According to Variety, the veteran performer was found dead at his Bronx residence on Aug. 1 after a neighbor became concerned when he had not been seen for several days. The circumstances surrounding his death are under investigation.
Vincent Pastore Leaves Behind One of Television’s Most Memorable Mob Characters
Although Pastore amassed more than three decades of film and television credits, he became inseparable from “The Sopranos” after joining the acclaimed HBO drama in 1999. His performance as Tony Soprano’s longtime friend Salvatore “Big P***y” Bonpensiero evolved into one of the series’ most emotionally significant storylines, cementing his place in television history.
Before landing the role that defined his career, Pastore steadily built a reputation playing tough-talking gangsters in Hollywood productions. He appeared in Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” and “Carlito’s Way” before taking on a larger role in HBO’s “Gotti.” His filmography later expanded to include titles such as “Shark Tale,” Guy Ritchie’s “Revolver,” “The Hurricane,” “Serving Sara,” “College Road Trip,” and dozens of television appearances ranging from “Law & Order” and “Blue Bloods” to “General Hospital.”
Away from scripted projects, Pastore became a familiar face on reality television. He competed on “Celebrity Fit Club,” briefly joined “Dancing with the Stars” before withdrawing because of the show’s demanding training schedule, and later appeared on “Celebrity Apprentice,” “Celebrity Family Feud,” “Shark Tank,” and “Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back.” He also hosted radio programs and, beginning in 2020, co-hosted the podcast “Fuhgeddaboudit with Vinny Pastore.”
Born in the Bronx on July 14, 1946, Pastore served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War before earning a drama degree from Pace University. Prior to acting, he worked as both a nightclub manager and chauffeur. In later years, he expanded beyond entertainment by launching his own tomato sauce brand. He is survived by his daughter, Renee, and leaves behind a career that made him one of the most recognizable faces associated with the modern gangster genre.