Vincent Pastore, the actor whose portrayal of mob informant Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on “The Sopranos” made him one of television’s most recognizable wiseguys, has died at his home in the Bronx. He was 80.
A neighbor found him Saturday. His manager, Robert Attermann, said Pastore had represented him for more than 30 years, calling him unforgettable to the world but far more to those who knew him personally. Friends said his death appeared to stem from natural causes and is not under investigation by the medical examiner.
Pastore came to acting late, breaking into the business at 42 after two decades running bars and nightclubs around New York. Kevin Dillon, who saw him perform in a community theater production, helped connect him to early roles. Small parts followed in Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” and Brian De Palma’s “Carlito’s Way,” along with a turn in the 1996 HBO film “Gotti” alongside future “Sopranos” castmates Tony Sirico and Frank Vincent.
Creator David Chase cast Pastore as Sal in 1998, before the character had even acquired his nickname. Pastore said he researched real Newark mob figures to build the role, discovering a genuine “Big Pussy” with ties to Frankie Valli. As Bonpensiero, he became part of Tony Soprano’s inner circle before the character’s double life as an FBI informant led to one of the series’ defining moments: his death at the hands of Tony, Silvio Dante and Paulie Gualtieri in the show’s Season 2 finale, delivered aboard a boat. Pastore continued appearing in flashbacks and dream sequences through the show’s remaining seasons, amassing 30 episodes in total.
Beyond “The Sopranos,” Pastore built a career spanning nearly 200 film and television credits, often cast as an Italian American tough guy. He voiced a role in the animated film “Shark Tale,” appeared twice on Broadway, and hosted a weekly interview program on SiriusXM focused on Italian American culture. His final screen credit came as a guest voice on “Yellowjackets” in 2025.
Tributes arrived quickly from former castmates, with Michael Imperioli and Joe Pantoliano among those remembering him publicly as generous and deeply loyal to friends and family.
