Vincent Pastore, the Bronx-born actor who portrayed Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on The Sopranos, has died at the age of 80. He was found dead by Steve Villano, his self-described "right-hand man," in his Bronx home on Saturday.
A Life in the Shadows of the Mob
Vincent Pastore was born in the Bronx on July 14, 1946, to a family with ties to the mob. His father, John, was a bookmaker who had to give up that business to get married, but resumed making loans after retiring as a school custodian. Pastore grew up in an apartment above a social club in New Rochelle, New York. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy after graduating from New Rochelle High School in 1964 and attended Pace University, where he switched his major from business to drama.
A Career in Acting
Pastore's entry into acting was late in life, at the age of 42. He made a living running and owning bars and nightclubs for two decades before turning to acting. He appeared in nearly 200 movies and TV projects, often playing Italian-American bad guys. Pastore's breakthrough role was in Martin Scorsese's GoodFellas (1990), where he played a small part. He then appeared in Brian De Palma's Carlito's Way (1993) and The Jerky Boys (1995), a comedy where he played the right-hand man of Alan Arkin's mob boss.
The Sopranos Icon
Pastore's most iconic role was as Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on The Sopranos. He auditioned for the show in 1998 and landed the role after impressing the creator, David Chase. Pastore's character was based on a real person from New Jersey, and he did extensive research on the character's backstory. Big Pussy was a mob informant who chose to become a rat to avoid life in prison, but was soon sniffed out and killed by Tony Soprano and his crew.
A Legacy Beyond the Screen
Pastore's impact went beyond his acting career. He was a charismatic performer who appeared in numerous TV shows, including Law & Order, The Practice, and Everybody Hates Chris. He also appeared in several Broadway productions, including the 2007-08 revival of Chicago and the 2014 production of Bullets Over Broadway. Pastore taught acting at the HB Studios and even had his own podcast, Fuhgeddaboudit With Vinny Pastore.
A Life Cut Short
Pastore was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014 and passed away at the age of 80. He is survived by his daughter, Renee, a sister, Sally, and a brother, Johnny. Pastore's legacy will live on through his iconic performance as Big Pussy on The Sopranos, a character that remains one of the most memorable mobsters in TV history.
Source: Hollywood Reporter