Vincent Pastore, Sopranos’ ‘Big Pussy’, dies aged 80

RIP

How Vincent Pastore became a Sopranos icon

Pastore had not been heard from for three days before a neighbour discovered his body at his apartment in the Bronx, with US outlets reporting that an investigation is under way. TMZ, which broke the news, cited sources with direct knowledge who said he had died of natural causes. He was one of the defining faces of a drama widely regarded as among the greatest television series ever made, joining another much-loved screen actor to have passed away this year.

Remarkably, Pastore came to acting late. After two decades running nightclubs around New York, he began performing at the age of 42, stood out in the crime film Gotti, and went on to be "whacked" by creator David Chase's mob epic, cementing his place in TV history. Tributes were expected to follow as fans of the show marked the loss of one of its most memorable characters.