Vincent Pastore Sits Down with Wingman

Vincent Pastore Sits Down with Wingman

Best known for his role as a mobster in HBO’s epic mob drama, The Sopranos, Vincent fills us in on his unique foray into acting, the pros and cons of having played “Big Pussy”, and his passion for teaching aspiring actors.    

By Eugene Slaven

We hear you’re staying busy these days. Tell us about some of the projects you’re excited about.  

Pastore: I just did a cameo in a comedy called Who’s Jenna? A really funny film by Thomas Baldinger. Tom is a buddy of mine, and I’m really happy for him.

I’m also excited about Made in Chinatown, a comedy I did about a Chinese guy trying to join the Italian Mafia to earn some respect. I think fans of my work and fans of mafia flicks in general will really like this movie.     

I don’t think too many people know that you also teach acting. Tell us a little about that.

Pastore: I teach at the HB Studio in New York, a school created by theater artists. I love it, I find it truly rewarding. If I can help up-and-coming actors get better at the craft, that’s just a great feeling.       

You’re of course best known for your unforgettable role as a Soprano Family soldier nicknamed “Big Pussy” in The Sopranos. It’s almost been twenty years since the show premiered. Looking back on it now, how do you feel about being immortalized in that role?

Pastore: Honestly, it’s a mixed blessing. Don’t get me wrong, I loved that role and I am extremely proud of contributing to one of the greatest TV dramas of all time.

But at the same time, everywhere I go, I gotta hear people yell, “hey Big Pussy!” Not exactly what I want to hear when I’m taking the grandkids to get ice cream, know what I mean?

I think people just love to be able to say “pussy” in public, and it’s all for fun,  I get that. But as an actor who teaches other actors, I don’t think it’s fair if the public only sees me as “Big Pussy”. I am glad that before he passed, Jim [James Gandolfini aka Tony Soprano] showed his true range as an actor in some fantastic movies where he wasn’t playing an Italian mob boss. That’s how it should be.

Do people ever confuse Vincent Pastore the actor with the character you played on a fictional show?

Pastore: All the time! Just recently I got chewed out by some guy for being a “rat” at a meet and greet I hosted. It’s hilarious, does this guy not understand that I was playing a character? That I am not actually a mobster who ratted out his crew?  

But ultimately, it was a great role in a great series, and I was blessed to play it.

You actually didn’t get into acting until you were in your 40s, is that right?  

Pastore: Yeah. I was in the club business before I got into acting. Then I started doing small roles in various films, Backstreet Dreams, Goodfellas, Carlito’s Way, and that was that. Now I love it so much, I teach it.

You had one of the more memorable roles in Celebrity Apprentice. What was that experience like?

Pastore: Well first of all, when you’re in one of these “reality” shows, you’re acting. Everyone is an actor on reality TV because you’re not actually playing you; you’re a playing a character. But it was great, I did the whole double informant scheme with Piers Morgan, and then I resigned. But guess what? I was able to donate $50,000 I received for being project manager to the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, something I’m very proud of.

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Eugene Slaven is a freelance writer and the author of the comedy thriller A Life of Misery and Triumph and the self-help book Enemy Thoughts.  Connect with Eugene on LinkedIn and on Facebook.