'Sopranos' star Vincent Pastore remembered by friends, colleagues at Woodbury restaurant

Friends and colleagues gathered together in Woodbury Tuesday night to celebrate the life of "Sopranos" actor Vincent Pastore, who died Aug. 1 at the age of 79.

"What a great guy he was, a great friend," actor and stuntman Chuck Zito told Newsday in a video shot at Volpe Ristorante at Fox Hollow Inn where the event took place. He said the two had been friends for nearly 60 years, going back to when they both lived in the Westchester County city of New Rochelle.

Zito recalled having dinner in City Island in the Bronx, where Pastore lived, when he got the call that Pastore was near the end. "I saw him there in bed and it was a shock to see him," an emotional Zito said. "But we’re all here to remember what a great guy he was and what a dear friend. He'd give you the shirt off his back if you needed it."

Pastore was often typecast as a mobster, especially after his success as Salvatore Bonpensiero on HBO's "The Sopranos." He also fronted a rock and blues cover band with whom he sang and played tambourine. Pastore's final role was in the Prime Video dramatic crime series "Gravesend," which will return for its third season later this year. Portions of the new season were shot at Volpe.

"He was a very unique person," said director William DeMeo, who worked with Pastore on "The Sopranos," "Gravesend" and the 2013 movie "Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn." "The first you saw him onscreen, you knew he was going to be a star. He started acting later in life, but you could see in his voice and his presence how he was so unique and how he stood out."

"He meant so much to all of us," added "Gravesend" producer Michele Frantzeskos." He was a great musician, and what a talented, talented actor and an honor to have him a part of the 'Gravesend' series. ... As we’re all here mourning the loss of this icon, I hope and pray Vinnie that you hear us and just know how much you meant to all of us. I’m truly missing you, my friend. … I know you’re playing up there in heaven so rock on, my friend."

Newsday's Daniel Bubbeo contributed to this story.