Top News

Pastore was found dead at his home in the Bronx on Saturday, August 1. According to Deadline, his manager hadn’t been able to reach him for about three days, though a family friend noted that his driver had reportedly spoken with him over the phone as recently as Friday night. It was ultimately a neighbour who checked in and discovered him. His official cause of death has not yet been determined, and the NYPD is looking into it, though authorities have said there’s no suspicion of foul play.

Pastore’s longtime manager, Robert Attermann, who represented the actor for over three decades, shared an emotional statement following his passing. “I had the privilege of representing Vinny for more than 30 years, long before The Sopranos made him a household name,” he 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.”

Attermann also spoke about Pastore’s genuine love for the craft, describing him as someone who was consistently encouraging and generous with younger actors, always willing to offer guidance when he could.

Pastore’s Sopranos co-stars have also been remembering him online. Michael Imperioli shared a heartfelt tribute, recalling years of working and traveling together across the US, Italy, and Australia, calling him “a kind hearted brother who cared deeply about his family and friends.” Joe Pantoliano also paid his respects, noting that while the two were never actually on set together, he’d grown close to Pastore through their shared Sopranos family over the years.

Also Read: Did Ned Leeds Finally Remember Peter Parker Is Spider-Man At The End Of Spider-Man: Brand New Day?

Pastore’s path to Hollywood wasn’t exactly conventional. Born on July 14, 1946, in the Bronx and raised in New Rochelle, New York, he spent about two decades running nightclubs and bars in New York before deciding to pursue acting, breaking into the industry in his early 40s. His big break reportedly came after actors Matt and Kevin Dillon caught him performing in a community play and helped open doors for him.

Before landing the role that would define his career, Pastore appeared in small parts in films like Goodfellas, Carlito’s Way, and Awakenings. His profile rose significantly with roles in The Jerky Boys: The Movie and the HBO film Gotti, before he was cast as Big Pussy in The Sopranos in 1999, a role that became one of the show’s most iconic, especially given his character’s shocking Season 2 exit.

Beyond The Sopranos, Pastore built an incredibly prolific career, appearing in nearly 200 film and TV projects, including Mickey Blue Eyes, Shark Tale, and multiple episodes of Law & Order, alongside two runs on Broadway. He was also known for hosting The Wise Guy on SiriusXM, where he interviewed prominent figures from the Italian-American community.

In 2000, Pastore and his Sopranos castmates won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

He is survived by his daughter, Renee.

Also Read: All You Need To Know About Jean Grey Before Watching Spider-Man: Brand New Day

The post Vincent Pastore, Sopranos Star, Found Dead At His Bronx Home At 80 first appeared on MissMalini.