Joe Pesci is one of the most unique movie stars to come from Hollywood. He played everything from gangsters to funnymen. Take a look at the life of Joe Pesci.
Life
Joseph Pesci was born on February 9, 1943. He is from Newark, New Jersey. Pesci began acting early but struggled to find success. He would transition to music, and even work outside of show business to make a living. His big break would come in 1980 when Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese cast him in the masterpiece, Raging Bull.
A-List Career
Raging Bull would launch Pesci’s career into a new space. He would pop up in high profile projects in the 1980s like Easy Money and Once Upon A Time In America. 1990 would be the year when Pesci would solidify himself as a movie star in the business. He would appear in the mob classic, Goodfellas.
Real Life Wise Guys
Goodfellas starred Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci, and Ray Liotta. It was directed by the legend, Martin Scorsese. The story of Goodfellas focused on real life gangster, Henry Hill (Ray Liotta). It chronicled his life in the mob, including his relationship with his partners in crime Jimmy (Robert DeNiro) & Tommy (Joe Pesci). It was written by Nicholas Pileggi and Scorsese. The film is based on Pileggi’s book, Wiseguy. Joe Pesci was flawless as Tommy in Goodfellas. It is Pesci’s most iconic role. The actor was originally hesitant to take on the part. One of the things that convinced Pesci to appear in the film was Scorsese agreeing to let him add an experience from his life into the story. The famous “Funny How” scene was inspired by a true event Pesci experienced. Pesci would win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance.
Home Alone
1990 would have been a huge year for Pesci just based on Goodfellas. But Pesci featured in two iconic films that were released in 1990. Home Alone (1990) is one of the biggest family pictures ever made. It was an enormous success at the box office and has become a holiday classic. Pesci would play Harry, a robber that would be tortured by Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin, for his bad deeds. Pesci would also be featured in a sequel to Home Alone in 1992.
Early Retirement
The 1990s were incredibly good for Pesci. He would headline a plethora of hit films, including Scorsese’s Casino and My Cousin Vinny. Pesci had scene stealing performances in the Lethal Weapon series and JFK. The actor was so successful that after Lethal Weapon 3 (1998), he decided to step away from the spotlight.
Joe Pesci
Joe Pesci is an actor who was comfortable in any kind of film, and in any kind of part. His size, which is on the diminutive side, never stopped him from playing tough guys and leading men. He is as good at comedy as he is with drama. Pesci occasionally shows in media today, projects like The Irishman. But we rarely see him now, but when we do, it is always special.
- Adam C. Better
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