‘Sopranos’ alums mourn costar’s ‘unexpected’ death: ‘Our beloved friend’

Vincent Pastore.APIf you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.Vincent Pastore, who was best known for his portrayal of Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on “The Sopranos,” has died. He was 80.Pastore’s friends found him unresponsive at his home in the Bronx on Saturday, Aug. 1. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His death is believed to be from natural causes.Several of Pastore’s “Sopranos” costars have shared tributes to the late actor in the wake of his death. “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,” Michael Imperioli, who played Christopher Moltisanti, wrote via Instagram on Sunday, Aug. 2. “We did lots of work together and traveled all over the USA as well as Italy and Australia,” Imperioli continued. “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.”Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who portrayed Meadow Soprano on the HBO drama, shared a tribute via her Instagram Story.“A wonderful actor, a kind and loving man,” she wrote. “It was an honor to know you and work with you.”Lorraine Bracco, who played Dr. Jennifer Melfi, wrote via her own Story, “Such a funny & charming man … just a beautiful soul.”In a statement shared with Page Six, Edie Falco, who starred as Carmela Soprano, said, “It’s an awful loss. So unexpected. Vinnie was always so full of life.”Lorraine Bracco, Edie Falco and Jamie-Lynn Sigler in 2006.ASSOCIATED PRESSDominic Chianese, who played Corrado “Junior” Soprano, wrote via Instagram, “We lost a friend today. Paying respect and sending Love in tribute. You were a gem Vinnie.” Steven Van Zandt, who portrayed Silvio Dante, reacted via X.“Another irreplaceable brother gone. It never gets any easier. Travel well Vincenzo,” he captioned a photo of himself, Pastore, Imperioli, Tony Sirico and James Gandolfini.This isn’t the first time the “Sopranos” cast has suffered a loss. Sirico, who played Paulie Gualtieri, died at age 79 in 2022, while Gandolfini, who starred as mob boss Tony Soprano, died at age 51 in 2013. READ MORE: Rock legend Phil Collins details life-threatening alcoholism: ‘My organs were just seizing up’“The Sopranos” aired on HBO from 1999 to 2007, winning 21 Emmys and becoming known as one of the greatest television shows of all time. Pastore only starred in the first three seasons, but he established himself as one of the series’ most memorable characters.After “The Sopranos,” Pastore had recurring roles in shows including “Bull,” “Son of the Beach” and “The Practice.” His final roles were in Showtime’s “The Curse” and “Yellowjackets.”Pastore is survived by his daughter Renee, whom he shared with ex-wife Nancy Berke. ‘Ted Lasso’ cast changes: See who isn’t coming back for season 4‘Big Brother’ alum slams ‘painful’ treatment of gay contestant, calls for more diverse castingIconic actress joins OnlyFans at 85The twisted plot that sent an innocent woman to jail while her ex and his wife walked freeSara Donnellan is a trending entertainment news writer. She worked as a TV news reporter for NJ.com, covering scripted and reality television and other viral TV moments, answering viewers’ burning questions and...This article was produced with assistance from AI tools and reviewed by AL.com staff.