Vincent Pastore, a veteran actor recognized for playing mobsters and tough guys, has died at the age of 80. He was best known for his portrayal of Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero, a friend of Tony Soprano who becomes an FBI informant in the acclaimed TV series The Sopranos.

Bob McGowan, Pastore's manager since his time on The Sopranos, told the Associated Press that he learned of Pastore's death on Saturday, August 1, 2026, from another client and actor on the show, Vincent Curatola. Pastore was found in his home on New York’s City Long Island after not being heard from for several days. McGowan had been trying to reach him about a possible job.

“He was the most loyal client and he always gave to charity,” McGowan said. “He was the kind of guy who would help anybody, which is rare in my business.”

Pastore's acting career spanned several decades, with appearances in movies dating back to the 1980s. Notably, he had roles in the 1990 films Goodfellas and Awakenings. His role as Big Pussy on The Sopranos included a 30-episode run.

Born in the Bronx and raised in suburban New Rochelle, New York, Pastore enlisted in the Navy during the Vietnam War and later attended Pace University, according to his IMDb biography.

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