The 80-year-old American mafioso actor was found dead at his home in the Bronx.
Vincent Pastore’s manager said the actor was “so much more” than his Sopranos role in a touching statement.
Tributes have poured in for American actor Vincent Pastore, who was found dead at his New York City home at the age of 80.
His manager, Robert Attermann, amongst others paid tribute to the star via CBS News, saying: “He was passionate about his craft and was always encouraging, respectful, and generous with young actors, taking the time to offer guidance and support whenever he could.
“For me, losing Vinny is deeply personal. Over more than three decades, I had the honour of watching not only his remarkable career but also the incredible person he was. I will miss his friendship, his loyalty, his humour, and his heart.”
Pastore enlisted in the US Navy during the Vietnam War before embarking on a career in acting, and here’s all you need to know about the star from his iconic roles to his personal life.
Vincent Pastore’s Sopranos role
In The Sopranos, Pastore played Tony Soprano’s (James Gandolfini) best friend Salvatore Bonpensiero, who in the end became an informant for the FBI.
His character’s demise in the second season was one of the show’s most unforgettable storylines.
Becoming an FBI informant cost the character his own life, but also impacted his best friend Tony’s life morally.
Ultimately, the character was killed off by Tony, Silvio Dante (Steven Van Zandt) and Paulie Gualtieri (Tony Sirico) for his collaboration with the FBI.
Back in 2021 the star spoke to Salon about why a lot of his work fell into the mob genre, saying his first acting teacher told him “you’re always going to play wise guys”.
He said he “didn’t regret” the mobster reputation as it “put him on the map”, but admitted: “If you said to me, ‘Vinnie, I got this new script and I want you to play a regular guy’. I would say, ‘Send it to me. Let’s see it.'”
Vincent Pastore and Joey Diaz bond
Vincent Pastore and comedian and actor Joey Diaz are often confused by fans who think they are one in the same, due to their physical resemblance.
The pair are often referred to as ‘half-brothers’ and they have opened up about their sibling-like bond.
Cuban-American comedian Diaz once played Pastore’s Sopranos character in an episode of the sketch show Mad TV.
The pair even playfully pitched a sitcom concept where they play estranged half-brothers, when Pastore appeared on Diaz’s podcast, Uncle Joey’s joint.
Pastore said: “You know what we’ve got to do, we’ve got to talk somebody into doing something with me and you. Some kind of a funny show.
“You know, we’d play brothers. We’ve got to come up with something, think about it. You’re funny, I’m funny… I’m not as funny as you.”
“There’s something there, Vinny, you’re right,” Diaz agreed.
Vincent Pastore’s other movies and TV shows
Known best for his roles as Italian-American gangsters, Pastore had small parts in films such as Goodfellas and Carlito’s Way.
In Goodfellas, he played a man who is seen rolling a coat rack through the kitchen of the Bamboo Lounge.
He later landed a bigger role as Tony Scarboni in the comedy crime film, The Jerky Boys: The Movie, but his breakthrough came in The Sopranos in 1999.
In 2007, he joined the fourth season of the popular competition series, Dancing with the Stars, but withdrew after just a week, saying the training was too physically demanding.
His last credited TV role was a voice role in the thriller series Yellowjackets in 2025.
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