Updated

Updated · Complex · Aug 2

Authorities Say Vincent Pastore Died at 80 of Natural Causes After Brief Investigation

Updated

Updated · Complex · Aug 2

Authorities Say Vincent Pastore Died at 80 of Natural Causes After Brief Investigation

Q: Beyond his iconic on-screen betrayals, what surprising Broadway secrets and entrepreneurial ventures defined Vincent Pastore's hidden life?

Beyond his signature mob roles, Vincent Pastore’s lesser-known life was marked by an unexpected Broadway turn and a string of side ventures that showed he was more than a screen gangster. On stage, Pastore twice took on singing roles on Broadway, appearing in *Chicago* and later *Bullets Over Broadway*. That was a notable twist for an actor so closely identified with tough-guy parts in film and television. His stage work underscored a range that many viewers of *The Sopranos* may not have associated with him. Offscreen, Pastore had a strong entrepreneurial streak. Before acting, he spent years running and owning bars and nightclubs in the New York area, including the Crazy Horse in New Rochelle, and also worked as a limo driver. After fame, he continued branching out in business. In 2019, he launched Vincent Pastore’s Italian Sauce, linking his public persona to a food brand rooted in Italian American culture. He also experimented with media and product ventures. Pastore hosted radio and podcast projects including *The Wiseguy Show* and *Fuhgeddaboudit with Vinny Pastore*, and he appeared on *Shark Tank* as an early celebrity entrepreneur pitching Broccoli Wad, a silicone money clip inspired by the bands used to hold cash. Taken together, those Broadway performances and business pursuits reveal a hidden life built not just on playing betrayal on screen, but on reinvention, hustling, and showmanship off it.

3 articles · Updated · Complex · Aug 2

Authorities said Vincent Pastore died in his sleep of natural causes at 80, with no signs of foul play after he was found unresponsive at his home.
Several days of unanswered calls prompted friend and assistant Stephen Villano to check on the actor, leading police to open and then quickly close a brief investigation.
Best known as Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on The Sopranos, the Bronx-born actor also appeared in Goodfellas, Carlito's Way, Gotti, Law & Order, Hawaii Five-0 and Yellowjackets.
Colleagues remembered Pastore as loyal and generous, and the Vietnam-era Navy veteran kept working across TV, Broadway, radio and his Fuhgeddaboudit podcast; he is survived by his daughter, Renee.