The Sopranos star Vincent Pastore dies aged 80 as investigation launched

Actor Vincent Pastore has died aged 80 (Picture: Bobby Bank/Getty Images) Veteran actor Vincent Pastore, best known for playing on-screen mobsters, has died aged 80. The TV and film star was found dead at his home in the Bronx, New York, by Stephen Villano, a neighbour and longtime friend, after people were unable to reach him for three days. Police are currently investigating the circumstances, with his cause of death unknown. He is survived by a daughter, Renee, whom he shared with ex-wife Nancy Berke. Pastore grew up in an Italian-American neighbourhood and, after graduating high school, served as a sailor in the US Navy during the Vietnam War. (L-R) Tony Sirico, Steven Van Zandt, James Gandolfini, Michael Imperioli, and Vincent Pastore in The Sopranos, circa 1999 (Picture: Anthony Neste/Getty Images) He went on to achieve a degree in drama from Pace University and began working in the club business before embarking on an acting career. Pastore’s debut role was in the movie Black Roses in his early 40s. Following this, his earlier smaller roles in the 80s and 90s included films such as Goodfellas (1990), in which he is credited as playing ‘Man with Coat Rack’. Then, in 1993, he appeared in Carlito’s Way as ‘Copa Wiseguy’, one of the friends of the Italian man who dances with Gail (Penelope Ann Miller). In 1995, Pastore landed a more significant part in comedy/crime flick The Jerky Boys: The Movie, playing Tony Scarboni, one of the three gangsters, and starred in HBO television movie Gotti the year after. Gotti (1996) would also feature his future Sopranos co-stars Tony Sirico, Frank Vincent, and Dominic Chianese. The Sopranos, which he bagged in 1999, was Pastore’s most famous role, where he portrayed Salvatore ‘Big Pussy’ Bonpensiero. In more recent years, he became known for his reality TV appearances, with stints. He built his TV and film career on playing mobsters (Picture: PA) Pastore appeared on the fourth season of Celebrity Fit Club in 2006 and, the following year, was announced for Dancing with the Stars. He quit the dance competition after just one week due to its physical demands. In 2008, he took part in the Celebrity Apprentice and had a rather tumultuous time. His stint involved a fake bust-up with Piers Morgan in an attempt to join the women’s team to spy on them. After being ratted out to the opposition by Morgan himself, Pastore’s team lost the task, and he resigned from the show, a resignation accepted by Donald Trump after he initially tried to convince him to stay. Having befriended ex-wife Berke’s subsequent husband, he ultimately donated his $50,000 project manager winnings to the Lustgarden Foundation, in Mitchell Burke’s memory. Pastore went on to appear on Celebrity Family Feud, Shark Tank alongside a business partner, and Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back. Arrow MORE: Glee actor hits out after fans make ‘diabolical’ comments about actors who’ve died Arrow MORE: Glen Hansard shared tear-jerking video with Bruce Springsteen just hours before his death Arrow MORE: DJ Kavinsky, who performed at the Olympics, found dead at his home aged 50