Vincent Pastore Dies at 80, Prompting Sopranos Co-Stars' Tributes

Q: What mysterious circumstances surround the sudden passing of Vincent Pastore just hours after his final phone call?

The mystery centers on a short, unexplained gap between Vincent Pastore’s last known contact and the discovery of his body. He was reportedly last heard from by phone on Friday night, then was found dead at his Bronx home on Saturday after friends or associates could not reach him, with some reports saying he had been out of contact for up to three days. That timeline has been unclear in public reporting. Early accounts said his manager had not heard from him for several days and that a neighbor or friend found him at home. But his longtime friend and driver, Stephen Villano, publicly disputed the suggestion that Pastore had been lying undiscovered for days, saying Pastore “went to sleep and didn’t wake up” and died of natural causes. Police and the medical examiner, however, said the cause of death was still being determined at the time of reporting. What is known is that authorities found no public indication of criminality. Emergency responders were called to his City Island or Bronx residence on Saturday afternoon, where he was pronounced dead at the scene. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner was expected to determine the official cause. So the “mysterious circumstances” are not evidence of foul play, but rather the unresolved questions about exactly when he died, why he suddenly stopped responding after that final call, and the fact that the official cause had not yet been released.

3 articles · Updated · Deadline · Aug 2

Vincent Pastore, who played Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero across The Sopranos’ 1999-2007 run, has died at 80, prompting an outpouring of grief from castmates.
Michael Imperioli called Pastore a “beloved friend and collaborator,” while Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Lorraine Bracco, Joe Pantoliano and Stevie Van Zandt remembered him as kind, funny and irreplaceable.
Saturday’s death announcement came after a neighbor found Pastore’s body at his Bronx home; a family friend said his manager had not heard from him for three days.
The actor’s driver last spoke with him Friday night, and the cause of death is still being determined.