Wissenswertes

Was embroiled in a lottery fiasco in which he threatened legal action due to holding a "winning" ticket for $5 million which turned out, according to officials, to be a rare misprint [2008].

Lived in the same building as Martin Scorsese's late mother Catherine Scorsese (with whom he shared a memorable scene in the film Casino (1995)).

Robert De Niro was the best man at his wedding.

Has appeared in several films with good friend Joseph Rigano.

Hosts a public-access television cable TV show in New York City called The Vinny Vella Show.

Shares a scene with actor/producer Ronnie Banerjee in the Damian Chapa film Night Bird (2012) in which Ronnie's princely character asks him if there is a casino in the area (a direct reference to the Scorsese masterpiece for which he is best known) to which Vinny's character unleashes an unrelenting verbal assault on him.

Owned a pizzeria in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York in 2007. The shop's current owners keep a special "Vinny Vella table" (inlaid with photographs of him with various Hollywood personalities) which patrons can eat on.

Is the subject of a 67-minute documentary called "Hey Vinny", completed in 2000 by director John Huba.

Part time comedian.

Has worked with Martin Scorsese, Sidney Lumet and Harold Ramis.

Father owned a fish store.

Was at one time branded the "Mayor of Elizabeth Street".