Joe Pesci

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Date of Birth : Feb 9th 1943

American Academy Award-winning actor, comedian and singer.

Pesci’s breakthrough as an actor came in 1980 opposite Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese’s boxing film Raging Bull. 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), 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.

Pesci co-starred in Home Alone, playing one of two bumbling burglars (along with Daniel Stern) who attempt to rob Macaulay Culkin’s house, and most memorably in one of his few stellar, non-gangster roles as David Ferrie in JFK and finally My Cousin Vinny released in 1991 and 1992 respectively. He appeared in three Lethal Weapon films as the sleazy but likeable Leo Getz.

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.