Joe Pesci was born in Newark, New Jersey and worked as a singer in the 1960s, releasing an album entitled "Little Joe Sure Can Sing" under the name Joe Ritchie. As an actor his breakthrough came in 1980 opposite Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese's boxing film Raging Bull. Some of his other notable films include Goodfellas, Casino, Home Alone, and My Cousin Vinnie.
His close friend George Carlin mentions Joe in his bit "There is No God".