Vincent Pastore, the veteran character actor best known for playing Salvatore “Big P-ssy” Bonpensiero on HBO’s “The Sopranos,” has died. He was 80. Pastore was reportedly found inside his home on New York’s City Island after friends and colleagues had not heard from him for several days. His longtime manager, Bob McGowan, learned of his death Saturday from “The Sopranos” actor Vincent Curatola. A cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
McGowan had represented Pastore since the actor’s celebrated run on “The Sopranos.” At the time of Pastore’s death, the manager had reportedly been attempting to contact him about a potential acting opportunity.
McGowan remembered Pastore as someone whose generosity and commitment extended far beyond his work. “He was the most loyal client and he always gave to charity,” McGowan told The Associated Press. “And he was the kind of guy who would help anybody, which is rare in my business.”
Pastore is survived by his daughter, Renee Pastore.
Michael Imperioli Pays Tribute To His ‘Kind-Hearted Brother’
Michael Imperioli, who worked alongside Pastore on “The Sopranos,” mourned his longtime friend in an emotional Instagram post. Imperioli reflected on the many years they spent performing and traveling together. “We did lots of work together and traveled all over the USA as well as Italy and Australia. Lots of good times. Lots of laughs,” he wrote.
Imperioli then remembered Pastore for the qualities that friends saw beyond his intimidating on-screen persona. “Vinny was a kind-hearted brother who cared deeply about his family and friends. I will miss him always,” he shared.
Pastore and Imperioli’s friendship continued long after their work together on the influential HBO drama concluded.
Actor Became Famous As ‘Big P-ssy’ On ‘The Sopranos’
4Pastore appeared in movies and television projects dating back to the 1980s, often playing gangsters or other hardened figures. His most recognizable role came when he was cast as Salvatore “Big P-ssy” Bonpensiero on “The Sopranos.”
The character was a close friend and associate of mob boss Tony Soprano, played by the late James Gandolfini. Their relationship became increasingly complicated after Big P-ssy was revealed to be working as an FBI informant.
Pastore appeared in approximately 30 episodes of the acclaimed drama. Despite his character’s fate, he continued to appear in flashbacks and dream sequences.
Vincent Pastore Appeared In ‘Goodfellas’ And ‘Awakenings’
4Before joining “The Sopranos,” Pastore appeared in two major films released in 1990: Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” and the Robert De Niro-led drama “Awakenings.”
Pastore was born in the Bronx and raised in New Rochelle, New York. Before becoming an actor, he served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War and later attended Pace University. His unmistakable New York accent and presence eventually became defining features of his performances.
‘Sopranos’ Star Later Joined ‘General Hospital’
4Pastore also brought his mob experience to daytime television. After playing multiple smaller characters on “One Life to Live” between 1995 and 2004, the actor joined “General Hospital” for a short run in 2008. He played Maximus, the mobster father of Max and Milo Giambetti, portrayed by real-life brothers Derk and Drew Cheetwood. Max and Milo worked as trusted bodyguards for Sonny Corinthos, played by Maurice Benard.
Pastore later admitted that adapting to the speed of daytime television proved challenging. “Working on a soap is probably the hardest work that an actor can endure. It’s like doing a play every day without having rehearsals. And ‘GH’ is even tougher than other soaps,” he said in 2009. “You have to discipline yourself and say, ‘Okay, I’ve gotta learn all these lines and hit my mark by tomorrow morning at 7:30…’”
The actor also had a playful complaint about the authenticity of the show’s fictional organized-crime world. “I think they need more New York actors to get the accent down,” he said. “I’m the guy from New York, and I’m talking to a bunch of California actors, and they’re playing wise guys. Sometimes it don’t work.”
From “Big P-ssy” to Maximus, Pastore built a career playing characters who appeared intimidating but often revealed deeper loyalties beneath the surface.