Comprehensive information and links about Joe Pesci

Joe Pesci , is a very short (5'4") Italian-American actor who is often typecast as a violent mobster.

Pesci was born in Newark, New Jersey where he worked as a singer in the 1960s, releasing an album entitled under the name Joe Ritchie. Also in his band was friend and future fellow actor Frank Vincent. As an actor his breakthrough came in 1980 opposite Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese's boxing film . The pairing became well-known enough to inspire a recurring sketch on Saturday Night Live, called The Joe Pesci Show. Pesci also starred in films.

In 1999, Pesci announced that he was leaving acting in order to pursue his musical career. However, he is now coming out of retirement to star in his good friend Robert DeNiro's was a pretty big hit in some European countries (the song is not directly related to his movie My Cousin Vinny (1992)).He recorded an album in the 60s under the name Joe Ritchie. Titled "Little Joe Sure Can Sing", it flopped.Started out with Joey D and the Starliters, working his way around as a waiter and singing and playing guitar in local nightclubs.Director Martin Scorsese and actor Robert De Niro tracked down Pesci after seeing his role in The Death Collector (1976) because they felt he was perfect for the role of Joey La Motta in Raging Bull (1980).Pesci's close friend George Carlin mentions him in his bit "There is No God," in which Carlin says that he prays to Joe Pesci because, unlike God, Pesci can get things done... especially with a baseball bat.After winning an Oscar for his role as Tom DeVito in the movie Goodfellas (1990) his entire acceptance speech was "This is an honor and privilege, thank you." When asked why he didn't say more, he said, "I really didn't think I was going to win."Sang as Joe Doggs with jazz organ player Joey DeFrancesco. They recorded an album on Concord Records in 2003 titled, "Joey DeFrancesco featuring Joe Doggs, Falling in Love Again."Pesci has a house in Lavalette, New Jersey. In the 1980s, he established a reputation as a community Little League Baseball Coach.