Who is Joseph Frank Pesci ? The entertainment and movie world knows Joe Pesci as an American actor, comedian, singer and musician. Usually known for his roles as violent mobsters or lovable funnymen, Pesci has starred in a number of high profile films such as Goodfellas, Casino, Raging Bull, Once Upon a Time in America, My Cousin Vinny, JFK, Moonwalker, Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Lethal Weapon 2, Lethal Weapon 3, and Lethal Weapon 4.In 1990, Pesci won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as the psychopathic mobster Tommy DeVito in Goodfellas, ten years after receiving a nomination in the same category for Raging Bull.
Early life
Pesci, an Italian-American, was born February 9, 1943 in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Mary, who worked part-time as a barber, and Angelo Pesci, a forklift driver for General Motors and bartender.[1][2] By the time Pesci was five years old, he was appearing in plays in New York.[2] A few years later, at age ten, he was a regular on a television variety show called Startime Kids, which also featured Connie Francis.[2] He started out working as a barber in the 1960s, following in his mother's footsteps. He released an album entitled Little Joe Sure Can Sing, under the pseudonym "Joseph Richie," accompanied by a band that included good friend and future fellow actor Frank Vincent.Pesci practiced judo all throughout his teens. He played guitar for Joey Dee and the Starliters. Other early famous members of The Starliters were Charles Neville (The Neville Brothers) and Jimmy James (Jimi Hendrix). Later on Pesci went solo under the name Joe Ritchie, but unlike the ones mentioned before, Joe Pesci was not very successful and started his acting career. He made his film debut as an extra in Dee's film Hey, Let's Twist!.
Career
His breakthrough as an actor came in 1980 when he co-starred alongside Robert De Niro who played the lead role of boxer Jake LaMotta in Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull, for which he won the BAFTA Award for Most Outstanding Newcomer to Leading Film Roles in 1981 and was nominated an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.Subsequently, he performed with De Niro in the films Once Upon a Time in America, and Goodfellas (for which he received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, in 1990,[3]) and Casino. He also had a small role in 1993's A Bronx Tale, which De Niro directed.
Other work
In the late 1970s, Joe teamed up with Frankie Vincent, performing in local clubs like the Arlington Lounge and other venues around Northern NJ as "Vincent and Pesci." The comedy duo's material was a play on Martin and Lewis and Abbott and Costello.
In 1988, Pesci co-starred alongside pop singer Michael Jackson in the musical-fantasy film Moonwalker as the film's antagonist Mr. Big. The film was actually a collection of short films and Pesci was featured in the fifth and final segment which was an actual full-length movie called "Smooth Criminal" which was based on Michael Jackson's song by the same name.He later co-starred in the blockbuster hit Home Alone (1990), playing one of two bumbling burglars (along with good friend Daniel Stern) who attempt to rob the house of the character played by Macaulay Culkin. Two years later, he reprised his role for the sequel.
Pesci also had roles in JFK (as David Ferrie) and the comedy My Cousin Vinny (as the title character) released in 1991 and 1992, respectively. He appeared as Leo Getz in three Lethal Weapon films.He had starring roles in several other films including The Super (1991), Jimmy Hollywood (1994) and With Honors (also 1994).
Retirement from acting
He is one of the producers of the hit Broadway musical Jersey Boys. The musical is based on the lives of the musical group, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Pesci was present during the formation of the group as a young man and is portrayed as a character in the play.
Personal life
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Filmography
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