Vincent Pastore, known for playing Salvatore "Big Pu**y" Bonpensiero in HBO's The Sopranos, has died at 80, according to reports.
Pastore was found dead in his Bronx residence in New York and the cause of death is yet to be revealed.
He was found in his bed on Saturday, August 1, by a neighbour Stephen Villano, who hadn't heard from the actor in several days, per TMZ.
"To the world, he will always be remembered as the unforgettable 'Big Pu**y,' but to those of us who knew him, he was so much more," Robert Attermann, Pastore's manager, told CBS News.
"He loved being an actor. He was passionate about his craft and was always encouraging, respectful, and generous with young actors, taking the time to offer guidance and support whenever he could," Attermann said.
He added, "For me, losing Vinny is deeply personal. Over more than three decades, I had the honor of watching not only his remarkable career but also the incredible person he was. I will miss his friendship, his loyalty, his humor, and his heart."
Through his over four-decade long career, Pastore has acted in several movies and TV shows. He was known for his "tough guy" archetypes in films like Goodfellas, Carlito's Way, and A Bronx Tale.
However, it was Pastore's role as a mobster in The Sopranos that earned him widespread recognition and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Ensemble Performance in 2000. He, along with the other cast, was nominated again in 2001.
Pastore played Big Pu**y in all six seasons of creator David Chase's The Sopranos, from 1999 to 2007 despite his character being killed off in Season 2's finale.
Born on July 14, 1946, in the Bronx, New York, Pastore made his screen debut in a supporting role in the 1988 horror thriller Black Roses.