Sopranos' Frank Vincent dies at 78

Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Frank Vincent, a veteran actor best known for his roles in multiple Martin Scorsese films and The Sopranos, died Wednesday at a New Jersey hospital, his friend and fellow actor Vincent Pastore said. He was 78.

Sources told TMZ that Vincent had a heart attack last week and had open-heart surgery, during which he died.

Pastore sent an email to friends of the actor saying "we lost a great character actor and a great man ... may he always stay in our memory," The Blast reported.

Vincent was perhaps best known for his many roles in mafia movies. He played Phil Leotardo in The Sopranos and appeared in Scorsese's Goodfellas, Casino and Raging Bull. He also had parts in Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing and Jungle Fever.

Three movies featuring Vincent were in pre-production at the time of his death, according to IMDB.com.