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[[quoteright:330:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/joe_pesci_4.jpg]]
->''"What do ya mean, funny? Let me understand this 'cause, I don't know, maybe it's me, I'm a little fucked up maybe, but I'm funny how? I mean, funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh... I'm here to fuckin' amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How the fuck am I funny? What the fuck is so funny about me? Tell me."''
-->--'''Tommy [=DeVito=]''' (played by the man himself), ''Film/{{Goodfellas}}''

Joseph Frank Pesci (born February 9, 1943) is an American actor, comedian, singer, and musician of Italian descent.

Usually known for playing violent [[TheMafia Mafia mobsters]] or grouchy but lovable funnymen, Pesci has starred in a number of high profile films, including raw dramas like ''Film/{{Goodfellas}},'' ''Film/RagingBull,'' ''Film/OnceUponATimeInAmerica'', ''Film/{{JFK}}'', ''Film/{{Casino}}'' and ''Film/TheIrishman'', comedies such as ''Film/MyCousinVinny'', ''Film/HomeAlone'', ''Film/EasyMoney'', and ''Film/LethalWeapon'' (starting with ''Lethal Weapon 2'').

He is famous for portraying characters with terrifying {{Hair Trigger Temper}}s. He has a [[ClusterFBomb really]] [[SirSwearsalot filthy mouth]] too.[[note]]How filthy you ask? On the set of ''Film/HomeAlone1'', Creator/ChrisColumbus placed a [[TheSwearJar Swear Jar]] for the adult actors to place change in whenever they used bad language. Supposedly, Pesci filled it up in a single day.[[/note]]

He started as a child actor on the New York stage, but only became a full-time actor after his success in ''Film/RagingBull''. Before then, he had a long list of HeAlsoDid occupations. He worked as a barber, a restaurant owner, as part of a comedy team with his future frequent ThoseTwoActors partner Creator/FrankVincent, and on the fringes of the music business. He was friends with several members of Music/FrankieValliAndTheFourSeasons[[note]]His character in ''Film/{{Goodfellas}}'' was named after Four Seasons member Tommy [=DeVito=][[/note]] and played a role in their formation, was a member of Joey Dee & The Starliters (of "Peppermint Twist" fame), and even tried his luck as a solo singer under the StageName Little Joe Ritchie, releasing the album ''Little Joe Sure Can Sing!'' in 1968. 30 years later he recorded a comedy music album in-character as [[Film/MyCousinVinny Vincent [=LaGuardia=] Gambini]].

He retired from acting in 1999, and his very occasional returns to the big screen since were all huge news, especially when he reunited with Creator/MartinScorsese and Creator/RobertDeNiro in ''Film/TheIrishman''.

He was also a good friend of stand-up comedian Creator/GeorgeCarlin, who said in his routines that he prayed to Pesci, because he "[[FaceOfAThug looks like a guy who can get things done]]".

Despite playing dangerous and foul-mouthed sociopaths, he is known as an extremely humble, soft spoken man who gave one of the shortest speeches in Oscar history after winning Best Supporting Actor for ''Goodfellas''. He simply took a breath and said, "It was my privilege. Thank you." It was over in ''three seconds''. The reason for the brevity is that he really didn't think he would win and didn't prepare a speech; he was genuinely surprised.
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!!MOTHERFUCKIN' TROPES!!!:

* AxCrazy: Very famous for portraying violent, psychopathic characters who will hurt or kill at the slightest provocation. By far the most iconic example is ''Film/{{Goodfellas}}''.
-->"You beat Nicky with fists, he comes back with a bat. You beat him with a knife, he comes back with a gun. And if you beat him with a gun, you better kill him, because he'll keep comin' back and back until one of you is dead."
--->--''Film/{{Casino}}''
* {{Angrish}}: This often shows up in his more comedic films when he can't swear as aggressively as he usually does. He spends a good chunk of both ''Home Alone'' movies doing it.
* ClusterFBomb: Given his reputation for profanity both on ''and'' off screen, it's no surprise that he drops these regularly in a lot of his films.
* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Pesci started his entertainment career playing guitar in a lounge band with Frank Vincent and the two also had a successful Creator/LaurelAndHardy style comedy duo act after lounge music began to die off. Not exactly how you'd expect his career to have started.
* FloweryInsult: A large portion of his dialogue in most of his films.
* HairTriggerTemper: Nearly all of his characters are perpetually pissed off, which is quite different from how he is in RealLife.
* HotBlooded: Many of his characters are this in addition to being constantly angry.
* {{Joisey}}: He has a thick Newark accent as a native of New Jersey.
* LargeHam: A recurring trait among his characters.
* MotorMouth: Invariably plays excessively talkative characters.
* TheNapoleon: Is 5'4 and tends to play pugnacious types.
* PlayingAgainstType: As the nervously naïve Leo Getz in the ''Film/LethalWeapon'' series, the incredibly wise and kindly Simon Wilder in ''Film/WithHonors'', the calculating and composed Mafia don Russell Bufalino in ''Film/TheIrishman'', a wisecracking, tough-talking -- and inwardly [[HiddenDepths painfully shy and lonely]] -- photographer in ''Film/ThePublicEye'', and as a generally good-natured angler in ''Film/GoneFishin''.
* ProductionPosse: A regular of Creator/MartinScorsese's films.
* RambunctiousItalian: Since he is an Italian-American actor, many of his characters have a very aggressive attitude.
* SirSwearsALot: Most utterances of [[ClusterFBomb "fuck"]] in ''Film/GoodFellas'' and ''Film/{{Casino}}'', two of the most profane films in history, are said by him. Most of the time, it's ClusterFBomb. He also has these in the ''Lethal Weapon'' films, with at least one [[RageBreakingPoint Cluster F-Bomb-inducing slight]] in each.
* ThoseTwoActors: With either Frank Vincent or Creator/RobertDeNiro.
* TomHanksSyndrome: Pesci was initially a stand-up comic before turning to acting. Most of his roles have been dramatic parts, but he has had a few comic roles as well.
* {{Typecasting}}: He is frequently cast as aggressive, often [[AxCrazy psychotic]], [[TheMafia gangsters]] and other criminals.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** Pesci was considered to voice Iago in ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'', before Creator/GilbertGottfried got the part.
** He was cast as mobster Angelo Ruggiero for the film ''Film/{{Gotti}}'' and gained 30 pounds for the role, yet quit due to a pay dispute. He sued the producers for his promised salary of $3 million, and the situation was settled out of court. His role was replaced with Creator/PruittTaylorVince.
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->''[[Film/{{Goodfellas}} Troper, what are you still doing here? I thought I told you to go fuck your mother!]]''