The Fading Light of "Big Pussy": A Reflection on Vincent Pastore's Life and Legacy Vincent Pastore's passing at 80 marks the end of an era for mobster dramas that defined a generation of television.
As one of the most iconic characters in The Sopranos universe, "Big Pussy" Sal Bonpensiero embodied the complexities and contradictions of Italian American identity.
Pastore's life story shares eerie parallels with that of his fictional alter ego. Born into a family with ties to organized crime, he was raised by parents who struggled to balance legitimate and illegitimate pursuits.