Vincent Pastore, mob enforcer on ‘Sopranos,’ dies at 80

Vincent Pastore, who played Tony Soprano’s best friend turned informant on HBO’s mob drama “The Sopranos,” has died, a representative confirmed Saturday.

Manager Robert Attermann said Pastore, a longtime resident of the Bronx borough of New York City, died at home. He confirmed that friends found his body Saturday.

“To the world, he will always be remembered as the unforgettable ‘Big Pussy,’” he said, using the nickname of Pastore’s “The Sopranos” character, Salvatore Bonpensiero, “but to those of us who knew him, he was so much more.”

A longtime actor who plied his trade within the sordid and violent narratives of the Italian American mob, Pastore became a household face in 1999 when he was cast cast as Bonpensiero, mob boss Tony Soprano’s best friend, a family enforcer, and ultimately an FBI informant who threatened to upend the New Jersey mob’s enterprise on the acclaimed drama.

He was born in the Bronx, grew up in New Rochelle, New York, served in the U.S. Navy, and attended Pace University, according to an IMDb biography.

He has said he worked in the nightclub industry. But he also tried acting, and after befriending Matt Dillon and Kevin Dillon he decided to dive in, he said during a 2015 appearance on “Good Day New York.”

According to his bio at the website for HB Studio, where he was an instructor, one of Pastore’s breakthroughs as an actor was in director Nancy Savoca’s Bronx comedy “True Love.”

He also appeared on television’s “Law & Order” and as an extra in director Martin Scorsese’s 1990 mob classic, “Goodfellas.” He appeared in a string of mob narratives on New York City stages and on the big screen.

Pastore became a staple in films and television dramas about organized crime, including a role in “Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn.” But it was “The Sopranos” six-season run that made him a true star.

“His portrayal of the complex and lovable mobster earned him widespread recognition and praise,” said the Bronx Walk of Fame, which inducted the actor in 2016. “Pastore’s ability to bring depth and authenticity to his character contributed to the show’s success and solidified his place in television history.”

The character’s nickname, Big Pussy, is rumored to have originated during his time as a cat burglar. It distinguished him from another character, Little Pussy Malenga.

The actor also had a musical side, and performed with bands, including fronting Gangster Squad, a band familiar to small venues in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The band’s Facebook group says it specialized in “a mixture of classic hits from all different music genres, Rhythm and Blues, Rock & Roll, Funk, Soul, and Reggae.”

One of his most difficult gigs in the entertainment industry was during his brief work on television’s “Dancing With the Stars” in 2007, where he lasted one week.

He said at the time that the training was too difficult .

Pastore founded Renegade Theater NYC with fellow Sopranos actor Maureen Van Zandt, wife of Steven Van Zandt, according to HB Studio. His Renegade Theater bio says he wrote “Crazy Horse,” describing it as “a hit play based on the story of his life as a Rock and Roll club owner.”

Attermann said he represented Pastore for more than 30 years — long before his HBO fame.

“Vinny was one of the kindest, most generous people I have ever known,” he said. “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.”

Pastore “loved being an actor” and encouraging others interested in the craft, Atterman said.

He added, “I will miss his friendship, his loyalty, his humor, and his generosity. ... May his memory be a blessing.”