Pastore was found dead at his Bronx home on Saturday, 1 August, by a neighbour who had not heard from him for three days, according to Deadline. The publication reported that the circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation. Deadline was first to break the news of Pastore's death at 80, and the official cause of death has yet to be made public, reports the Mirror US.
Death under investigation
Pastore was discovered at his residence in the Bronx, where a neighbour, concerned after not hearing from him for three days, alerted authorities. The cause of death has not been disclosed, and the investigation is ongoing, according to reports.
Pastore, best known for his role as Salvatore 'Big Pussy' Bonpensiero in HBO's The Sopranos, leaves behind a career spanning nearly 200 film and television appearances.
A career of nearly 200 productions
Throughout his career, Pastore appeared in nearly 200 films and television productions, among them GoodFellas, Carlito's Way, The Jerky Boys: The Movie and Gotti. His final screen appearance came in a 2025 episode of Yellowjackets.
Early life and service
Born into an American-Italian family in the Bronx, New York City, on 14 July 1946, Pastore grew up in a flat above a social club in New Rochelle, New York, and completed his secondary education at New Rochelle High School in 1964. Following his graduation, he enlisted in the US Navy, serving for three years during the Vietnam War. Upon returning to New York, he enrolled at Pace University, switching his studies from business to drama before graduating with a degree in the subject.
Initially unable to secure acting work, he established a venue called Crazy Horse in New Rochelle. His career eventually commenced in the 1990s with small parts in films including GoodFellas, Carlito's Way, and Men of Respect. His breakthrough in Hollywood arrived when he reached his 40s.
Breakthrough with The Sopranos
Subsequently, he landed parts in The Jerky Boys: The Movie (1995) and the HBO television film Gotti (1996), where he collaborated with future Sopranos colleagues Tony Sirico, Frank Vincent, and Dominic Chianese. Pastore delivered his defining mobster performance in David Chase's The Sopranos (1999), portraying Tony Soprano's closest friend and a member of the Soprano crew. His character's narrative captivated audiences as he subsequently turned FBI informant, a decision that ultimately proved fatal.
