Joe Pesci will forever remain a Hollywood icon thanks to his unforgettable performances in Martin Scorcese's Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and Casino. He also won the hearts of several millennials with his run in the Home Alone movies, and those of action fans for the Lethal Weapon movies. Not to mention My Cousin Vinny.
Pesci retired from acting in 1999 but has shifted more into a semi-retirement in recent years, occasionally popping up in films directed by his friends Martin Scorsese or Robert De Niro. He had an important role in 2019's The Irishman and many fans are eager for a Pesci renaissance. But there is much more to this Hollywood tough guy than people realize.
10 He Starred In Plays When He Was 5
Pesci grew up in a working-class New Jersey family, but it was not long before he got his start in show business. Pesci started to appear in plays when he was only 5 in New York City. At 10, Joe Pesci was a regular player in the television series Startime Kids.
9 He Recorded An Album As A Young Man
In his teens, Pesci was friends with several singers who would turn into some of the world's most popular crooners, like Franki Valli and members of The Four Seasons. Pesci is also a musician and singer, and he recorded his first album Little Joe Sure Can Sing in 1968 when he was 25.
8 He Was A Barber In The 1960s
While indulging in his musical hobbies, Pesci took a gig as a barber to make ends meet. He did not slow down his music or acting pursuits, but it was in the late 1950s and early 1960s when Pesci had to adapt to the shift from being a child star to an adult crooner. Fortunately for Pesci, he never fell into the dark pit that many child stars fall into.
7 He Got His Big Break Thanks To His Comedy Duo
In 1970, Pesci returned to the theater with a comedy act. He was one half of the duo Pesci and Vincent, with Frank Vincent, who one will also recognize from his appearances in Scorsese films (he was the made guy Pesci whacked in Goodfellas). Their bit was similar to routines like the great Abbott and Costello's, they combined outrageous antics with insult comedy and got plenty of work from the routine. Soon, Pesci would be cast in his first movie, The Death Collector. The role was insignificant to Pesci at first, but his work in the film impressed an actor and director who were casting a film called Raging Bull, one can guess what happened from here.
6 There Was Some Lived Experience Behind His Roles As A Mobster
One has to ask, why is Pesci so good at playing street toughs and members of the mafia? Well, there is some lived experience allegedly informing his performances. Although never a "made guy" or a member of any family or gang, Pesci's upbringing in music and in New Jersey in the 1950s in a working-class home allowed him a front-row seat to the mafia's influence at the time.
It would also make sense that as a comic and musician in that era Pesci would have some run-ins with the mob, and many nightclubs where he would need to perform at to make his living were owned by the mafia. Also, when working as a waiter, he told a purported mob boss that he "thought he was funny," what happened next helped to create one of the most iconic scenes in movie history.
5 He Has One Razzie Nomination
Although Pesci got a much-deserved Oscar for his role in Goodfellas, he does have one blotch on his resume. Pesci was nominated for a Golden Rasberry for Worst Supporting Actor for Lethal Weapon 4. Nobody is perfect.
4 He Gained Weight For A Role He Never Played
In 2011, Pesci sued the makers of the film Gotti because according to Pesci they failed to fulfill their promise to cast him in the movie, Pesci sued for $3 million but settled out of court. Pesci might have lucked out twice, but not thrice. Yes he won his legal battle, and yes he got paid for a movie he wasn't in, but Pesci had gained 30 pounds to play the role. One can see why he went for $3 million.
3 He's Been Married Several Times
Pesci has three ex-wives and one ex-fiance. The most high-profile of his partnerships were those with actress and model Claudia Haro, and his engagement to Angie Everhart. Pesci has one daughter from his first marriage.
2 He Really Did Get Hurt Filming Home Alone
There are two famous scenes in the Home Alone movies where Pesci's characters' wool caps are set on fire, scorching his scalp. While it remains a classic comedy moment to this day, there was some reality behind Pesci's performance. Pesci did sustain some serious burns to his scalp when filming the bit for Home Alone 2. Turns out those traps were as dangerous as they looked.
1 He Is Still A Musician
Pesci has since reappeared in a few recent films, the most famous of which was The Irishman. He also remains active on the music circuit. He recorded his third album, Pesci Still Singing in 2019. Even in retirement, the popular actor keeps active.