable films such as Martin Scorsese's "Goodfellas," "Awakenings," and "Carlito's Way." He also made multiple appearances in the television series "Law & Order" during the 1990s. His later work included roles in "Corky Romano," "Shark Tale," "The Practice," and "Everybody Hates Chris," with his final credited role being a guest voice appearance in "Yellowjackets" in 2025.

Fellow "Sopranos" actor Michael Imperioli, who played Christopher Moltisanti, paid tribute to Pastore on Instagram, writing, "Our dear friend and collaborator Vincent Pastore has passed away. This is a very hard blow for us; I feel like I've known Vinny my whole life. We worked a lot together and traveled all over the United States, Italy, and Australia. We shared many good times and many laughs." He added, "Vinny was a kind brother who cared deeply about his family and friends. I will miss him always." Dominic Chianese, who portrayed Corrado "Junior" Soprano, also shared a farewell message.

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Vinny was a kind brother who cared deeply about his family and friends. I will miss him always.