Vincent Pastore | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Pastore in 2017 | |
| Born | (1946-07-14)July 14, 1946 (age 78) The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Spouse | Nancy Berke (divorced) |
| Children | 1 |
Vincent Pastore (/pæˈstɔːr/; born July 14, 1946) is an Italian American actor. Often cast as amafioso, he is best known for his portrayal ofSalvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on theHBO seriesThe Sopranos. He also made notable appearances in the HBO filmGotti (1996),Shark Tale (2004) andRevolver (2005).
Pastore was born on July 14, 1946, to an Italian-American family inthe Bronx, New York City, and grew up inNew Rochelle, New York. Following his graduation from high school, he enlisted as a sailor in theU.S. Navy during theVietnam War and then attendedPace University for three years, before eventually going into the acting industry after befriendingMatt andKevin Dillon. On June 3, 2015, during an appearance onGood Day New York, Pastore said he was in the club business for close to 30 years, and got into acting in his 40s.
Pastore has made a career of portraying Italian-American gangsters in film and television. He began with small parts in the 1990s, in films such asGoodfellas andCarlito's Way. InGoodfellas, he is briefly seen rolling a coat rack through the kitchen of the Bamboo Lounge and is credited as "Vinny Pastore" playing "Man with Coat Rack". InCarlito's Way, he portrays one of the friends of the Italian man that dances with Gail, whom Kleinfeld insults. He is listed in the credits as "Vinny Pastore" playing "Copa Wiseguy."
Pastore got a bigger role in the comedy/crime filmThe Jerky Boys: The Movie (1995) as Tony Scarboni, one of the three gangsters and Lazarro's (played byAlan Arkin) clients. In the 1996 HBO television movieGotti, Pastore played the character ofAngelo Ruggiero, alongside futureThe Sopranos cast membersTony Sirico,Frank Vincent, andDominic Chianese. In 1999, Pastore got his biggest role inThe Sopranos, where he played the characterSalvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero.
In addition toThe Sopranos, he has appeared inMickey Blue Eyes,Flodders in America,Two Family House (withThe Sopranos castmatesMichael Rispoli,Kathrine Narducci,Matt Servitto,Michele Santopietro, andSharon Angela),Under Hellgate Bridge,Riding in Cars with Boys,Witness to the Mob,Deuces Wild,Made,Mafia!,The Hurricane,Serving Sara,American Cousins,A Tale of Two Pizzas,This Thing of Ours,Remedy,Shark Tale,Bachelor Party Vegas,The Family,Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn,Money Train,A Brooklyn State of Mind,The Deli,[1]The Last Don II,Johnny Slade's Greatest Hits, andGuy Ritchie'sRevolver. He served as associate producer of the filmDoughboys.
Pastore's other television credits includeGrounded for Life, character Vinnie Fellachio inSon of the Beach,Law & Order (various roles from 1992 to 1996), the soap operaOne Life to Live, host ofRepo-Men/Stealing for a Living,Ed,Queens Supreme,Vegas,Everybody Hates Chris,The Making of the Mob: New York,Blue Bloods,The Making of the Mob: Chicago, and an uncredited voice role in the television programAqua Teen Hunger Force as Terry.
In 2007, Pastore starred in the independent feature filmP.J.: A Journey of the Heart.[2] In 2008, he joined the cast ofGeneral Hospital as Maximus Giambetti, father of two characters on the show; he once again plays a mobster. He had roles in 2008'sCollege Road Trip andOur Last Days as Children. He also starred in the 2008 filmDough Boys.
In 2009, Pastore starred in Pavaline Studio's debut short film, "Alienated". In 2010, he starred in the award-winning indie mob-comedyPizza with Bullets. Pastore played Mayor Avenoso in the 2012 indie featureSurviving Family. He appears in the 2013 filmI'm in Love with a Church Girl. In 2014, he appeared in theBroadway musicalBullets Over Broadway as Nick Valenti.[3]
Pastore lost 29 lb on the fourth season of theVH1reality showCelebrity Fit Club, which ran from August 6 to October 1, 2006.
On February 20, 2007,ABC announced that Pastore would participate in thefourth season of the American version of the competitive dance seriesDancing with the Stars.[4] He withdrew from the competition after only one week. Pastore said that he found the necessary training and preparation too physically demanding.John Ratzenberger took his place in the competition.[5]
Pastore was featured as a contestant on the January 2008 edition ofCelebrity Apprentice. In the second week, he participated in raising $52,286 by selling hot dogs on a Manhattan street for the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Research.[6] In a task of selling Broadway show tickets, with Pastore as project manager, he led his team to raise $33,300 for charity. In the fifth week, he got into a faked, blow-out conflict with the project manager of the task,Piers Morgan, to see if he could get the women to let him on their team to spy on them. The episode had played out like an episode ofThe Sopranos, with Pastore switching allegiances multiple times.
Pastore was deliberately "ratted out" to the women by Morgan in the end, to make Pastore look bad to the women. While Pastore and the men then lost their task, before Trump even lifted a finger to fire anyone that week, Pastore resigned from the show and Trump eventually accepted Pastore's resignation after trying to convince him to stay. The show ended with a sequence based on the series finale ofThe Sopranos, ending abruptly before Pastore could give the customary end-of-show interview in the cab. The week-6 episode begins with Pastore meeting his ex-wife Nancy in a restaurant and presenting her the check he received for being project manager for $50,000, in memory of her husband, Mitchell Burke's memorial fund with the Lustgarden Foundation.
On July 1, 2008, Pastore appeared onNBC's new show,Celebrity Family Feud, as part of a family team trying to win $50,000 for their favorite charity.[7] He first competed, with his friends and family, against the cast ofThe Girls Next Door. Then, Pastore's team made it to the finals againstKathie Lee Gifford's family, but did not win. Pastore and his team picked up a $10,000 consolation prize for their charity, though, which is researching a cure forpancreatic cancer.
On April 8, 2011, Pastore and a business partner appeared onShark Tank for an investment in "Broccoli Wad", a product that holds money. All the "Sharks" wanted out, andBarbara Corcoran said, "this is one of the dumbest things I've ever seen on this show". She later had the idea of putting Pastore's face and name on the box, and labeling it "Vinnie's Wad". She offered $50,000 for a 40% stake in the company, and would give half of her ownership to Pastore in exchange for his name and face on the packaging; Pastore and his partner agreed.[8] A year later, Pastore made an appearance on an episode oftruTV'sWorld's Smartest Inventions after his commercial for "the Broccoli Wad" aired on the show.
As of July 10, 2011, he appeared on the VH1 Marc Cronin-produced reality showFamous Food. In the show, contestants are assigned the task of opening a restaurant on theSunset Strip. He appeared withJoseph R. Gannascoli onGordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back on January 21, 2020.[9]
Pastore previously hostedThe Wiseguy Show onSirius Satellite Radio on the now defunct Raw Dog channel 104. Described as a "weekly three-hour celebration of Italian-American culture." Produced bySopranos co-starSteven Van Zandt, it aired on Wednesdays from 6–9 pm ET.[10] He has also had stints as a radio host on theNew Rochelle, New York, stationWVOX in 2004 and 2012, with guest appearances in between.
In September 2020, Pastore started apodcast with Goumba Johnny calledFuhgeddaboudit with Vinny Pastore.[11]
In 2019, Pastore launched a tomato sauce business under the name of Vincent Pastore's Italian Sauce. The sauce is made withSan Marzano tomatoes, is notGMO, and has no added sugar.[12]
Pastore is divorced. He was previously married to Nancy Berke with whom he has a daughter, Renee. He befriended Berke's subsequent husband and donated the winnings from his stint onThe Apprentice to a charity in his name. In 2014, Pastore was diagnosed withprostate cancer and served as the grand marshal of the Columbus Day parade in the Bronx.[3][13] He currently lives onCity Island.[14]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Black Roses | Tony's Dad | |
| 1989 | True Love | Angelo | |
| 1990 | Q & A | Man Sitting at Bar | uncredited extra |
| Tales from the Darkside: The Movie | Man in Art Gallery | ||
| Backstreet Dreams | Fat Tony | ||
| State of Grace | Borelli's Man | uncredited extra | |
| Goodfellas | Man with Coatrack | ||
| Men of Respect | Sammy | ||
| Street Hunter | Romano Guard Outside Coffin Factory | ||
| Awakenings | Ward #5 Patient #6 | ||
| 1991 | New Jack City | Mobster | uncredited extra |
| 1992 | The Bet | Nino | Short |
| Flodders in America | Man without Petrol | ||
| 1993 | Who's the Man? | Tony 'Clams' Como | |
| Taking the Heat | Tommy's Man on Courthouse Steps | TV movie | |
| Manhattan Murder Mystery | Man in Restaurant | ||
| The Dutch Master | Teresa's Father | Short | |
| Carlito's Way | Copa Wiseguy | ||
| 1994 | Minges Alley | Bodyguard | |
| The Ref | State Trooper | ||
| Soup & the Dead | Father | Short | |
| Hand Gun | Earls Man Harry | ||
| It Could Happen to You | Bowling Team Member #1 | ||
| Who Do I Gotta Kill? | Aldo "Birdman" Badamo | ||
| 1995 | The Basketball Diaries | Construction Worker | |
| The Jerky Boys: The Movie | Tony Scarboni | ||
| Mott Street | Mott Street Boss | Short | |
| Italian Movie | Vinny | ||
| No Exit | Tony Landano | ||
| Money Train | Gambler | ||
| Pictures of Baby Jane Doe | Dan | ||
| 1996 | Walking and Talking | Laura's Devil-Seeing Patient | |
| Sunset Park | Charlie the Super | ||
| Joe's Apartment | Apartment Broker #2 | ||
| Gotti | Angelo Ruggiero | TV movie | |
| Night Falls on Manhattan | Cop #3 | ||
| West New York | Carmine Ferraro | ||
| 1997 | All Over Me | Don | |
| The Deli | Lou | [1] | |
| Six Ways to Sunday | Uncle Max | ||
| 1998 | A Brooklyn State of Mind | Vinnie "D" | |
| Witness to the Mob | Mikey De Batt | TV movie | |
| Mafia! | Gorgoni | ||
| 1999 | Mickey Blue Eyes | Al | |
| Under Hellgate Bridge | Mitch | ||
| The Hurricane | Alfred Bello | ||
| A Slight Case of Murder | Cabby | TV movie | |
| 18 Shades of Dust | Matty 'The Horse' Brancato | ||
| 2000 | Blue Moon | Joey | |
| Two Family House | Angelo | ||
| The Rochester Method | Vinnie | Short | |
| Growing Down in Brooklyn | Sal | ||
| 2001 | The Rules (For Men) | Attorney | |
| Made | Jimmy | ||
| Corky Romano | Tony | ||
| Riding in Cars with Boys | Uncle Lou | ||
| 2002 | This Thing of Ours | Skippy | |
| Deuces Wild | Father Aldo | ||
| Serving Sara | Tony | ||
| 2003 | American Cousins | Tony | |
| A Tale of Two Pizzas | Vito Rossi | ||
| Mail Order Bride | Tootie | ||
| 2004 | The Cookout | Poo Salesman | |
| Shark Tale | Luca (voice) | ||
| 2005 | Remedy | Casper Black | |
| Johnny Slade's Greatest Hits | Vic | ||
| Revolver | Zach | ||
| 2006 | Bachelor Party Vegas | Carmine/Mr. Kidd | Video |
| Last Request | Father Patton | ||
| 2007 | Slice | Carmine Leone | Short |
| 7-10 Split | Tony P. | ||
| Lucky Man | - | Short | |
| 2008 | P.J. | Burt | |
| College Road Trip | Freddy | ||
| Looking for Palladin | Arnie | ||
| Dough Boys | Mr. Conti | ||
| The Devil's Dominoes | Big John Calabrese | ||
| Return to Sleepaway Camp | Frank | Video | |
| Tricks of Love | Harry | ||
| 2009 | Split Ends | Tiny Provenzano | |
| Street Boss | Frank 'The Shank' | ||
| Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay!! | Carmine Ferraro | ||
| Alienated | Gino | Short | |
| 2010 | Pizza with Bullets | Don Vito Perspirino | |
| The Word Is Love | Carmine Ferraro | Short | |
| Code Blue | Coach/Sergeant | ||
| 2011 | Joshua Tree | Sal | |
| The Briefcase | - | ||
| Run Your Mouth | Boss | Short | |
| Spy | Dante LeClair | ||
| 2012 | Off Limits | Saverio | Short |
| Surviving Family | Mayor Avenoso | ||
| The Woods | Lieutenant Madden | ||
| Saved by the Pole | Crime Boss Louie | Short | |
| 2013 | Day of Redemption | Sal | |
| Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn | Luigi Leone | ||
| The Family | Fat Willy | ||
| Torture Chamber | Dr. Fiore | ||
| I'm in Love with a Church Girl | Nick Halston | ||
| Hypothetically | Gene | Short | |
| 2014 | Tumbleweed: A True Story | Erik Rydell | |
| 2015 | Thinking with Richard | Balls | |
| Staten Island Summer | Leo Manicucci | ||
| Red Herring | Saffiote | ||
| 2016 | The Eyes | Harry | |
| Oiled Up | Detective James | Short | |
| Calico Skies | Vincenzo | ||
| Pasquale's Magic Veal | Chef Pasquale | Short | |
| 2017 | Pitching Tents | Tony | |
| The Uncle Gerry Show | Donnie Zizzo | TV movie | |
| Good n Screwed | Marco Monte | TV movie | |
| Blood Circus | Rocco | ||
| The Kids Menu | Pete | Short | |
| The Fifth Borough | Angelo Battaglia | Short | |
| 2018 | Who's Jenna...? | Thomas Roma | |
| Papa | Frankie Vincent | ||
| Bully | Frankie | ||
| Honor Amongst Men | FBI Agent Surveillance | ||
| Black Wake | Dr. Jones | ||
| St. Joseph | Vincent Pastore | Short | |
| Sarah Q | Mr. Tommy | ||
| Against All Odds | - | ||
| Sodfather Spagatoni | Godfather Spagatoni | ||
| 2019 | Clinton Road | Club Owner | |
| Vault | Frank | ||
| Bottom of the 9th | Cosmo | ||
| Bad Art | Papi | ||
| Awakening Arlene | Ed | Short | |
| Duped | Rocco | Short | |
| 2020 | For NYC | Himself | Short |
| Booze, Broads and Blackjack | Vinny Bombayo | ||
| 2021 | Made in Chinatown | Amadore Condimento | |
| The Birthday Cake | Vito | ||
| 2023 | Spinning Gold | Big Joey |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | H.E.L.P. | Fireman | Episode: "Fire Down Below" |
| 1992 | Law & Order | Dominick | Episode: "Wedding Bliss" |
| 1993 | The Adventures of Pete & Pete | Vincent Park - Bowling Agent | Episode: "New Year's Pete" |
| 1994 | Law & Order | Jack | Episode: "Big Bang" |
| New York Undercover | Goon #1 | Episode: "Garbage" | |
| 1995 | Law & Order | John Furini | Episode: "House Counsel" |
| 1996 | Law & Order | Jimmy Pogosian | Episode: "Deadbeat" |
| 1997 | The Last Don | Danny Fuberta | Episode: "Part II" |
| Dellaventura | Mickey Ezra | Episode: "With a Vengence" | |
| 1999–07 | The Sopranos | Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero | Main Cast:Seasons 1 &2, Recurring:Season 3, Guest:Seasons 5 &6 |
| 2000 | Hollywood Squares | Himself/Panelist | Recurring Panelist |
| Bull | Len Rutigliano | Recurring Cast | |
| 2000–02 | Son of the Beach | Vinnie Fellachio | Guest Cast: Season 1-3 |
| 2001 | For Your Love | Norm | Episode: "The Not-So-Hostile Takeover" |
| Emeril | Himself | Episode: "The Sopranos Come to Dinner" | |
| 2002 | Ed | Ralph Pazzuti III | Episode: "Two Days of Freedom" |
| Grounded for Life | Uncle Sal | Episode: "We Are Family" | |
| 2003 | Comedy Central Roast | Himself | Episode: "Comedy Central Roast of Denis Leary" |
| Queens Supreme | Norm Delgado | Recurring Cast | |
| Less than Perfect | Bookie | Episode: "Save the Squirrel, But Bet the Over/Under" | |
| 2004 | Fillmore! | Mr. Casteneda (voice) | Episode: "Code Name: Electric Haircut" |
| The Practice | Lenny Pescatore | Recurring Cast: Season 8 | |
| Cyberchase | Himself | Episode: "EcoHaven CSE"; "For Real" segment | |
| 2006 | Las Vegas | Jimmy 'The Chin' Aversano | Episode: "Meatball Montecito" |
| 2007 | Everybody Hates Chris | Paulie | Episode: "Everybody Hates Gambling" |
| Mad TV | Himself | Episode: "Episode #12.18" | |
| 2008 | General Hospital | Maximus Giambetti | Regular Cast |
| 2008–12 | Aqua Teen Hunger Force | Terry (voice) | Guest Cast: Season 5-6 & 9 |
| 2010–12 | Pair of Kings | Yamakoshi (voice) | Recurring Cast |
| 2012 | Sherman's in Sanity | - | Episode: "Part I & II" |
| 2013 | Blue Bloods | Richie Tomlin | Episode: "Inside Jobs" |
| 2017 | Animals | Big Pussy (voice) | Episode: "Cats Part I & II" |
| 2018 | Hawaii Five-0 | Uncle Vito | Recurring Cast: Season 8 |
| The Neighborhood | Rinaldo | Episode: "The Mezuzah" | |
| 2019 | Wu-Tang: An American Saga | Fat Larry | Recurring Cast: Season 1 |
| 2020 | Chase Street | Sal Rindini | Recurring Cast |
| 2021 | Gravesend | Donnie 'Glasses' Sisto | Recurring Cast: Season 2 |
| 2024 | The Curse | Himself | Episode: "Green Queen" |
| 2025 | Yellowjackets | Llama (voice) | Episode: "Them's the Brakes" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | The Sopranos: Road to Respect | Sal 'Big Pussy' Bonpensiero (voice) | Video game |
| 2021 | Around the Sun | Bob (voice) | Audio Drama |
| Year | Artist | Song | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Dave Matthews Band | "Everyday" | Himself |
| Year | Awards | Category | Recipient | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | "The Sopranos" | Won |
| 2001 | Nominated |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
