Vincent Pastore, the actor best known for playing Salvatore Bonpensiero in the groundbreaking TV series The Sopranos, has died at 80.
The actor was found dead in his home in the Bronx today, August 1, as reported by Deadline. A neighbor reportedly discovered his body while checking on him after he hadn’t been heard from for three days.
The site reported that “the circumstances surrounding his death are being investigated.” Additional details regarding Pastore’s passing have not been revealed.
“Vinnie was a great guy, he would help anyone and was very charitable,” Pastore’s manager Bob McGowan told Deadline.
Pastore has a decadeslong career in film and TV that dates back to the ’80s, but his role as Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero in The Sopranos is no doubt his most recognizable role. He starred in HBO’s hit mobster drama alongside the late James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano for 30 of the show’s 86 episodes.
If you’ve even semi-regularly watched TV any time in the last decade, there’s a decent chance you’ve seen Pastore pop up here and there. His credits include roles in General Hospital, Law & Order, Everybody Hates Chris, Mad TV, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, and much, much more. He also reprised his role as Salvatore Bonpensiero in The Sopranos: Road to Respect 2006 video game for the PlayStation 2.
In the film world, he acted with Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, and Joe Pesci in Goodfellas, Al Pacino and Sean Penn in 1993’s Carlito’s Way, and he was one of the many big-name actors to provide their voice talents to 2004’s Shark Tale. He most recently showed up for a guest role in Showtime’s Yellowjackets.
Despite The Sopranos being filled with a cast of memorable characters, Pastore’s role in the show has remained one of the most memorable. Fans of his work over the years have taken to social media to share their condolences.
Photo by Dia Dipasupil/WireImage.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
