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Big Pussy Dies at 80
Vincent Pastore, who played Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on HBO’s mob drama "The Sopranos," has died at age 80.
“US actor Vincent Pastore, who played Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero”
NBC News said Pastore, a longtime resident of the Bronx borough of New York City, died at home and that friends found his body Saturday, while a cause of death was not provided.
The BBC reported that Pastore was found at his home in the Bronx, New York City, and that there was no indication of criminality, citing CBS News.
Pastore was born in the Bronx in 1946, and the BBC said he enlisted in the US Navy during the Vietnam War before embarking on a career in acting.
In "The Sopranos," Pastore’s character ultimately became an informant for the FBI, and the BBC described his character’s death in series two as one of the show’s most memorable storylines.
Tributes and Conflicting Details
Pastore’s longtime manager Robert Attermann told CBS News, "To the world, he will always be remembered as the unforgettable 'Big Pussy,'" while also saying, "but to those of us who knew him, he was so much more."
The Guardian reported that Bob McGowan, who had managed Pastore since his run on "The Sopranos," said he learned of Pastore’s death Saturday from another client and actor on the show, Vincent Curatola.
McGowan told the Associated Press that he found out after not being heard from for a few days, and he said he’d been trying to reach Pastore about a possible job.
NPR said McGowan learned of Pastore’s death Saturday from Vincent Curatola and that he had been found in his home on New York’s City Island after not being heard from for a few days.
While NBC News said a cause of death was not provided, the BBC said CBS News reported there was no indication of criminality.
Legacy Across Screen and Stage
Pastore’s career spanned films and television, with the BBC listing early credits including roles in movies such as Goodfellas and Carlito's Way, and later TV appearances including Law & Order, General Hospital and Hawaii Five-O.
“Pastore was found dead by Steve Villano”
The Hollywood Reporter said Pastore was found dead by Steve Villano, the actor’s self-described "right-hand man," in his Bronx home on Saturday, and it added that he apparently died in his sleep.
The Guardian said Pastore was best-known for his 30-episode run as Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero, the friend of Tony Soprano who becomes an FBI informant in "The Sopranos."
Variety said Pastore was a key player on the first two seasons of "The Sopranos" and that in the Season 2 finale, Tony, along with Silvio and Paulie, makes the decision to kill him off while out on a boat.
Across outlets, Pastore’s death at 80 prompted tributes, including Page Six quoting Edie Falco saying, “It’s an awful loss. So unexpected.”
