Veteran actor Vincent Pastore, best known for playing on-screen mobsters in the likes of The Sopranos, has died aged 80.
The TV and film star was found dead at his home in the Bronx, New York, by Stephen Villano, a neighbour and long-time friend, after people were unable to reach him for three days.
Police are currently investigating the circumstances, with his cause of death unknown.
He is survived by a daughter, Renee, whom he shared with ex-wife Nancy Berke.
Paying tribute, his manager, Bob McGowan, said: ‘Vinnie was a great guy. He would help anyone and was very charitable.’
Pastore grew up in an Italian-American neighbourhood and, after graduating high school, served as a sailor in the US Navy during the Vietnam War.
He went on to achieve a degree in drama from Pace University and began working in the club business before embarking on an acting career.
Pastore’s debut role was in the movie Black Roses when he was in his early 40s.
Following this, his earlier smaller roles in the 80s and 90s included films such as Goodfellas (1990), in which he is credited as playing ‘Man with Coat Rack’.
Then, in 1993, he appeared in Carlito’s Way as ‘Copa Wiseguy’, one of the friends of the Italian man who dances with Gail (Penelope Ann Miller).
In 1995, Pastore landed a more significant part in comedy/crime flick The Jerky Boys: The Movie, playing Tony Scarboni, one of the three gangsters, and starred in HBO television movie Gotti the year after.
Gotti (1996) would also feature his future Sopranos co-stars Tony Sirico, Frank Vincent, and Dominic Chianese.
The Sopranos, which he bagged in 1999, was Pastore’s most famous role, where he portrayed Salvatore ‘Big Pussy’ Bonpensiero.
His character’s murder for being exposed as an FBI informant became one of the Emmy-winning drama’s most memorable moments.
The late star’s other silver screen credits include Mickey Blue Eyes (1999), Two Family House (2000), Shark Tale (2004), Revolver (2005), Bachelor Party Vegas (2006), Surviving Family (2012), Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn (2013), and Spinning Gold (2023).
TV-wise, he was a frequent face on Law & Order and had roles in The Practice, Son of the Beach, Queens Supreme, Hawaii Five-0, and miniseries The Last Don II.
He most recently had a guest role on Yellowjackets.
Beyond acting, Pastore had his own radio slot with The Wiseguy Show and launched the podcast Fuhgeddaboudit with Vinny Pastore in 2020 alongside Goumba Johnny.
Additionally, he became known for his reality TV appearances.
Pastore appeared on the fourth season of Celebrity Fit Club in 2006 and, the following year, was announced for Dancing with the Stars. He quit the dance competition after just one week due to its physical demands.
In 2008, he took part in the Celebrity Apprentice and had a rather tumultuous time. His stint involved a fake bust-up with Piers Morgan in an attempt to join the women’s team to spy on them.
After being ratted out to the opposition by Morgan himself, Pastore’s team lost the task, and he resigned from the show, a resignation accepted by host Donald Trump after he initially tried to convince him to stay.
Having befriended ex-wife Berke’s subsequent husband, he ultimately donated his $50,000 project manager winnings to the Lustgarden Foundation in Mitchell Burke’s memory.
Pastore went on to appear on Celebrity Family Feud, Shark Tank alongside a business partner, and Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back.