Vincent Pastore, who played Tony Soprano’s best friend turned informant on HBO’s mob drama “The Sopranos,” has died, a representative confirmed Saturday.He was 80.Manager Robert Attermann said Pastore, a longtime resident of New York City’s Bronx neighborhood, died at home.A cause of death was not provided.“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.From left, Tony Sirico, Steven Van Zandt, James Gandolfini, Michael Imperioli and Vincent Pastore in a publicity still for "The Sopranos," c.1999.Anthony Neste / Getty ImagesHe 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.”Pastore became a staple in mob 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.”Attermann said he re...