The best Joe Pesci roles

Who? What? That's OK if nobody remembers this Pesci television character because it was totally forgettable. But Pesci actually wasn't half bad on this NBC comedy-drama that ran for six episodes in 1985. He played a former New York City police officer who moved to Beverly Hills, hoping to be an actor but working as a security guard for famous people. Sounds like a bust? Well, it was, but let's show Pesci some love for trying.

For all those memorable and critically acclaimed movies Pesci has appeared in, he's had his share of mediocre-to-dismal projects. Eureka, a psychological drama from 1983, seems to run the gamut from bad to good with critics and fans. In no real stretch, Pesci plays a mob boss looking to buy the island owned by wealthy former prospector Jack McCann (Gene Hackman), so he can build a casino on the land. For those Pesci fans unaware of the film, it's worth the time to check out. 

Several professional critics didn't consider this one of Pesci's better starring roles from 1991. That's mostly true, but Pesci's dislikable, money-hungry slumlord Louie Kritski is hated by his struggling tenants, and he doesn't care. So, it's actually enjoyable and totally predictable when the tables are turned, and through a lawsuit, he is forced to live in one of his run-down units and serve as the building's superintendent. Don't take the movie too seriously, but bust out some popcorn and blow off an hour-and-a-half.

Joe Pesci and Michael Jackson together on the big screen. Is there a more unlikely pair? Probably, but in 1988, "The King of Pop" was still among the biggest superstar entertainers on the planet, and people were going to watch his film, which was more a collection of extended music videos of songs featured on his 1987 Bad album. Pesci's Mr. Big is featured during the "Smooth Criminal" portion of the movie. He's a pretty menacing, dangerous, slicked-haired mobster who wants the whole world addicted to drugs, including the children. 

Another modest film that, on the surface, is rather forgettable. But Pesci's presence and performance provide most of the movie's notable moments. As will be a reoccurring theme on this list, and throughout Pesci's legacy as an actor, he plays a mobster, made man, or mafia big wig. In the case of this 1997 dark comedy, Pesci's Spinelli is tasked with moving a bag of severed heads across the country to a mob boss. Of course, plenty of comical incidents happen. Tommy often loses his cool and tosses out some quirky lines.

Based on the lives of Nevada brothel owners Joe and Sally Conforte, this 2010 drama was a critical and commercial dud, but Pesci was solid as the male version of the infamous pair, also known as Charlie "Goodtimes." Charlie is living large, outgoing, boisterous, and often volatile, primed for a good time and to make money. That's until his world turns upside down when the Argentinian boxer he represents and manages gets involved with his wife (Helen Mirren). 

Under the direction of Robert De Niro, Pesci is barely part of this popular 1993 crime drama. However, Pesci didn't need to be the focus amid a strong cast, but he's arguably part of the movie's most poignant scene. At Sonny's funeral, Carmine appears and tells a grieving Calogero that Sonny (Chazz Palminteri) also saved his life once and will now be taking over for Sonny — and will look out for the teen. Nothing fancy, but subtly impactful. 

It's usually special when Pesci and De Niro share scenes together, and fans of both got another treat in this 1984 epic crime drama when notorious Jewish gangster David "Noodles" Aaronson (De Niro) and Frankie Monaldi meet for the first time. The latter is looking for "Noodles" help to help his "brother" Joe (Burt Young) "move some diamonds from Detroit." It's a scene made through dialogue, with Pesci as the ringleader in a short but sweet, moment of excellence. 

This was Pesci's first credited film from 1976, also known as The Family Enforcer. Despite the film's low budget and pedestrian reviews, professional critics lauded his performance as a spirited debt enforcer. It was more about what the role eventually led to for Pesci down the road. As the legend goes, Robert De Niro saw the picture and told director Martin Scorsese that he was impressed with Pesci's work and thought he might be a good addition to a film the pair planned to work together on called Raging Bull. More on how that turned out a little later.

In 1992, Pesci had built up enough praise as one of Hollywood's top supporting character actors and was ready to graduate to more leading-man roles. Somewhat based on the life of famed New York Daily News photographer Arthur "Weegee" Fellig, "Bernzy" is a dogged, 1940s crime photographer who ends up in a murder rap while trying to help a woman (Barbara Hershey) he falls in love with amid this thriller. To the casual Pesci fan, it's a performance that gets lost in the mix of his more prominent roles but is worth celebrating. 

Pesci joined Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Murtaugh (Danny Glover) for 1989's second installment of the Lethal Weapon franchise. And he ended up sticking around for two more movies. Leo Getz is obnoxious, whiny, and downright a pain in the butt for our favorite LAPD duo. Though one can debate for days if any of these three films actually needed to be made, Pesci is a consistently solid comic presence who takes the pressure off Gibson and Glover.

Critics weren't necessarily high on the film, but this 1994 comedy-drama is a worthwhile watch for Pesci's performance. As the homeless but astute Simon Wilder, he befriends a rather cynical Harvard student Monty (Brendan Fraser), and comes in possession of the young man's thesis paper. The unlikely pair form a friendship, and each is able to draw lessons for the other — as well as Monty's roommates. It's a predictable picture. Even so, the tortured but likable Wilder is an underrated moment in Pesci's legacy.

Let's give Daniel Stern's Marv credit where credit is due. However, this is Joe Pesci's list, and he's simply stellar as one half of the thieving duo who break into the McAllister household while poor Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) is home alone in the 1990 comedy classic. Pesci plays the hot-headed, quick-tempered Harry to the hilt, and the laughs get louder every time he is outsmarted by Kevin. Pesci should also be praised for his physically comedic moments that add to the fun. Notably in the original, though, he has his moments in the 1992 sequel. 

Pesci made a living playing mob-related characters, but one that seems to still fly under the radar within his legacy can be found in 1995's Casino. Again teamed with Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, Pesci's well-connected enforcer Nicky is a consistent highlight of the movie. Sure, he makes life rather messy and often hellish while providing security for casino operator Sam "Ace" Rothstein (De Niro), but it makes for one special performance that should be lauded on a more consistent basis. 

David Ferrie is one of Pesci's most disturbing characters and part of the fantastic ensemble cast from Oliver Stone's conspiratorial look at the John F. Kennedy assassination from 1991. Pesci portrayed the former American pilot, who was depicted as a drug-addicted, paranoid bisexual who allegedly had ties to Lee Harvey Oswald. Among all the notable acting performances in the film, Pesci's truly stands out as the veteran actor who got into the role of this unhinged figure.

While Easy Money (1983) was Rodney Dangerfield's moment to shine, Pesci stole many scenes, especially early in the film. Nicky is the best friend of Dangerfield's Monty and not exactly the best influence, which makes for some of the movie's funniest moments. After a night of drinking and smoking pot together, Nicky is pretty much responsible for ruining Monty's daughter's wedding cake. When it comes to Pesci's comedic roles, this is truly something special.

Sure, Marissa Tomei outshined Pesci en route to winning her surprise Best Supporting Actress Oscar, but Pesci helped fuel the most memorable moment of her career. Vinny Gambini is one of comedy's great film characters. So what if it took him multiple tries to pass the bar exam and his Brooklyn accent ("the two yutes") confuses the heck out of the southerners? It's simply an all-around good time of a movie.

This is Pesci's latest role, from 2019, as of this writing. Pesci came out of retirement to once again work with his pal Martin Scorsese, before presumably going back into retirement. Playing mobster Russel Bufalino, who employs truck driver Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro), Pesci is stoically brilliant, subtly funny, and meant to be taken seriously in a story that highlights the life of Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino). Pesci earned both an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award nomination for this performance. 

Pesci made Robert De Niro look good by putting him up for a part in this Martin Scorsese classic 1980 biopic about the life of boxer Jake LaMotta. As Jake's corrupt, back-stabbing, and power-hungry younger brother and one-time manager, Pesci delivered a stunning performance that proved to be a coming-out-party in just his second credited big-screen appearance. It was also good enough to earn Pesci his first Academy Award nomination and begin a special working relationship with De Niro and Scorsese. In this case, a star was truly born.

As we've noted, Pesci became a staple in Martin Scorsese pictures. However, none of his roles in said films are more memorable than that of the comically annoying, former juvenile delinquent and wannabe made-man Tommy DeVito — an associate of Goodfellas' focus Henry Hill (Ray Liotta). Tommy might have a case of small man's syndrome and tends to be his own worst enemy, but he knows how to work a room and bust chops ("I'm funny how? I'm funny like a clown? Like I amuse you?"). Pesci won his lone Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for the role.