Vincent Pastore, the actor who played Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero in The Sopranos, has died at the age of 80. His body was found Saturday afternoon at his home on City Island in the Bronx, New York, after he had not been in contact with those close to him for several days.
A neighbor and longtime friend, Stephen Villano, discovered Pastore’s body around 2:30 p.m. local time and alerted emergency services. The New York City Fire Department confirmed its response to the address, and the NYPD took over the scene to begin a formal investigation into the cause of death. Initial reports from some sources suggested natural causes, but authorities said the investigation remained open.
Pastore’s representative, Robert Attermann, confirmed the news in a statement to entertainment media, describing the actor as one of the kindest and most generous people he had ever known and noting that his legacy extended well beyond his iconic role on the HBO series. A second representative, Bob McGowan, also confirmed the death to the Associated Press after being notified by Sopranos cast member Vincent Curatola, who played Johnny “Sack” Sacramoni on the show.
Born July 14, 1946, in the Bronx, Pastore built a career spanning more than four decades, specializing in mob and organized-crime roles. On The Sopranos he appeared across five seasons as an FBI informant inside Tony Soprano’s crew. He also had a role in The Godfather and provided the voice of Sykes in the 2004 animated film Shark Tale. His most recent screen appearance was in a 2025 episode of Yellowjackets.
Pastore’s family said they did not yet know the exact cause of death while forensic procedures were ongoing. The City Island community expressed shock at the loss, remembering him as a close and active neighbor.
