Joe Pesci has been in Hollywood and on screen for a very long time. He has been there for most of his life, in fact. While he did take a big break from acting, he is back in front of the camera, and we are all grateful for it. With all of his success in Hollywood, it is no wonder that he has a huge net worth. For the most part, he spends his earnings on real estate all over the globe.
In Joe Pesci's time on-screen and as a celebrity, he has always been known to give his all to the roles that he plays. He knows how to prepare for a role ahead of time. He will do everything in his power to immerse himself in the character's world to give the audience the best performance possible. Keep scrolling to see some of Joe Pesci's most iconic roles to date.
8 Home Alone - 1990
This film is nothing short of a family classic. It follows the story of a young boy named Kevin, played by Macaulay Culkin, who is forced to sleep in the attic when he acts up before a family trip. When his family is rushing out the door to make it to a flight they have booked for their Christmas trip, the chaos leads to Kevin being left behind. He wakes up still in the attic in an empty house. This is where Joe Pesci's iconic role comes in. He plays a robber who is hitting up houses that he knows are empty for the holidays. Pesci nails the devious nature of the character while still bringing in elements of humor.
7 Goodfellas - 1990
Goodfellas is a classic mafia film. It is one of those mob films that is responsible for romanticizing the genre. The story follows a mob member who is doing whatever it takes to advance through the ranks, and the consequences for his actions keep getting worse. Joe Pesci stars along with some other classic mafia film actors like Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, and Paul Sorvino. Pesci knows how to bring classic mob-related elements into his acting, and it made his performance in this film more than iconic.
6 My Cousin Vinny - 1992
When you think of a Joe Pesci movie, you think of My Cousin Vinny. This role is easily one of his most iconic. The film follows the story of a New York lawyer, Vinny, who has never won a case. When he is asked to help keep his friends out of jail for accused murder, he is not sure if he can do it. Joe Pesci nails his role as Vinny, and he knows how to make the audience laugh and be on the edge of their seat at the same time.
5 Lethal Weapon - 1987
As one of his older films, it is nothing short of a classic. It was so good, in fact, they ended up making it a series, and Joe Pesci was in every movie. Joe Pesci played the role of Leo Getz, and he starred along with Danny Glover and Mel Gibson. The story follows a reckless detective and his new partner as they go to fight crime. Pesci delivers a great performance in this film that is totally unforgettable.
4 Raging Bull - 1980
This is one of the saddest movies that Joe Pesci has ever been in. The film follows the story of an up-and-coming middleweight boxer who is finally getting his shot at a championship. That is when he falls in love with a girl, and he quickly realizes he is unable to express his feelings. Joe Pesci brings wisdom in his role as Joey to the film that would have been lacking without him there.
3 A Bronx Tale - 1993
A Bronx Tale is yet another mafia and gang-related film that Joe Pesci blesses with his acting skills. While he may have been typecast into this crime boss-type role for a while, there is no doubt that he absolutely excels at it. Joe Pesci plays the role of Carmine and stars along with other classic mob film actors like Robert De Niro and Chazz Palminteri. The film depicts the classic and saddening tale of a young man's introduction to mobster life.
2 Gotti - 2018
While Joe Pesci only makes a cameo in this film, his presence is what makes it a classic mob film. It simply would not be a complete mafia film classic without Joe Pesci. Along with Pesci, there were, of course, the usual mafia actors like Chazz Palminteri. The film depicts the story of a young John Gotti who got involved in organized crime and eventually became the face of it.
1 The Irishman - 2019
This is Joe Pesci's most recent film, and it is timeless just like the rest. It is not hard to guess that this film features Pesci in another mafia-related role, but it is what he does best. This film has all of your Hollywood mob stars including Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and Harvey Keitel. Joe Pesci had to seriously prepare for this role, and his preparation paid off to create one of his most iconic performances ever.
