Compact Italian-American actor born February 9, 1943, in Newark, NJ, who first broke into entertainment as a child actor and by the mid-50s was starring on the series "Star Time Kids". In the mid-'60s he released a record under the stage name of "Joe Ritchie" titled "Little Joe Sure Can Sing", and was also playing guitar with several bands, including Joey Dee and The Starliters. He even joined with friend Frank Vincent to start a vaudeville-style comedy act, but met with limited success (interestingly, Pesci and Vincent would later go on to co-star in several gangster films together, including Goodfellas and Casino)Pesci's first film role was as an uncredited dancer in Hey, Let's Twist! and then he had to wait another 15 years for a minor part in The Death Collector. His work in the second film was seen by Robert De Niro, who convinced director Martin Scorsese to cast him as "Joey LaMotta" in the epic boxing film Raging Bull, which really got him noticed in Hollywood. He played opposite Rodney Dangerfield in Easy Money, was with buddy DeNiro again in Once Upon a Time in America, nearly stole the show as con man Leo Getz in Lethal Weapon 2 and scored a Best Supporting Actor Oscar playing the psychotic Tommy DeVito in "Goodfellas".His comedic talents shone again in the mega-popular Home Alone, and he put in a terrific performance as co-conspirator David Ferrie in JFK. Pesci was back again as Leo Getz for Lethal Weapon 3, and was still a bumbling crook in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, and had a minor role in the Robert De Niro-directed A Bronx Tale. He was lured back by Scorsese to play another deranged gangster named Nicky (based on real-life hood Tony Spilotro [aka "The Ant"]) in the violent Casino, and starred in the comedies 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag and Gone Fishin', although both failed to fire at the box office.He returned again as fast-talking con man Leo Getz in Lethal Weapon 4. See full bio on IMDb »
The producer of "Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father" has lashed out at Joe Pesci, claiming he's a has-been who is desperately seeking attention by trying to force himself into the movie.The flick… READ MORE >
Joe Pesci is suing the producers of "Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father," claiming his deal was so iron-clad, he gained 30 pounds for his role, only to be told he wasn't wanted anymore.In the… READ MORE >
Getting allegedly choked out by her ex-boyfriend was apparently all it took to send Angie Everhart back into the stubby arms of former fiance Joe Pesci.How he scored a mega-hot chick like Angie… READ MORE >
She barely sees her own kids, but Britney Spears had someone else's shouting at the paparazzi as she went into Bally Total Fitness.insertBCSinglePlayer(1536203827);Also in L.A.: Simon Cowell said… READ MORE >
Joe Pesci's made a living out of roughing people up in movies -- and he isn't much different in real life.insertBCSinglePlayer(1485815937);Pesci went Tommy DeVito on TMZ's cameraman last night,… READ MORE >
