The actor portrayed Salvatore Bonpensiero on the first two seasons of the HBO crime drama. Vincent Pastore, The Sopranos star, dies at 80 The actor portrayed Salvatore Bonpensiero on the first two seasons of the HBO crime drama. By Wesley Stenzel :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/WesleyStenzelauthorphoto32b61793a2784639af623f2ae091477e.jpg) Wesley Stenzel Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at . He began writing for EW in 2022. EW's editorial guidelines August 1, 2026 5:12 p.m. ET :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/VincentPastoreStevieVanZandtDisciplePremiere0801267ba7158f31654594b769b936c0695ae1.

The actor portrayed Salvatore Bonpensiero on the first two seasons of the HBO crime drama.

Vincent Pastore, The Sopranos star, dies at 80

The actor portrayed Salvatore Bonpensiero on the first two seasons of the HBO crime drama.

By Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at **. He began writing for EW in 2022.

EW's editorial guidelines

August 1, 2026 5:12 p.m. ET

Vincent Pastore in New York City on June 8, 2024. Credit:

Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty

- Vincent Pastore was found dead on Aug. 1 in his home in the Bronx.

- Deadline reported that the *Sopranos* star’s death is being investigated.

- Pastore’s manager, Robert Attermann, called the actor “one of the kindest, most generous people I have ever known.”

Vincent Pastore, the actor best known for his work on HBO’s *The Sopranos*, has died.

The actor was found by a neighbor at his home in the Bronx in New York City on Saturday, Deadline reported. He was 80 years old.

The outlet also reported that nobody had heard from Pastore for three days before he was found, and that authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.

Vincent Pastore and James Gandolfini in ‘The Sopranos’.

HBO/ Courtesy: Everett Collection

** has reached out to representatives for Pastore and to the New York Police Department for more information.

Pastore was best known for playing mob informant Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on *The Sopranos*. He was a regular on the classic crime drama’s first two seasons and later guest starred in two episodes of season 3, one episode of season 5, and one episode of season 6.

Pastore’s manager, Robert Attermann, shared a statement honoring the late actor with **.

“I had the privilege of representing Vinny for more than 30 years, long before *The Sopranos *made him a household name,” he wrote. “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 memorialized the actor as “one of the kindest, most generous people I have ever known,” adding, “He treated everyone with warmth and respect, never turning down a fan who wanted a photograph or an autograph. He genuinely appreciated the people who supported him and always made them feel valued.”

The performer’s manager spoke highly of Pastore’s commitment to his work. “He loved being an actor,” he wrote. “He was passionate about his craft and was always encouraging, respectful, and generous with young actors, taking the time to offer guidance and support whenever he could.”

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He continued, “For me, losing Vinny is deeply personal. Over more than three decades, I had the honor of watching not only his remarkable career but also the incredible person he was. I will miss his friendship, his loyalty, his humor, and his generosity.”

Attermann concluded, “My deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, colleagues, and the countless fans whose lives he touched. He leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond his memorable performances. He will be greatly missed and never forgotten. May his memory be a blessing.”

Born in the Bronx in 1946, Pastore served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, and later earned a drama degree from Pace University. He worked in nightclubs and bars for decades before finally making his screen debut in the 1988 horror movie *Black Roses*.

Vincent Pastore in New York City on Sept. 15, 2016.

Brent N. Clarke/Getty

Pastore said that he broke into Hollywood circles after connecting with Matt and Kevin Dillon. “It was really Kevin Dillon who got me my first break,” he told *Edge Magazine*. “I used to drive a limo in New York and that’s when I met the brothers for the first time. I told them about my dreams of becoming an actor. They ended up seeing me at this community theater I was doing, and Kevin helped me out. He gave me the direction I needed to finally act. From there, Danny Aiello really became my mentor.”

Pastore appeared in numerous high-profile movies and shows in small roles, primarily playing mobsters and tough New Yorkers in films like Martin Scorsese’s *Goodfellas*, Mario Van Peebles’ *New Jack City*, Brian De Palma’s *Carlito’s Way*, and Woody Allen’s *Manhattan Murder Mystery* in the early 1990s. He also played several different characters in a string of one-off appearances on *Law & Order*, and appeared in a Broadway production of *Chicago* in 1996.

Other notable credits in the 1990s included *Awakenings*, *The Basketball Diaries*, *The Jerky Boys: The Movie*, *Mickey Blue Eyes*, *The Hurricane*, and the HBO movie *Gotti*.

Vincent Pastore in New York City.

Jim Spellman/WireImage

Pastore said that the last project directly led to his casting in *The Sopranos*. “*Gotti *was a big hit for HBO, so they called us in, [to] bring in the usual suspects,” he told Eddie Mata in an interview in March. “And everybody they brought in from *Gotti* got a part.”

After landing the* Sopranos* gig, Pastore continued acting in movies, with supporting roles in projects like *Riding in Cars With Boys*, *Made*, *Shark Tale*, and *The Family*. He amassed nearly 200 acting credits in his four-decade screen career, appearing on shows like *General Hospital*, *The Practice*, *Bull*, *Ed*, *Blue Bloods*, *Hawaii Five-0*, and *The Curse*. His most recent screen credit came when he voiced a llama in a season 3 episode of *Yellowjackets* in 2025.

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Pastore appeared on a number of reality shows, including *Dancing With the Stars*, *Shark Tank*, *The Celebrity Apprentice*, and *Celebrity Family Feud*. He also hosted a radio show, *The Wiseguy Show*, on Sirius, and later started the *Fuhgeddaboudit* podcast in 2020.

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Published: August 2, 2026 at 06:00PM on Source: OPERA MAG

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