Vincent Pastore, the veteran character actor best known for portraying Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on HBO’s acclaimed crime drama “The Sopranos,” has died at the age of 80. Pastore was found dead Saturday at his home in the Bronx after friends became concerned when they had not heard from him for several days, according to multiple reports. His longtime manager, Robert Attermann, confirmed his death in a statement, remembering the actor as both a devoted performer and a loyal friend. “I had the privilege of representing Vinny for more than 30 years, long before ‘The Sopranos’ made him a household name,” Attermann said in a statement to Entertainment Weekly. “To the world, he will always be remembered as the unforgettable ‘Big Pussy,’ but to those of us who knew him, he was so much more.” Authorities have said there were no signs of criminal activity in the death. Although Pastore built a lengthy career playing gangsters, police officers and other tough-guy characters, he became a television icon through his role as Bonpensiero, one of Tony Soprano’s closest friends whose secret cooperation with the FBI became one of the defining storylines of the series’ early seasons. His character’s death at the end of Season 2 remains one of the show’s most memorable moments, though Pastore later returned in flashbacks and dream sequences throughout the series. Before landing the role that made him famous, Pastore appeared in a number of crime films, including “Goodfellas,” “Carlito’s Way,” “Gotti,” “The Jerky Boys: The Movie,” and “Men of Respect.” He also made appearances in television series including “Law & Order,” “Blue Bloods,” “The Practice,” “General Hospital,” “One Life to Live,” “Hawaii Five-0,” and later competed on reality programs such as “Celebrity Apprentice” and “Dancing With the Stars.” Born in the Bronx on July 14, 1946, Pastore served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War before studying drama at Pace University. He came to acting later in life after working as a nightclub owner, bouncer and chauffeur, eventually building a steady career in film and television. In recent years, Pastore continued acting, appearing in the crime drama “Gravesend” and making a guest appearance on “Yellowjackets.” Pastore and his fellow Sopranos cast members received the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2000, with another nomination the following year. Tributes from former co-stars quickly followed news of his death. Actor Michael Imperioli, who played Christopher Moltisanti on The Sopranos, remembered Pastore as “a kind hearted brother who cared deeply about his family and friends.” “This is a hard one for us,” Imperioli wrote on Instagram. “We did lots of work together and traveled all over the USA as well as Italy and Australia. Lots of good times. Lots of laughs. I will miss him always.” Pastore is survived by his daughter, Renee Pastore.