Vincent Pastore, who played Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on the HBO hit "The Sopranos," was deeply saddened by his character's on-screen death, according to his longtime friend Bo Dietl.
Dietl, a private investigator and actor, told Page Six that Pastore, who died Aug. 1 at age 80, felt the character's "whacking" was akin to a personal loss. "In a way, it was like he died in real life," Dietl said.
Pastore appeared in 30 episodes of "The Sopranos" from 1999 to 2007. His character was killed off in the Season 2 finale in April 2000, with subsequent appearances limited to dreams and flashbacks.
Dietl, who first worked with Pastore on Martin Scorsese's "Goodfellas" in 1990, also appeared with him in "Carlito's Way" and the recent project "Gravesend." He recalled a lively dinner with Pastore and "Gravesend" co-star Chazz Palminteri, describing his friend as being in good spirits.
"He was a great guy that everyone liked," Dietl remarked, lamenting that Pastore did not have more acting opportunities. "He should have been cast in a lot of other movies, he was a great actor."
Pastore, a Vietnam War veteran, was laid to rest on Thursday at Holy Family Church in New Rochelle. Over 100 mourners attended his funeral, where his daughter, Renee Pastore, encouraged attendees to embody his spirit through kindness. He was carried out of the church in a casket draped with the American flag.