NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Vincent Pastore, a veteran actor who played mobsters and tough guys, and was best known for playing Salvatore 鈥淏ig Pussy鈥� Bonpensiero on 鈥淭he Sopranos,鈥� has died. He was 80.
Bob McGowan, who had managed Pastore since his run on 鈥淭he Sopranos,鈥� told The Associated Press that he learned of his death Saturday from another client and actor on the show, Vincent Curatola.
He said that he had been found in his home on New York鈥檚 City Island after not being heard from for a few days.
McGowan said he鈥檇 been trying to reach Pastore about a possible job.
鈥淗e was the most loyal client and he always gave to charity,鈥� McGowan said, 鈥渁nd he was the kind of guy who would help anybody, which is rare in my business.鈥�
Pastore appeared in movies dating back to the 1980s and had roles in big movies including 鈥淕oodfellas鈥� and 鈥淎wakenings,鈥� both in 1990.
He often played gangsters. And it was one of those roles he鈥檚 best known for: his 30-episode run as Salvatore 鈥淏ig Pussy鈥� Bonpensiero, the friend of Tony Soprano who becomes an FBI informant in 鈥淭he Sopranos.鈥�
He was born in the Bronx and grew up in suburban New Rochelle, New York. He enlisted in the Navy during the Vietnam War and later attended Pace University, according to his biography on IMDb.
He has a daughter, Renee Pastore.
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