American actor Vincent Pastore, known for playing the iconic character Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero in the acclaimed series “The Sopranos,” has passed away at the age of 80. The news was confirmed by his manager.

Pastore became famous for his roles as Italian-American underworld figures in film and television, but his performance on “The Sopranos” remains one of the most memorable in television history. His character, “Big Pussy,” was one of the series’ central figures and contributed to the HBO production’s global success.

During his career, Pastore starred in dozens of films and series, including "Goodfellas", "Carlito's Way", "Gotti", "Law & Order" and other projects where he often embodied strong characters connected to the mafia world.

US authorities are investigating the circumstances of the actor's death, while the official cause has not yet been made public.