Trivia

After winning the Oscar for his role as Tommy DeVito in the movie Les Affranchis (1990), his entire acceptance speech was "It's my privilege. Thank you." When asked why he didn't say more, he said "I really didn't think I was going to win.".

According to Maxim magazine, he wrote and directed the "You think I'm funny?" scene from Les Affranchis (1990) at director Martin Scorsese's request.

Is known to have a very foul mouth, both on and off screen. On the set of Maman, j'ai raté l'avion ! (1990), Chris Columbus placed a Curse Jar for the adult actors to place change in whenever they cursed. Supposedly, Joe Pesci filled this up in a single day.

Director Martin Scorsese and actor Robert De Niro tracked down Joe Pesci after seeing him in The Death Collector (1976) because they felt he was perfect for the role of Joey LaMotta in Raging Bull (1980). Before they persuaded him to take the role, Joe Pesci had been on the verge of giving up his faltering acting career.

Chris Columbus cast Joe Pesci in Maman, j'ai raté l'avion ! (1990) because he was one of his heroes but he didn't think he would get him for such a broadly comedic role.

He sued the producers of Gotti (2018), claiming they had promised him a major role in the film for which he had packed on extra pounds, and then changed their minds, offering him a minor character. (July 2011)

His acceptance speech at the Academy Awards is the second shortest in history at just six words and three seconds. The shortest is Alfred Hitchcock who said five words ''Thank you. Thank you indeed.'' when receiving his Irving Thalberg Memorial Award.

Despite being known for playing short-tempered and violent characters, his co-stars have always spoken fondly of him and described him as soft-spoken and humble.

Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro are best friends. They appeared together in seven films: Raging Bull (1980), Il était une fois en Amérique (1984), Les Affranchis (1990), Il était une fois le Bronx (1993), Casino (1995), Raisons d'état (2006) and The Irishman (2019).

Childhood friends with Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. Introduced them to Bob Gaudio. Valli, DeVito, Massi and Gaudio became the rock group The Four Seasons.

Attended and graduated from Belleville High School in Belleville, New Jersey.

Is a producer of the multi-Tony-winning stage musical "Jersey Boys", about the formation of the famous group The Four Seasons, and his real-life role in the formation of the group was portrayed in the original Broadway production of the show by Michael Longoria.

His rib was accidentally broken by Robert De Niro in a sparring scene in Raging Bull (1980). This shot appears in the film: Robert De Niro hits Joe Pesci in the side, he groaned, and there is a quick cut to another angle. The very same rib was broken again in Casino (1995) when a heavy who was holding him down, used him as a hassock to get up after a take.

Reprised his character from Mon cousin Vinny (1992) for his album "Vincent LaGuardia Gambini Sings Just for You" (1998). The single "Yo Cousin Vinny" was a success in some European countries.

Was in a relationship with Leighanne Littrell, wife of Backstreet Boys singer Brian Littrell, from 1995-1997.

Joe Pesci's performance as Tommy DeVito in Les Affranchis (1990) is ranked #96 on Premiere magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.

Has a house in Lavalette, New Jersey. In the 1980s, he established a reputation as a community Little League baseball coach.

The word pesci in Italian means "fish" (plural).

Was the original choice to play Herman "Fergee" Ferguson in Judge Dredd (1995), which he turned down. The role was given to Rob Schneider, instead.

Started out with Joey Dee and The Starliters, working his way around as a waiter and singing and playing guitar in local nightclubs.

Has appeared with Frank Vincent in five films: The Death Collector (1976), Raging Bull (1980), Dear Mr. Wonderful (1982), Les Affranchis (1990) and Casino (1995).

His portrayal of Tommy DeVito in Les Affranchis (1990) has been the subject of several parodies. The character Pesto in the Animaniacs sketch "Goodfeathers", has DeVito's short temper and tendency to misinterpret a compliment. On "The Joe Pesci Show" on Saturday Night Live, Joe Pesci (played by Jim Breuer) is shown to have that same tendency, only to have the real Joe Pesci show up, deny that he is like that in real life, only to lose his temper and beat up Jim Brewer a la Tommy DeVito. And in the film Jersey Boys (2014), his character (played by Joseph Russo), even quotes Joe Pesci's famous "funny how?" line from the film. That is even more fitting in this film, as it charts his relationship with the real Tommy DeVito.

All 3 of his Oscar nominated roles were in Martin Scorsese films.

Raisons d'état (2006) was the first movie he had made in eight years.

Close friends with George Carlin, and mentioned by Carlin in his bit "There is No God".

Joe Pesci was 21-years-old when he married his first wife in 1964.

He was nominated for a 2013 New Jersey Hall of Fame for Arts and Entertainment.

In the mid-1960s, he recorded an album under the stage name Joe Ritchie titled "Little Joe Sure Can Sing", which flopped.

Without counting his appearance as an extra at 18 in Le twist est roi (1961), he made his first film role at 32 in the independent and semi-forgotten film The Death Collector (1976). Years later, after watch him in that film, Robert De Niro told Martin Scorsese to give him the role of Joey in Raging Bull (1980), which supposed his second movie and his big break, when he was 36.

Was considered for the role of Owen Lift in Balance maman hors du train (1987), which went to Danny DeVito.

He was considered for Bruno Kirby's roles in Le Parrain, 2ᵉ partie (1974) and Donnie Brasco (1997).

After securing Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern for Maman, j'ai raté l'avion ! (1990), Chris Columbus felt confident enough to cast actors who were his heroes growing up, like Catherine O'Hara after seeing her work on Second City TV (1976) as well as John Heard, Tim Curry and Rob Schneider on Maman, j'ai encore raté l'avion ! (1992) because they were all open to the films.

Had a daughter (born around 1967) from his first marriage.

Ended his 9-month engagement to Angie Everhart. The couple had been together for eight years. (April 2008)

In 2003-04 co-owned a racehorse, also named Pesci.

Has one daughter with Claudia Haro: Tiffany Pesci.

In 1992, he reprised the only two film roles that he played at least twice; Leo Getz in L'Arme fatale 3 (1992) (a role which he would also play again in L'Arme fatale 4 (1998)) and Harry Lime in Maman, j'ai encore raté l'avion ! (1992).

He was nominated for the 2015 New Jersey Hall of Fame for his services in the Performance Arts.

He has appeared in four films that have been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Raging Bull (1980), Les Affranchis (1990), JFK (1991) and The Irishman (2019).

The character Louie on Les Simpson (1989) was modeled after him.

Avoided Macaulay Culkin on the set of Home Alone (1990) in order for the young actor to think Joe Pesci was really mean so their scenes would be more believable. Despite this he praised Macaulay Culkin's acting in interviews saying he was very impressed with his performance as Kevin McCalister.

He has appeared in three films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Raging Bull (1980), Les Affranchis (1990) and Maman, j'ai raté l'avion ! (1990).

Sang as Joe Doggs with jazz organ player Joey DeFrancesco. They recorded an album on Concord Records titled "Joey DeFrancesco featuring Joe Doggs, Falling in Love Again" (2003).