As a lifelong fan, I‘m thrilled to provide an in-depth introduction to the legendary actor Joe Pesci, looking at his unforgettable films, iconic roles, collaborators, and acting talent that have cemented him as a true great.
| Full Name | Joseph Frank Pesci |
|---|---|
| Age | 80 |
| Birthday | February 9, 1943 |
| Born | United States |
| Relationship | Divorced Twice |
| Height | 5′ 4′′ |
| Net Worth | $50 million |
| realjoepesci | |
| JosephFPesci |
Joe Pesci is an acclaimed actor known for his legendary collaborations with Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro. He rose to fame playing volatile mobsters and gangsters in cinematic masterpieces like Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Casino, and The Irishman.
Pesci became legendary for bringing an explosive, manic energy to his roles that could flip from calm to violent in an instant. His unique acting talents earned him massive critical acclaim and an Oscar. Let‘s look back on his incredible career.
Humble Beginnings in New Jersey
Born in 1943 in Newark, New Jersey, Joe Pesci grew up in a blue-collar area and started performing at a young age. As a teenager, he played guitar at local clubs, channeling his love of music and entertaining.
Pesci made his on-screen debut as an actor in the low-budget 1961 film Hey, Let‘s Twist! Around this time, he formed a close friendship and rapport with actor Frank Vincent that would later fuel their memorable on-screen chemistry in Pesci‘s breakout films.
After a first failed stint as an actor, Pesci experienced a resurgence in the late 1970s, co-starring with Vincent in the crime drama The Death Collector (1977). This marked the true start of Pesci‘s rise to fame.
The Scorsese/De Niro Partnership Begins
In 1980, Pesci caught the attention of acclaimed director Martin Scorsese who cast him in the seminal boxing biopic Raging Bull (1980), starring Robert De Niro as boxer Jake LaMotta.
Playing LaMotta‘s volatile brother Joey, Pesci earned rave reviews for bringing an explosive, grimier authenticity to the role. Drawing from his gritty New Jersey roots, Pesci improvised memorable scenes and dialogue like the iconic "Did you f**k my wife?" moment.
The raw genius of his performance earned Pesci his first Oscar nomination and cemented his partnership with Scorsese and De Niro. This incredible trio would go on to make cinematic history together.
Skyrocketing to Fame in Mobster Roles
Throughout the 1980s, Pesci began to build his reputation playing violent Italian-American gangsters. His diminutive stature and simmering, hair-trigger temper made him perfectly cast as unpredictable mob enforcers and hotheads.
In films like Dear Mr. Wonderful (1982), Eureka (1983), and Easy Money (1983), Pesci crafted his on-screen persona as someone who could switch from calm to violent rage in a heartbeat.
But it was his role as Tommy DeVito in Scorsese‘s Goodfellas (1990) that cemented Pesci as a legend. As a psychopathic mobster based on real-life killer Thomas DeSimone, Pesci is simply electrifying, blurring humor and menace. Infamously improvising lines like "Funny how?," Pesci‘s Tommy remains one of cinema‘s most iconic villains.
The role rightfully earned Pesci an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. His acceptance speech simply read: "It‘s my privilege. Thank you."
Reuniting with Scorsese for More Mob Masterpieces
On the heels of Goodfellas, Pesci re-teamed with Scorsese and De Niro for 1995‘s sprawling Las Vegas epic Casino. As the ruthless mob enforcer Nicky Santoro, Pesci delivers another all-time performance, fully embracing Santoro‘s violent madness.
The role cemented the legendary actor trio of Pesci, De Niro, and Scorsese as masters of capturing the underworld of the mafia and organized crime on film. Like De Niro, Pesci had a singular skill for fully inhabiting the psyche of a gangster.
A Brilliant Comedy Side as Well
While best known for his dramatic roles, Pesci has also proven himself a gifted comedic actor in films like My Cousin Vinny (1992), Home Alone (1990), and Home Alone 2 (1992) where he played bumbling bandit Harry Lyme.
Pesci won over audiences with his slapstick physical comedy and on-screen chemistry with co-stars like Ralph Macchio and Daniel Stern. Pesci has proven he can oscillate easily between comedy and drama, adding layers to his performances.
A Master of Volatile Energy and Improvisation
What makes Pesci such a legendary actor? For me, it comes down his incredible improvisational skills and on-screen magnetism.
Pesci consistently brings an energy so volatile and manic to his roles that he keeps audiences on edge waiting for his characters to explode. Think of the legendary "You think I‘m funny?" scene in Goodfellas where the simple question turns into shocking violence. Pesci improvised the entire scene, ratcheting up the tension.
He also shares incredible on-screen chemistry and rapport with long-time collaborators like De Niro and Scorsese. Their collaborative films feel dangerously alive and reactive thanks to Pesci‘s improvisational genius.
Later Roles in Biopics and Return to Acting
In the late 1990s, Pesci stepped back from acting, making rare but memorable appearances in films like 2006‘s The Good Shepherd. But in 2019, he reunited with Scorsese and De Niro for what I consider his most understated and nuanced performance.
In The Irishman (2019), Pesci plays soft-spoken mob boss Russell Bufalino. Utilizing de-aging effects, he delivered a beautifully restrained performance as an aging gangster reflecting on his life. It showed Pesci‘s wonderful versatility as an actor in his later career.
Fans were also delighted to see him join the main cast for the upcoming series Bupkis portraying a fictionalized version of himself. Pesci blessedly proves he still has plenty left in the tank!
The Legend Lives On
Now 80 years old, Joe Pesci has cemented himself as one of the greatest actors of the past half century. The legendary risk-taker has brought some of the most iconic hot-heads, cheats, mobsters, and psychopaths to vivid life on screen.
Collaborating with Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, Pesci anchored classic films that defined the gangster genre like few others. With his improvisational skills, on-screen magnetism, and ability to tap into explosive volatility, Pesci has crafted performances that will never be forgotten.