A Farewell to Vincent Pastore: The "Sopranos" Star's Heart-Wrenching Reaction to His Character's Demise

In a shocking revelation, Bo Dietl, a close friend of the late Vincent Pastore, has shared that the iconic actor was devastated when his character, Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero, was killed off in HBO's "The Sopranos." According to Dietl, Pastore felt like he had been "whacked" in real life. Pastore, who passed away on August 1 at the age of 80, portrayed Big Pussy from 1999 to 2007, appearing in a total of 30 episodes. However, his character's demise in the Season 2 finale in April 2000 marked the beginning of sporadic appearances as dreams and flashbacks. Dietl, a legendary NYPD detective-turned-private investigator with over 30 years of acting experience, first worked with Pastore in Martin Scorsese's classic mob film "Goodfellas" in 1990. The duo also shared the screen in "Carlito's Way" and most recently, in "Gravesend," which was their last collaboration before Pastore's passing. Dietl fondly remembers a lively dinner with Pastore and fellow "Gravesend" co-star Chazz Palminteri, describing Pastore as being in high spirits during their last encounter. "Vincent was in good spirits the last time I saw him, me, him, and Chaz... it was just like old times," Dietl shared, adding that his friend seemed happy and doing well at the time. Reflecting on Pastore's career, Dietl lamented that the talented actor should have been cast in more films. "He was a great guy that everyone liked. He should have been cast in a lot of other movies; he was a great actor," Dietl said. Apart from his acting endeavors, Dietl serves as a member of President Trump's Homeland Security Advisory Council. Pastore's funeral was held at the Holy Family Church in New Rochelle on Thursday, with over 100 mourners bidding their final farewells. The Vietnam War veteran was carried out of the church in a coffin draped in the American flag. He is survived by his daughter, Renee Pastore, who encouraged attendees to honor her father's memory through acts of kindness during her eulogy. Rest in peace, Vincent Pastore. Your performances will continue to captivate us for years to come.