Home Celebritisnewss102

The Goodfellas Cast: Where Are The Iconic Wiseguys Now? (2025 Update)

• minute read
Contents

Thirty-five years after its release, Martin Scorsese's masterpiece, Goodfellas, remains the definitive cinematic portrayal of the American mob, but the legendary cast has seen significant change in recent years. As of late 2025, the film’s enduring legacy is bittersweet, marked by the passing of key actors and the continued, prolific work of its surviving stars.

The film, which chronicles the rise and fall of mob associate Henry Hill, is back in the spotlight with its recent availability on major streaming platforms, prompting a new generation of fans to ask: What are the actors behind Henry, Jimmy, Tommy, and Karen doing now? The answers involve new projects, major posthumous releases, and one legendary actor returning to the mob genre with the writer of Goodfellas. This is the complete, updated profile of the Goodfellas cast.

The Core Crew: Updated Biographies and Latest Projects (2024–2025)

The five central performances in Goodfellas—Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, and Paul Sorvino—created a cinematic gold standard for the gangster genre. Here is a detailed, current look at their lives and careers.

Ray Liotta (Henry Hill)

  • Role: Henry Hill, the narrator and protagonist.
  • Date of Birth: December 18, 1954
  • Date of Death: May 26, 2022
  • Status: Deceased. Liotta passed away unexpectedly in his sleep while filming in the Dominican Republic.
  • Final & Posthumous Roles: Liotta’s career saw a powerful final surge. His last released film was the heist drama 1992, which debuted to strong audience reception. He is also one of the few actors to star in multiple posthumous films, including Dangerous Waters, which was in production at the time of his death.

Robert De Niro (Jimmy Conway)

  • Role: Jimmy "The Gent" Conway, the calculating, non-Italian mobster who "loved to steal."
  • Date of Birth: August 17, 1943
  • Status: Active and Prolific. De Niro remains one of the most recognizable actors in the world.
  • Latest Projects: In a perfect circle for Goodfellas fans, De Niro is set to star in the 2025 biographical crime drama The Alto Knights. The film is directed by Barry Levinson and, crucially, is written by Nicholas Pileggi, the author of Wiseguy (the book Goodfellas is based on). De Niro will play a dual role as two of New York’s most notorious organized crime bosses.

Joe Pesci (Tommy DeVito)

  • Role: Tommy DeVito, the volatile, homicidal wiseguy who asks, "Funny how?"
  • Date of Birth: February 9, 1943
  • Status: Semi-Retired, but recently Active. Pesci is famously selective with his roles.
  • Latest Projects: After a long hiatus and his reunion with Scorsese and De Niro in The Irishman (2019), Pesci has returned to the screen. He is starring in the 2024 film Day of the Fight and has also joined the cast of the Peacock comedy series Bupkis, opposite Pete Davidson, marking a rare television role for the Oscar winner.

Lorraine Bracco (Karen Hill)

  • Role: Karen Hill, Henry's fiery, Jewish-American wife.
  • Date of Birth: October 2, 1954
  • Status: Active. Bracco is a celebrated actress, also known for her iconic role as Dr. Jennifer Melfi in The Sopranos.
  • Latest Projects: Bracco is actively working in both film and television. In 2025, she is starring in the comedy film Nonnas, which marks a rare comedic role for the actress. She also appeared in the 2024 film Monster.

Paul Sorvino (Paulie Cicero)

  • Role: Paul "Paulie" Cicero, the calm, old-school mob boss who never cooked a meal himself.
  • Date of Birth: April 13, 1939
  • Date of Death: July 25, 2022
  • Status: Deceased. Sorvino died of natural causes at the age of 83.
  • Final Roles: A prolific actor until the end, Sorvino's final film role was in the crime thriller The Birthday Cake, where he worked once again with his Goodfellas co-star Lorraine Bracco.

The Rising Stars: Future Legends Who Started in Goodfellas

One of the most fascinating aspects of Goodfellas is how many future stars and established character actors had small, pivotal roles. The film served as an early launchpad for several names who would go on to define the next few decades of cinema and television. These supporting cast members add immense topical authority to the film’s history, proving Scorsese’s eye for talent.

  • Samuel L. Jackson (Stacks Edwards): Jackson, who played the unfortunate Stacks Edwards (the man responsible for messing up the Lufthansa heist getaway car), was a relative newcomer at the time. Today, he is one of the highest-grossing actors of all time, largely due to his iconic role as Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and his collaborations with Quentin Tarantino. His career remains incredibly active across film and TV.
  • Michael Imperioli (Spider): Imperioli played the young waiter Spider, who meets a tragic end at the hands of Tommy DeVito. Just a few years later, Imperioli would solidify his own mob movie legacy as Christopher Moltisanti in the seminal HBO series, The Sopranos, which also starred Lorraine Bracco. He continues to work in high-profile projects, including the hit series The White Lotus.
  • Debi Mazar (Sandy): Mazar played Sandy, one of Henry Hill's mistresses responsible for hiding his drugs. She has maintained a consistent career in film and television, often playing tough-talking New Yorkers, and is known for her collaborations with Madonna and her role in the TV series Entourage.
  • Kevin Corrigan (Michael Hill): Corrigan played Henry’s brother, Michael Hill. He has gone on to become one of the most reliable and recognizable independent film actors of his generation, appearing in dozens of films and TV shows like Grounded for Life and The Departed.

The Fallen Wiseguys: Remembering the Character Actors

The depth of the Goodfellas cast comes from the dozens of authentic New York actors who filled out the mob ranks. Many of these actors, who brought unparalleled realism to the film, have also passed away, leaving a legacy of unforgettable, often terrifying, minor roles.

The late 2010s and early 2020s saw the loss of many of these familiar faces:

  • Frank Vincent (Billy Batts): Vincent played the ill-fated made man Billy Batts, whose "go get your shine box" insult seals his doom. Vincent was a frequent collaborator with Scorsese, also appearing in Raging Bull and Casino. He passed away in 2017.
  • Frank DiLeo (Tuddy Cicero): DiLeo, who played Paulie's brother Tuddy (the man who oversees the beating of young Henry Hill), was primarily known as the long-time manager of Michael Jackson. He passed away in 2011.
  • Chuck Low (Morris "Morrie" Kessler): Low played the wig-wearing Morrie, whose frozen body is discovered in the car trunk. A close friend of Robert De Niro, Low passed away in 2017.
  • Tony Sirico (Tony Stacks): Sirico had a small role as Tony Stacks in Goodfellas, but achieved greater fame as Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri in The Sopranos. He passed away in 2022.
  • Frank Albanese (Mob Lawyer): Albanese, who played the mob lawyer in the film, was another veteran character actor who passed away in 2015.
  • Suzanne Shepherd (Tommy's Mother): Shepherd, who delivered the memorable scene where the crew eats dinner at her house before burying Billy Batts, was a respected theater and film actress who passed away in 2023.

The Enduring Legacy of Goodfellas and Its Cast

The film’s impact is evident not just in its critical acclaim, but in the fact that its cast members are still making headlines three decades later. The recent deaths of Ray Liotta and Paul Sorvino serve as a poignant reminder of the passage of time, while the continued work of De Niro, Pesci, and Bracco ensures the "mob movie" genre remains vibrant.

For fans, the ultimate sign of the film's enduring influence is the upcoming release of The Alto Knights, which reunites Robert De Niro with writer Nicholas Pileggi. This new project proves that the creative partnership that defined the Goodfellas era is still producing fresh, compelling crime stories, cementing the cast's legacy as the most iconic ensemble in gangster film history.

film goodfellas cast
film goodfellas cast

Detail Author:

  • Name : Chelsea Schowalter
  • Username : cordie.crist
  • Email : voconnell@yahoo.com
  • Birthdate : 2001-09-28
  • Address : 176 Wisozk Shore Nitzschemouth, WV 65646-5397
  • Phone : 1-260-350-7487
  • Company : Schmidt, Dickinson and Veum
  • Job : Bench Jeweler
  • Bio : Cumque et vitae fugiat non cupiditate. Explicabo aut qui numquam voluptas. Nam illum illum ullam facilis.

Socials

twitter:

  • url : https://twitter.com/lambert3934
  • username : lambert3934
  • bio : A at sed est corporis perspiciatis id et. Accusamus minus quo ex reprehenderit odit quae quo.
  • followers : 1930
  • following : 835

facebook:

  • url : https://facebook.com/lambert_xx
  • username : lambert_xx
  • bio : Cum reiciendis recusandae est velit vitae labore eligendi.
  • followers : 6878
  • following : 2640

tiktok:

Random Posts