AceShowbiz - Vincent Pastore, widely recognized for his portrayal of mobster Salvatore "Big Pu**y" Bonpensiero on HBO's The Sopranos, has passed away at the age of 80.

According to Deadline, Pastore was discovered deceased at his Bronx residence on Saturday after a neighbor, worried about not hearing from him in three days, checked on him. The details surrounding his death remain under investigation. Representatives for Pastore have not yet provided comments.

Pastore began his acting career with small parts in notable mob-related films such as Goodfellas (1990), Men of Respect (1990), and Carlito’s Way (1993). He also appeared in the comedy The Jerky Boys (1995). His first significant role came in HBO’s Gotti (1996), where he played mobster Angelo Ruggiero alongside future The Sopranos co-stars Tony Sirico, Frank Vincent, and Dominic Chianese.

His most iconic work remains his role as Salvatore "Big Pu**y" Bonpensiero, a close friend of James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano, whose unexpected role as an FBI informant led to one of the most memorable deaths in the Season 2 finale of The Sopranos. Although Pastore was killed off after 26 episodes, he returned for four guest appearances during the show's sixth and final season.

After the conclusion of The Sopranos, Pastore continued acting with guest roles in numerous television series including Blue Bloods, The Curse, Ed, Everybody Hates Chris, General Hospital, Grounded for Life, Hawaii Five-0, Las Vegas, Less Than Perfect, The Practice, One Life to Live, and Wu-Tang: An American Saga. His most recent work included lending his voice to a Season 3 episode of Yellowjackets.

Pastore also gained recognition through reality television. He competed on Season 1 of Celebrity Apprentice, leaving the show in Week 5. Notably, he became the first celebrity entrepreneur to pitch a product on Shark Tank, appearing in Season 2 with business partner Johnny Gennaro to seek investment for Broccoli Wad, a silicone money clip inspired by the broccoli bands used to hold cash. Although Barbara Corcoran made an offer, the deal did not finalize.

In addition, Pastore participated in Season 4 of Celebrity Fit Club and appeared on a 2008 episode of Celebrity Family Feud, further showcasing his versatility beyond scripted roles.

This article is based on reporting originally published by TVLine.