Sopranos Stars Pay Tribute To Vincent Pastore, Who Died Aged 80
Beloved actor Vincent Pastore has been remembered as a “beautiful soul” by his fellow The Sopranos co-stars following his tragic and “unexpected” death over the weekend.
On August 1 (US time), Pastore — who’s famously known for portraying Salvatore ‘Big Pussy’ Bonpensiero on the iconic HBO series, The Sopranos — passed away aged 80, per Deadline.
Amid the devastating news, Pastore’s fellow Sopranos co-stars have begun to share heartfelt tributes, recalling fond memories they spent with him.
The Sopranos co-stars share tributes following Vincent Pastore’s death
In an Instagram post, Michael Imperioli, who played Christopher Moltisanti alongside Pastore in the popular series, described the star’s passing as a “hard one”.
“Our beloved friend and collaborator VINCENT PASTORE has passed away,” he began.
“This is a hard one for us; it seems like I’ve known Vinny forever. We did lots of work together and travelled 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.”
Dr Jennifer Melfi’s actress, Lorraine Bracco, shared an Instagram tribute post to her IG Stories, remembering Pastore as a “funny and charming man”.
“Just a beautiful soul. Absolutely heartbreaking,” Bracco wrote.
Dominic Chianese, who portrayed the role of Corrado ‘Junior’ Soprano, also shared a tribute on Instagram.
“We lost a friend today,” he wrote.
“Paying respect and sending love in tribute. You were a gem, Vinnie.”
The cause of Pastore’s passing is currently unknown, with Deadline reporting that it’s believed to be from natural causes and is not being investigated by a medical examiner.
The publication also reported that he was found in his Bronx residence by a neighbour and that the actor’s manager hadn’t heard from him for three days.
In a statement to PEOPLE magazine, Pastore’s longtime manager Robert Altman remembered him as “one of the kindest, most generous people” he has ever known.
“He treated everyone with warmth and respect, never turning down a fan who wanted a photograph or an autograph. He genuinely appreciated the people who supported him and always made them feel valued,” he told the publication.
“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.”
Another representative for Pastore, Bob McGowan, described the actor’s passing as “heartbreaking”.
“He was one of the nicest guys,” he told PEOPLE.
“Very charitable, very friendly, and he would help anybody.”
Pastore is survived by his daughter, Renee, her husband and his granddaughter.
Image source: Instagram and Getty Images.
