Bo Dietl recalls Vincent Pastore's heartbreak over Big Pussy's Sopranos exit

Bo Dietl, Pastore’s longtime friend, says the late actor was devastated by Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero’s death on The Sopranos, describing it as feeling like Pastore “died in real life.” Pastore died Aug. 1, 2026 at 80. Dietl recalled a Gravesend dinner with Chazz Palminteri where Pastore was in good spirits, and Pastore’s funeral in New Rochelle drew more than 100 mourners, with his daughter Renee delivering the eulogy. Pastore’s legacy includes Goodfellas, The Sopranos (1999–2007, 30 episodes), and Gravesend (2025).