Vincent Pastore was an American actor best known for playing Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on HBO’s acclaimed crime drama The Sopranos. He was born on July 14, 1946, in the Bronx, New York City, and grew up in New Rochelle, New York.
Before becoming an actor, Pastore served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War and later attended Pace University. He spent much of his early adult life working in the nightclub business in New Rochelle. Friends and frequent club customers Matt and Kevin Dillon encouraged him to pursue acting, which he began professionally in his 40s.
Pastore appeared in films including GoodFellas, Carlito’s Way, Awakenings, The Hurricane, Gotti and The Jerky Boys. His breakthrough came with The Sopranos, where his portrayal of Big Pussy, Tony Soprano’s longtime friend who becomes an FBI informant, became one of the show’s most memorable performances.
Beyond television and film, Pastore also worked in theater, appearing on Broadway in productions including Chicago and Bullets Over Broadway. He received a Screen Actors Guild Award with the Sopranos ensemble in 2000.
Vincent Pastore died on August 1, 2026, at the age of 80 at his home on City Island in the Bronx. His legacy remains closely associated with The Sopranos and his memorable portrayals of New York tough-guy and mobster characters. He is survived by his daughter, Renee Pastore.
