Joe Pesci Bio
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Joe Pesci BioThis Joe Pesci biography contains information believed to be accurate as extracted from sources around the internet including Wikipedia. If you believe there are errors or omissions in this Joe Pesci bio, please let us know so that we can correct any inaccuracies.
Joseph Frank "Joe" Pesci (born February 9, 1943) is an Academy Award-winning American actor, comedian, singer and musician. Joe Pesci: BiographyJoe Pesci - Early lifePesci, an Italian American, was born 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. By the time Pesci was 5, he was appearing in plays in New York. A few years later, at 10, he was a regular on a television variety show called "Startime Kids," which also featured Connie Francis. Pesci 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 played guitar for Joey Dee and the Starliters, and was an extra in Dee's film "Hey, Let's Twist!", where he made his film debut. Joe Pesci - CareerCollaborations with Robert De NiroHis breakthrough as an actor came in 1980 when he co-starred alongside Robert De Niro, who plays 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. Subsequently, he performed with De Niro in the films Once Upon A Time In America (in which he was cast at the behest of his friend De Niro), Goodfellas (for which he received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1990), and Casino. The pairing became famous enough to inspire a recurring sketch on Saturday Night Live, called "The Joe Pesci Show". (The real Pesci and De Niro would eventually make a surprise appearance in one episode). Pesci hosted Saturday Night Live on October 10, 1992. During the monologue, he restored a picture of Pope John Paul II, which was torn by Sinead O'Connor on the previous broadcast. The two also co-starred in 2006's The Good Shepherd Other notable film rolesHe co-starred in 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. In 1992, he appeared in Home Alone 2. He also played David Ferrie in JFK and My Cousin Vinny released in 1991 and 1992 respectively. He appeared in three Lethal Weapon films as Leo Getz. Retirement from acting and musical careerIn 1998, he released an album called Vincent LaGuardia Gambini Sings Just for You which spawned the single "Wise Guy". In 1999, Pesci announced his retirement from acting to pursue a musical career and to enjoy life away from the camera. Pesci returned to acting when he did a cameo in De Niro's 2006 film The Good Shepherd. He is slated to star in the 2009 drama Love Ranch, alongside Dame Helen Mirren. 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 claims to have been present during the formation of the group as a young man and is portrayed as a character in the play. Joe Pesci - Personal lifeHe previously dated Leighanne Wallace Littrell, who is now married to singer Brian Littrell. He has been married three times, the first to Claudia Martha (Marty) Haro, with whom he has a daughter, Tiffany. Pesci has been linked with companion Angie Everhart. In April 2008 Pesci and Everhart split up. Everhart was later arrested on DUI charges just days later. |
