Joe Pesci

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Film catchphrases have become part of our everyday language, enjoyably repeated by movie fans around the globe.

We echo famous quotes like "Here's looking at you, kid" (Casablanca), "May the Force be with you" (Star Wars), or "Shaken, not stirred" (Goldfinger), more often than not in our daily conversations.

But movie aficionados are sure to recall one particularly popular line from a well-known scene in the sensational film, Goodfellas, spoken with perfection by Academy Award-winning actor, Joe Pesci.

"What do you mean I'm funny? I'm funny how? I mean, funny like I am a clown?"

In that scene, just one of his many outstanding cinematic moments, Joe Pesci shows his versatility as a dramatic actor, highlighting his lightly acerbic wit on the side. A winning combination of characteristics, revealing his appealing and unique personality.

Having a career spanning decades, Mr. Pesci has entertained us in a variety of genres and mediums, including film, television, music, and comedy.

Early on, as an accomplished musician, he played guitar with various bands, including touring with Joey Dee and the Starliters, whose 1962 hit song The Peppermint Twist was Number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

His 1968 debut album, Little Joe Sure Can Sing!, (as Joe Ritchie) proved he had a vocal gift, as he covered a variety of songs including Got To Get You Into My Life. Jukeboxes all over New Jersey played this song, and it rose to become quite a major hit.

Music aside, Joe was embarking on an acting journey that would bring him fame and honorable recognition.

Comedian Tom Dreesen kindly shared his thoughts about his loyal and longstanding friendship with Joe, and his eclectic career.

"Joe Pesci is a classic example of a great actor. One who can do drama and comedy and excel in both. He won the Academy Award for Goodfellas and was nominated for his characters in Raging Bull and in The Irishmen. He played some serious guys in those films and yet he's probably talked about most for his comedic role as Vincent Gambini in Cousin Vinny. He has done numerous films and excelled in all of them. On a personal note, we have been friends for over 40 years and when we hang out we're just a couple of neighborhood guys."

Thanks, Tom, well said!!

Joe's star was rising and would continue to soar.

In the mid-1970s, Joe made his screen debut and was praised for his fine performance in the feature film, The Death Collector. One of the taglines of the film: If you Liked "The Godfather" & "Dog Day Afternoon," Then This Is Your Kind of Motion Picture. This role demonstrated his natural acting ability and raw talent. Robert De Niro noticed, and in turn, recommended him to the esteemed director, Martin Scorsese.

Soon Joe would be contacted by Scorsese and De Niro, with an offer to co- star in the critically acclaimed film, Raging Bull, where he would garner accolades for his portrayal of Joey LaMotta, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and winning the BAFTA Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles in 1981.

Television was beckoning and had its eye on Joe. 

He was invited to star in the crime-adventure-action television series, Half Nelson, which also featured Dean Martin. The program was broadcast on NBC-TV from March 1985 to May 1985. Joe appeared as Rocky Nelson, a former New York City cop, who works for a Beverly Hills private security firm, owned by Dean Martin.

But what was it like working alongside Dino! I had wondered!

Many thanks to Tom Dreesen, who passed along to me Joe's sincere response,

"It was a joy to work with Dean because I was a fan of his singing as well as his acting."

If Dean were here, one would expect him to say the feeling was mutual!II

Joe's evolving road to success continued, arriving in time to give us needed comic relief as the quirky character Leo Getz, humorously annoying LAPD detectives Mel Gibson/Riggs and Danny Glover/Murtaugh, in the Lethal Weapon (2,3, and 4) film series.

For those who may not know, it is a fact that Joe Pesci generally rejects doing interviews. 

But, back in 2012, Empire Online reporter Nick De Semiyen, in an article posted on November 5, 2019, "The Irishman Week: When Empire Interviewed Joe Pesci", was fortunate to speak to Mr. Pesci. Mr. Semiyen highlights his Lethal Weapon character persona and provides a few insights into this man of mystery!

"Joe Pesci doesn't do interviews. However, back in 2012, he agreed to speak to Empire as part of a celebration of the Lethal Weapon series. Interviewing Joe Pesci is an intimidating prospect. There's his reputation for being taciturn— this is, after all, the man who gave one of the shortest Oscar acceptance speeches of all time ("It's my privilege. Thank you") when he won for GoodFellas in 1990. Then there's his less-than-cuddly screen persona. Leo aside, he usually plays the kind of guy who will happily put your head in a vice (Casino), keep you in the boot of his car while he enjoys a plate of pasta (GoodFellas), or threaten to bite off the fingers of an eight- year-old (Home Alone). So it doesn't seem to auger well when we open our conversation with the reclusive legend by telling him we're thrilled to have him on the line, and he responds, "You are. I'm not." Fortunately, this exchange is followed by a reassuring (if still mildly terrifying) cackle... In fact, he proves warm, chatty and hilarious — though Empire refrains from telling him he's a "funny guy". He fondly recalls coming up with his take on Leo, in an unlikely place. "Mickey Rourke and I had gone to Disneyland. Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons were singing at Frontierland, so we stopped to ask for directions from these blond-headed, blue-eyed kids. I think they were Mormons probably. And the first word out of this kid's mouth was, 'Okay!' Then he hit me with about 12 more: 'No, no! Okay, okay, okay!' We thought it was really funny."

It was funny, and became a repeated and popular Lethal Weapon line! A side note, in Lethal Weapon 2, Joe as Leo says "Okay" 105 times!

Joe continued to hone his craft via various projects, many associated with Director Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro: Once Upon a Time in America; Goodfellas (winning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor); A Bronx Tale; Casino; The Good Shepherd; including ultimately giving a mesmerizing performance in The Irishman, resulting in a well deserved Oscar nomination.

But it is Pesci's endearing role as the defense attorney Vinny Gambini, in My Cousin Vinny, that so many recall with much admiration.

A cult classic, My Cousin Vinny still satisfies, considering it was released 33 years ago, in 1992. The closing courtroom scene, featuring Vinny (Joe) questioning his girlfriend, the charming, street-smart, expert witness, Mona Lisa Vitore (Marisa Tomei), while revealing their delightful onscreen chemistry, has become a fan favorite. Both stellar performances, by Pesci, as well as Tomei, who was awarded with an Oscar for her supporting role.

And around the holidays, Joe shines in two must-watch go-to Christmas comedy-blockbuster movie hits: Home Alone, and the 1992 sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Cast as Harry Lyme, the inept burglar, (who also impersonates a police officer at the beginning of the film), he amply displays his comedic timing and dubious shenanigans. Alongside his partner in crime, Marv ( Daniel Stern), both endlessly outwitted by youngster, Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) aptly makes this flick the perfect binge-worthy family film.

The above is only a sprinkling of all the iconic performances Joe Pesci has created as part of his long and varied repertoire, entertaining while amusing us, and whetting our appetite for more.

In closing, some food for thought.

Chef Sal Scognamillo of Patsy's Italian Restaurant, 236 West 56th Street, in New York City (founded in 1944 and owned and operated by the Scognamillo family), relayed that Joe Pesci dined at his restaurant over the years, at times being joined by Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro and Jake LaMotta.

Sal recounts "Joe and all were very nice", saying "he and Joe reminisced about Joe dining there in 1980, around the time that the film Raging Bull was quite popular" while also mentioning Joe's dear friend, Frankie Valli, who frequented the restaurant many times.

(Fun fact: In 1962, Frank Sinatra introduced Frankie Valli to Patsy's Italian Restaurant!)

Naturally, I had to ask, what was Joe's favorite meal?

Sal's response, "Rigatoni with vodka and meatballs. And he loved our vodka sauce, so I sent a case out to his assistant to give to him. I sent him our Patsy's jars of vodka sauce, not the tomato-based, he wanted the vodka sauce. And Joe's friend Frankie Valli loves our spaghetti and meatballs."

Let's toast (cappuccino perhaps!) and thank Joe Pesci for his captivating, thrilling, and humorous onscreen moments! 

We all know he is much more than, Okay, Okay, Okay!