Sopranos Star Vincent Pastore Dead At 80 — David Chase, Edie Falco, And More Pay Tribute

Vincent Pastore, best known to TV audiences for his role as mobster Salvatore "Big Pu**y" Bonpensiero on HBO's "The Sopranos," has died. He was 80.

Pastore passed away at his home in the Bronx on Saturday, August 1, TVLine has learned. A cause of death has not been disclosed.

Following small roles in the mob films "Goodfellas" (1990), "Men of Respect" (1990), and "Carlito's Way" (1993), plus a supporting turn in "The Jerky Boys" (1995), Pastore landed his first major break as mobster Angelo Ruggiero in HBO's "Gotti" (1996), appearing opposite future "Sopranos" co-stars Tony Sirico, Frank Vincent, and Dominic Chianese. But his defining role came three years later, when David Chase cast him as Salvatore "Big Pu**y" Bonpensiero, the lifelong friend of James Gandolfini's Tony Soprano whose shocking reveal as an FBI informant culminated in one of the mob drama's most memorable deaths in the Season 2 finale.

Though killed off after 26 episodes, Pastore returned for four additional guest appearances through the series' sixth and final season.

Following "The Sopranos," Pastore racked up numerous TV guest-star credits, appearing in episodes of "Blue Bloods," "The Curse," "Ed," "Everybody Hates Chris," "General Hospital," "Grounded for Life," "Hawaii Five-0," "Las Vegas," "Less Than Perfect," "The Practice," "One Life to Live," and "Wu-Tang: An American Saga." 

Most recently, he lent his voice to a Season 3 episode of "Yellowjackets."

Pastore also appeared on several reality shows, competing on Season 1 of "Celebrity Apprentice," from which he quit in Week 5. He also became the first celebrity entrepreneur to pitch a product on "Shark Tank," appearing during Season 2 alongside business partner Johnny Gennaro to seek funding for Broccoli Wad, a silicone money clip inspired by the broccoli bands used to hold stacks of cash. Though they accepted an offer from Barbara Corcoran, the deal ultimately never closed.

He also competed on Season 4 of "Celebrity Fit Club" and appeared in a 2008 episode of "Celebrity Family Feud."

David Chase, creator of "The Sopranos," shared the following statement Sunday: "Vinny had an unbelievable sweetness to him. He was the first of the principal cast whom I had to tell that his character was moving on to the next life, and he took it graciously. He carried that same grace into every scene — so soft, the best of humanity in a way. Fun to be around.

"Vinny was the purest kind of actor, completely committed to the craft, devoted to the work, and guided by the muse," Chase's statement continued. "He was unconcerned about how many episodes he had left or what his next gig was going to be. For Vinny, it was always, entirely, about the work and the art. I was out of the country when the last episode of Season 1 aired, and when I came back, all of America was asking me, 'Where's Big Pu**y?' Nobody wanted him to go because Vinny brought true nobility to his role."

Additional tributes from Pastore's friends and collaborators are below:

"Our beloved friend and collaborator Vincent Pastore has passed away. This is a hard one for us, it seems like I've known Vinny forever. We did lots of work together and traveled all over the USA as well as Italy and Australia. Lots of good times. Lots of laughs. Vinny was a kind hearted brother who cared deeply about his family and friends. I will miss him always." — Michael Imperioli, "The Sopranos"

"I first knew Vinny back during 'Goodfellas,' and getting to play his sister in 'Riding in Cars with Boys' was such a joy before we reunited on 'The Sopranos.' I've known him for a very long time, and whenever Vinny walked onto a set, his presence was just so warm and deeply welcome. We all loved him. 'The Sopranos' was a family, and Vinny was true family, one of us, through and through." — Lorraine Bracco, "The Sopranos"

"It's an awful loss. So unexpected. Vinny was always so full of life." — Edie Falco, "The Sopranos"

"Vinny Pastore was a dear friend and a very generous, fun guy. When I first showed up on the second season of The Sopranos, Vinny told me he knew he was out. He said, 'How many fat f**ks can we have on one show?' We had a lot of laughs together over the years. I'll miss him dearly." — Steve Schirripa, "The Sopranos"

"Vinny became one of my closest friends from "The Sopranos" and I continued to see him, because he and my wife Maureen had Renegade Theatre NYC for years. He was one of the warmest, kindest, most charming and charitable human beings I have ever known, in dramatic contrast to his totally authentic portrayal of scary gangsters on film. Huge loss. One of a kind." — Stevie Van Zandt, "The Sopranos"

"I am sad to hear of Vincent's passing. I enjoyed knowing him, especially the times when we worked together. Rest in Peace, Vincent." — Robert De Niro, "Goodfellas"