Sopranos star Vincent Pastore dies aged 80

World hollywoodTop News Sopranos star Vincent Pastore dies aged 80 Vincent Pastore Relevant News Sopranos star Vincent Pastore dies aged 80 2 August 2026 Cyprus local government reform has failed and urgent corrections are needed to rescue it 2 August 2026 Boeing triggers US government challenge over record EU loan to Airbus 2 August 2026 newsroom 2 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber American actor Vincent Pastore, who became widely known for his iconic role as Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero in the hit HBO series The Sopranos, has died at the age of 80. The actor’s body was found on Saturday at his home in the Bronx, New York, as confirmed by his manager, Robert Attermann. According to information available so far, the cause of death remains unknown. Vincent Pastore built a long career in television and cinema, predominantly portraying tough Italian-Americans, mobsters, hitmen, and crime syndicate members. The role that made him famous His big breakthrough came in 1999 when he was cast as Salvatore Bonpensiero, known as “Big Pussy”, in the iconic series The Sopranos. RiP Vincent Pastore 🕊 pic.twitter.com/Jg1wjQVURw— sloan (@Sloanstweets) August 1, 2026 The nickname “Big Pussy” carried no sexual connotation but stemmed from the fact that the character began his criminal career as a residential burglar, known as a “cat burglar”. The “Big” prefix was added to distinguish him from another character in the series, Gennaro Malanga, who was known as “Little Pussy”. This is without a doubt one of the greatest scenes in TV history.RIP Vincent Pastore pic.twitter.com/Docc3CtS0M— Jeff Nadu (@JeffNadu) August 1, 2026 The FBI informant who marked the series “Big Pussy” was portrayed as one of the most loyal and likable associates of Tony Soprano, played by James Gandolfini. At the same time, however, he had been working as an FBI informant for years, creating one of the most significant narrative arcs of the show’s first two seasons. The internal conflict between his loyalty to the mafia boss and his cooperation with the American authorities served as a core plot element. His character’s demise came in the season two finale, when he was executed aboard a boat by Tony Soprano, Paulie Gualtieri (Tony Sirico), and Silvio Dante (Steven Van Zandt). The execution scene is still considered to this day one of the most shocking and iconic moments across the six seasons of The Sopranos. His life and career Vincent Pastore was born in the Bronx, New York, and grew up in the suburb of New Rochelle. During the Vietnam War, he enlisted in the US Navy and later studied at Pace University. He began appearing in films in the 1980s, gradually building a notable track record in film and television productions. Among his most well-known cinematic appearances were the films Goodfellas and Awakenings, both released in 1990, several years before achieving the greatest success of his career in The Sopranos. Pastore’s other work included roles in the films Shark Tale, Spinning Gold, Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn, Everybody Hates Chris, and Yellowjackets. In recent years, Pastore became a regular fixture on reality television, participating in Celebrity Fit Club and Dancing with the Stars—though he quit the latter after just one week due to the physical demands of the programme. Pastore is survived by his daughter, Renee Pastore. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Cyprus local government reform has failed and urgent corrections are needed to rescue it Boeing triggers US government challenge over record EU loan to Airbus Firefighters cut two drivers free following car crash on Nicosia’s Athalassa Avenue Early morning house fire triggers emergency response in Tala village Police find hidden weapons cache in rural Nicosia district Attica and Boeotia wildfire burns 66,600 stremma as flames reach Mount Kithaeron peak Private polls trigger early political battle lines for Cyprus presidential race following Guterres visit Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.