Vincent Pastore, who played mob enforcer on 'The Sopranos,' dies at 80
Veteran American actor Vincent Pastore, widely recognised for his portrayal of mob enforcer-turned-FBI informant Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero in HBO's landmark series "The Sopranos," has
Veteran American actor Vincent Pastore, widely recognised for his portrayal of mob enforcer-turned-FBI informant Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero in HBO's landmark series "The Sopranos," has died at the age of 80, according to a report by news agency AFP that cited a statement from his manager. Actor Found Dead At His Home In The Bronx The actor's manager, Robert Attermann, confirmed the news of his death to AFP on Saturday, though he did not disclose details surrounding the circumstances. Separately, Hollywood entertainment outlet Deadline reported that Pastore, a native of New York, was found dead at his home in The Bronx on Saturday. From The US Navy To A Career In Hollywood Born on July 14, 1946, Pastore's journey to Hollywood began far from the film sets he would later become known for. He served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War before going on to complete a university degree in drama, laying the foundation for what would become a decades-long acting career.
Over the years, Pastore carved out a niche playing archetypal New York gangster characters, a persona he brought to life across several notable film projects. He appeared in Martin Scorsese's celebrated 1990 crime drama "Goodfellas," and also featured in Brian De Palma's 1993 film "Carlito's Way," both of which further cemented his association with mob-themed storytelling on screen. However, it was his role as "Big Pussy" in "The Sopranos" that became the defining moment of his career. In the show, Pastore played a close aide to lead character Tony Soprano, portrayed by the late James Gandolfini, before his character's storyline took a dramatic turn when he was revealed to be secretly informing the FBI. Also Read | Filed ITR in a hurry? These 5 mistakes can trigger a defective return notice That storyline culminated in what remains one of the most talked-about moments in the Emmy-winning series' run — his character's murder at the end of the show's second season.
In the scene, Pastore's character utters the now-famous line, "Not in the face, ok?" moments before he is shot multiple times at close range by Tony Soprano and two other associates, a sequence that has continued to be referenced by fans of the show years after it first aired. Beyond his time on "The Sopranos," Pastore built a fairly expansive career across television and film. He made guest appearances on several popular American television series, including "Law and Order" and "The Practice." He also lent his voice to the animated film "Shark Tale," adding an animated feature to his otherwise largely live-action filmography. Also Read | Filmmaker sues Netflix for USD 105 million over losing Nicolas Cage film copy In addition to his acting credits, Pastore also became a familiar face on American reality television, appearing on shows such as "The Celebrity Apprentice" during the period when Donald Trump, now the sitting US President, was still hosting the programme.
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