The Sopranos cast is in mourning this Saturday.
On Saturday, actor Vincent Pastore best known for his role as Salvatore “Big P*ssy” Bonpensiero was found dead in his Bronx, New York home.
Pastore was 80 at the time of his death.
Yahoo News reported further details on Pastore’s death and provided some background on how he got started in the entertainment industry:
Vincent Pastore, known for playing mobsters in film and TV, most notably Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on HBO’s The Sopranos, has died. He was 80. The veteran actor was found dead in his Bronx residence today, Aug. 1, by a neighbor after he had not been heard from for the past three days, Deadline has learned.
The cause of death is being investigated.
Born in the Bronx on July 14, 1946, Pastore fought in the Vietnam war before graduating from Pace University with a degree in drama. While working as a limo driver, he met Matt and Kevin Dillon who went to see him in a community play he was doing, and The Entourage star Kevin helped him get his first break.
After minor parts in early 1990s movies such as Goodfellas, Carlito’s Way and Men of Respect, Pastore rose to prominence with his roles in the 1995 feature The Jerky Boys: The Movie and the 1996 HBO TV movie Gotti, in which he appeared alongside future Sopranos co-stars Tony Sirico, Frank Vincent, and Dominic Chianese.
It was David Chase’s 1999 drama The Sopranos that gave Pastore his signature role, Big Pussy, Tony Soprano’s (James Gandolfini) longtime best friend and mob enforcer turned FBI Informant whose murder became one of the Emmy-winning series’ most memorable scenes.
Pastore’s extensive feature credits also include Mickey Blue Eyes, Two Family House, Riding in Cars with Boys, Witness to the Mob, Deuces Wild, Mafia!, Serving Sara, This Thing of Ours, Shark Tale, Bachelor Party Vegas, Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn, Money Train, A Brooklyn State of Mind, The Deli, Spinning Gold and Guy Ritchie’s Revolver.
In TV, Pastore was a frequent guest star on Law & Order and had major roles on The Practice, Son of the Beach, Queens Supreme, Hawaii Five-0, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, the daytime drama One Life to Live and the miniseries The Last Don II. He most recently was a series regular on Gravesend and guest starred on Yellowjackets.
During the 2000s, Pastore was a fixture on reality television with appearances on Celebrity Apprentice, Celebrity Family Feud, Dancing With the Stars, Shark Tank and Celebrity Fit Club. He also hosted The Wiseguy Show on SiriusXM.
“Vinnie was a great guy, he would help anyone and was very charitable,” Pastore’s longtime manager Bob McGowan said.
Users on X quickly reacted to Pastore’s death:
The legendary Vincent Pastore, co-star of The Sopranos, has died.
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) August 1, 2026
He was 80. pic.twitter.com/57f0rm8O4N
Sad news today as Vincent Pastore has passed away at 80 years old.
— Growing Up Italian (@GrowingUpItalia) August 1, 2026
His legacy lives on through the characters he brought to life and the countless people he inspired along the way.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
Rest in peace, Vincent ❤️🕊️ pic.twitter.com/eXBKiwVLdV
Page Six stated the Sopranos star died of natural causes:
Sources told Page Six that Pastore was found dead Saturday in his home on City Island in the Bronx by a neighbor.
A police source told Page Six the actor died of natural causes.
Pastore’s manager, Robert Attermann, mourned the actor’s death in a statement to Page Six Saturday.
“I had the privilege of representing Vinny for more than 30 years, long before ‘The Sopranos’ made him a household name,” Attermann said. “To the world, he will always be remembered as the unforgettable ‘Big Pussy,’ but to those of us who knew him, he was so much more.”
“Vinny was one of the kindest, most generous people I have ever known,” the statement continued. “He treated everyone with warmth and respect, never turning down a fan who wanted a photograph or an autograph.”
