Movies with Joe Pesci: Full Filmography Guide

If you’ve ever watched Home Alone and wondered who that frantic, squeaky-voiced burglar was, you already know Joe Pesci. Over five decades, the Newark-born actor has carved a singular career—equal parts menace and comedy—that earned him an Academy Award for Goodfellas and a permanent spot in pop culture. This guide walks through his filmography, from his 1976 debut to the 2019 swan song The Irishman, highlighting the collaborations, the surprises, and the roles that define him.

Number of films: 50+ ·
Academy Award wins: 1 (Best Supporting Actor for Goodfellas) ·
First film: The Death Collector (1976) ·
Most recent film: The Irishman (2019) ·
Collaborations with Robert De Niro: 8 films

Joe Pesci’s career is built on a handful of facts that anchor his legacy.

What is the chronological order of Joe Pesci movies?

Full list of Joe Pesci movies by year

Pesci’s filmography spans 1976 to 2019, with a clear arc from small-time hood to Oscar-winning character actor. Here are the key milestones:

• 1976: The Death Collector – first credited film (IMDb (The Death Collector page))
• 1980: Raging Bull – breakthrough, first Oscar nomination (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
• 1990: Goodfellas – Oscar win; Home Alone – Harry Lime
• 1992: My Cousin Vinny, Home Alone 2, Lethal Weapon 3
• 1995: Casino – Nicky Santoro
• 1998: Lethal Weapon 4
• 1999: Announced retirement
• 2006: The Good Shepherd – small part
• 2010: Love Ranch – with Helen Mirren
• 2019: The Irishman – third Oscar nomination

Notable early and late career films

Two bookends capture his range: Raging Bull (1980) showed he could hold the screen next to De Niro, while The Irishman (2019) proved he still commanded it at 76. In between, Once Upon a Time in America (1984) and JFK (1991) demonstrated his ability to disappear into period pieces.

The implication: Pesci’s filmography is not about volume—it’s about impact. He never made a film that didn’t leave a mark.

Which movies star both Joe Pesci and Brendan Fraser?

Comedy duo: Joe Pesci and Brendan Fraser

Only one film brings these two together: With Honors (1994). Pesci plays Simon Wilder, a homeless man who teaches a Harvard student (Brendan Fraser) life lessons. It’s a rare straight dramatic turn for Pesci in a comedy-drama.

Movie details for ‘With Honors’

The film also stars Moira Kelly and Patrick Dempsey. Pesci’s character, gruff but wise, anchors a sentimental story about class and privilege. Despite mixed reviews, the pairing of Pesci and Fraser generated curiosity—this remains their only collaboration.

What are Joe Pesci’s best movies?

Top 5 Joe Pesci movies according to critics

Critics and audiences largely agree on these five:

1. Goodfellas (1990) – Oscar win, iconic “funny how?” scene
2. Raging Bull (1980) – first Oscar nomination, ferocious as Joey LaMotta
3. My Cousin Vinny (1992) – comedic masterpiece opposite Marisa Tomei
4. Home Alone (1990) – family classic, Harry Lime
5. The Irishman (2019) – third Oscar nomination, unsettling quiet performance

Fan favorites

Surveys of fan forums regularly include Casino (1995) and Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) alongside the top five. Pesci’s Leo Getz in Lethal Weapon 2 introduced a comic energy that became a franchise staple.

What was Joe Pesci’s first movie?

Joe Pesci’s debut: The Death Collector (1976)

Pesci’s first credited film role was in The Death Collector (1976), a low-budget crime drama. He played a gangster named Jerry. The film is obscure, but it caught the eye of Robert De Niro, who recommended him to Martin Scorsese for Raging Bull.

His breakthrough role in Raging Bull

Scorsese cast Pesci as Joey LaMotta, brother of Jake LaMotta, in Raging Bull (1980). The role earned Pesci his first Academy Award nomination and launched his Hollywood career. The scene where Joey fights Jake in the kitchen is a masterclass in raw sibling fury.

“I’m not a tough guy, I’m an actor.”

— Joe Pesci, 1992 interview

The trade-off: The Death Collector is barely known, but it’s the seed that grew into one of the most unique filmographies in American cinema.

What is the movie ‘With Honors’ and Joe Pesci’s role?

Plot summary of With Honors

In With Honors (1994), a Harvard senior (Brendan Fraser) loses his thesis and finds it in the hands of a homeless man, Simon Wilder (Joe Pesci). The film follows their unlikely friendship as Simon challenges the student’s privileged worldview.

Joe Pesci’s character Simon Wilder

Simon Wilder is a talkative, street-smart drifter who lives in the Harvard library’s basement. Pesci plays him with a weary dignity, avoiding the caricature that a lesser actor might have delivered. The role allows him to show vulnerability and intelligence.

The catch: With Honors is often overlooked in Pesci’s filmography, but it’s essential for understanding his dramatic versatility.

Timeline of Joe Pesci’s film career

• 1943 – Born in Newark, New Jersey.
• 1976 – Film debut in The Death Collector (IMDb (film database))
• 1980 – Breakthrough in Raging Bull, first Oscar nomination.
• 1990 – Oscar win for Goodfellas; stars in Home Alone (Britannica (biography reference))
• 1992 – My Cousin Vinny, Home Alone 2, Lethal Weapon 3.
• 1995 – Casino as Nicky Santoro.
• 1998 – Lethal Weapon 4; announces retirement in 1999 (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
• 2006 – Small role in The Good Shepherd.
• 2010 – Love Ranch with Helen Mirren.
• 2019 – The Irishman, third Oscar nomination.

The pattern: Pesci’s career is defined by quality over quantity.

Clarity check

Quotes from and about Joe Pesci

“I’m not a tough guy, I’m an actor.”

— Joe Pesci, 1992 interview

“Joe Pesci’s performance in Goodfellas is one of the most explosive and memorable in cinema history.”

— Roger Ebert, film critic

Note: The second quote is derived from critical consensus; Ebert’s exact words are paraphrased.

For fans of Pesci, the choice is clear: revisit his classic films, because the man is irreplaceable.
For new viewers, start with Goodfellas and My Cousin Vinny—that’s the spectrum of his genius.
For the industry, the lesson is that one actor can redefine both crime and comedy without breaking a sweat.

Frequently asked questions

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