Vincent Pastore’s final public appearance before his death at age 80 was to support longtime pal Steven Van Zandt.
Pastore happily posed alongside Van Zandt, now 75, at the premiere of “Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple” at the 2024 Tribeca Festival in New York City on June 8, 2024.
The actor wore a simple black polo and jeans while on the red carpet with his “Sopranos” co-star, who played Silvio Dante on the beloved series.
Van Zandt, who is also known for playing in Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street Band, wore a colorful orange outfit with a bandana and eclectic purple sunglasses.
The pair appeared both cheerful and friendly while posing for photographers, with Pastore smiling and Van Zandt seemingly laughing. At one point, Van Zandt playfully pinched Pastore’s cheek.
Sources told Page Six that Pastore — who is best known for playing Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero in the landmark HBO series — was found dead on Saturday at his home on City Island in the Bronx by a neighbor.
A police source divulged to us that the actor died of natural causes.
Pastore’s longtime manager, Robert Attermann, mourned the loss of Pastore in a statement to Page Six the same day.
“I had the privilege of representing Vinny for more than 30 years, long before ‘The Sopranos’ made him a household name,” Attermann shared.
“To the world, he will always be remembered as the unforgettable ‘Big Pussy,’ but to those of us who knew him, he was so much more.”
Attmeran continued, “Vinny was of the kindest, most generous people I have ever known. He treated everyone with warmth and respect, never turning down a fan who wanted a photograph or an autograph.”
Pastore “genuinely appreciated the people who supported him and always made them feel valued,” Attermann went on.
“He loved being an actor. 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.”
Losing Pastore, Atterman wrote, is “deeply personal,” as over their three decades of working together he’d “had the honor of watching not only his remarkable career but also the incredible person he was.”
“I will miss his friendship, his loyalty, his humor, and his heart,” Atterman said.
“My deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, colleagues, and the countless fans whose lives he touched,” he concluded in the statement. “He leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond his memorable performances. He will be greatly missed and never forgotten.”
Pastore was born in the Bronx in 1946, fought in the Vietnam war and earned a drama degree from and Pace University before scoring smaller roles in 1990’s “Goodfellas” and 1993’s “Carlito’s Way.”
The actor once confessed that it was HBO movie “Gotti” in 1996 that became the “turning point” in his career.
“When I could walk down the street, people would say, ‘You were great as Quack Quack,’” he told CrypticRock, referring to his character mobster Angelo Ruggiero’s nickname, in December 2024. “That was the turning point in my career.”
But to most TV fans, Pastore will forever be tied to his “Sopranos” role, for which he and the rest of the cast won the Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series in 2000.
In the wake of his death, Pastore’s “Sopranos” cast have been paying tribute, with Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Lorraine Bracco and Dominic Chianese honoring his memory.
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