Joe Pesci

Joe Pesci is an American actor known for portraying intense and volatile characters across various genres, often collaborating with iconic directors and fellow actors. After his pivotal role in ‘The Death Collector’ (1976) caught the attention of Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci’s career significantly shifted, leading to his breakthrough as Joey LaMotta in Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed boxing film ‘Raging Bull’ (1980). This career-defining performance garnered widespread critical recognition, including a BAFTA Film Award for Newcomer to Leading Film Roles in 1981 and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor that same year. Earlier, Pesci released a record titled ‘Little Joe Sure Can Sing’ in 1968 under the stage name Joe Ritchie, played guitar with bands like Joey Dee and The Starliters, and appeared in ‘Hey, Let’s Twist!’ (1961).

Continuing his lauded collaborations with Scorsese and De Niro, Pesci delivered an impactful performance as Nicky Santoro in the crime epic ‘Casino’ (1995). He released his second album, ‘Vincent LaGuardia Gambini Sings Just for You,’ in 1998. After a period of semi-retirement from acting beginning in 1999 to focus on music, Pesci made selective appearances, including a cameo in Robert De Niro’s directorial effort ‘The Good Shepherd’ (2006) and a starring role in ‘Love Ranch’ (2010). His highly anticipated return to the screen reunited him with Scorsese and De Niro for ‘The Irishman’ (2019), where his nuanced portrayal of Russell Bufalino earned him his third Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 2020.

That same year, Pesci released his third album, ‘Pesci… Still Singing’ (2019). Most recently, he has continued to explore diverse roles, co-starring as Joe Larocca in the critically acclaimed comedy series ‘Bupkis’ (2023) and appearing as Mike’s Father in the feature film ‘Day of the Fight’ (2023), further showcasing his enduring talent and versatility.