Big Pussy Bonpensiero Big Pussy Bonpensiero Salvatore "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero, played by Vincent Pastore, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series "The Sopranos". Not to be confused with fellow fictional New Jersey mobster known as "Little Pussy" Malanga, Big Pussy was a close friend and mob enforcer for Tony Soprano. The son of Lino Bonpensiero, Salvatore Bonpensiero started out as a cat burglar, and was affectionately known as Pussy, in reference to a pussycat. He was called "Big Pussy" to distinguish from Gennaro "Little Pussy" Malanga. Sal looked after his wife Angie and their three children, and was a long-time friend
Big Pussy Bonpensiero of Tony's. He operated an auto body shop with his brother Edward "Duke" Bonpensiero. He married Angela in 1976. He was an associate of Johnny Soprano until he supported Johnny during the unrest of 1983. Sal was a soldier in the Soprano crew, and he backed Johnny's wishes to have Tony Soprano become capo following Johnny's death in 1986. He also took on Johnny's tradition of dressing as Santa Claus and giving out presents to local children at Satriale's Pork Store at Christmas-time. In order to put his children through college, he dealt heroin on the side, despite orders to