By Page Six | Created at 2026-08-06 19:46:54 | Updated at 2026-08-06 20:31:50
1 hour ago
“The Sopranos” star Vincent Pastore was remembered as a big tipper and a late-life rocker at his funeral Thursday – as one of his co-stars revealed the final phone call the duo shared.
More than 100 mourners flocked to Holy Family Church in New Rochelle to say a final goodbye to the beloved 80-year-old actor, best known for his role as Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero in the hit HBO series.
His heartbroken daughter, Renee Pastore, described her dad as “a giving person” who was grateful for the cards he was dealt in life.
“He was a man who lived out his dreams… but he knew how lucky he was,” she said, between tears.
“I think that’s why he tried to share as much of it with as many people as possible. Whether that was a big tip, always in cash, or by shaking hands with every cop on every corner.”
Pastore ran nightlife establishments in Westchester such as the Crazy Horse bar before becoming a professional actor in his 40s, she said.
His “Sopranos” co-star Stevie Van Zandt, who’s also a longtime guitarist for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, served as one of Pastore’s pallbearers.
“We had a theater company together, so I saw him quite often,” he told The Post.
“We just happened to call him two days ago. The day before he died, we luckily just happened to call him,” he said of himself and his wife, Maureen. “He was one of a kind, and we’ll miss him very much.”
Pastore also appeared in films such as “Goodfellas” and “Carlitos Way” and was a Vietnam vet.
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