‘Sopranos’ actor Vincent Pastore dead at 80

Vincent Pastore, the actor best known for playing Salvatore Bonpensiero in HBO’s hit series “The Sopranos”, has died at the age of 80, his manager confirmed.
Hollywood news outlet Deadline reported that Pastore was found dead on Saturday at his home in The Bronx, New York. His manager, Robert Attermann, confirmed the death to AFP but did not provide details about the circumstances.
Born on July 14, 1946, Pastore served in the US Navy during the Vietnam War before earning a university degree in drama.
A native New Yorker, he was frequently cast as a gangster and appeared in films including Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” in 1990 and Brian De Palma’s “Carlito’s Way” in 1993.
His best-known role was Salvatore Bonpensiero, a close associate of Tony Soprano, played by the late James Gandolfini, who later became an FBI informant. The character became one of the most memorable figures in the Emmy-winning series.
Pastore also made guest appearances in television series including “Law & Order” and “The Practice”, and lent his voice to the animated film “Shark Tale”. His reality television appearances included “The Celebrity Apprentice”, then hosted by Donald Trump.
“I had the privilege of representing Vinny for more than 30 years, long before ‘The Sopranos’ made him a household name,” Attermann said.
“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 throughout his long acting career.” — AFP