Michael Imperioli has paid tribute to his “beloved friend and collaborator” Vincent Pastore after the Sopranos actor died aged 80. Pastore was found in his home on New York’s City Island after he had not been heard from for a few days.
Pastore played Salvatore “Sal” Bonpensiero, Tony Soprano’s best friend, a character who ultimately became an FBI informant. He appeared in all six seasons of the HBO series, which ran from 1999 to 2007.
Imperioli, who played Christopher Moltisanti, wrote on Instagram: “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.”
Co-stars pay tribute
Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who played Meadow Soprano, shared: “A wonderful actor, a kind and loving man. It was an honor to know you and work with you.”
Lorraine Bracco, who played Dr Jennifer Melfi, wrote that he was “such a funny and charming man with a beautiful soul”, adding that his death was “absolutely heartbreaking”.
Kathrine Narducci, who played Charmaine Bucco, said Pastore’s death was “crushing”. She wrote: “With the most heavy heavy heart I lost my dearest big brother friend Vincent Pastore. 35 years of friendship. This is a tremendous loss.”
More tributes
Joe Pantoliano, who played Ralph Cifaretto, also paid tribute on Instagram: “God bless him. He made it to 80. Vin and I were never actually on set together, but through our Sopranos family I got to know him over the years. I always liked him. He had this incredible appetite for the business, and he never lost that spark. That always made me smile. My heart goes out to his family, his friends and everyone who loved him. Rest easy, Vin.”
Stevie Van Zandt, who played Silvio Dante, wrote on X: “Another irreplaceable brother gone. It never gets any easier. Travel well Vincenzo.”
Early life and career
Born in the Bronx in 1946, Pastore enlisted in the US Navy during the Vietnam War before later pursuing a career in acting.
Throughout his career he was cast as a mobster in several other projects, having small parts in crime dramas including Carlito’s Way and Goodfellas, before going on to appear in The Jerky Boys: The Movie and Gotti.
He also featured in episodes of Law & Order, General Hospital and Hawaii Five-O, while other film credits included Shark Tale, Once Upon A Time In Brooklyn and Spinning Gold.
Family
Pastore is survived by his daughter, Renee Pastore.
