Posted on 06/12/2012 8:25:50 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
Henry Hill -- the former mobster whose life story became the basis for the movie "Goodfellas" -- died today at the age of 69 ... TMZ has learned.
TMZ spoke with Hill's girlfriend Lisa ... who told us Hill passed away in an L.A. hospital Tuesday after a long battle with an undisclosed illness.
Lisa tells us, "He had been sick for a long time ... his heart gave out."
We're told Hill had focused on mending relationships with estranged family members in recent years ... and Lisa tells us he had made tremendous progress before he died.
Hill leaves behind two children.
(Excerpt) Read more at tmz.com ...
“And there was nothing we could do about it.”
I thought he never shut the %$#@ up.
Classic! I shot Diet Pepsi out my nose because of you!
So I need you to go down to Florida with Little Paulie and take care o’ that thing for me!”
He’s gone .... And that’s that.”
He got out without having to die.
He sounded like an ok guy when I heard him on Howard Stern years ago.
“Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted to be a gangster.”
A ‘good fella’ but by no means an OK guy.
‘Good Fellas’ was the greatest movie ever made.
Billy Batts is waiting for him, and he’s pissed!
Signed,
Jimmy Two-Times.. Two-Times..
That's not at all far off the mark in my estimation. My top five definitely includes Goodfellas along with these in no particular order:
Judgment at Nuremberg
Citizen Kane
Lawrence of Arabia
The Godfather
For anyone who's seen the film, make a point to beg, borrow or steal the book, Wise Guy. I read it on one night and I'm not a speed reader. It's that much of a compelling page turner.
RIP.
It was a great film.
I would add Doctor Zhivago to the list, IMHO I consider it the greatest movie ever made, but Goodfellas certainly is up there.
I love that era where everyone had a nickname. If you want to laugh — next time you are at the library pick up a Damon Runyon short story collection. There is a hilarious one about these 3 hoodlums who, during the depression, decide to kidnap their bookie — cause he was the only one who had any money. The only character I remember was Harry the Horse and of course Bookie Bob (which is the title of it). These characters aren’t mobsters like Hill but NY hoodlums. Really funny.
Add The Shawshank Redemption- the feel good movie of all time.
“Sure, mom, I settle down with a nice girl every night, then I’m free the next morning.”
“Whenever we needed money, we’d rob the airport. To us, it was better than Citibank”
“Paulie may have moved slow, but it was only because Paulie didn’t have to move for anybody.”
Those old union delegates are really taking Wisconsin hard...
FUNNY!
I like this picture. One dog is looking one way, while the other dog is looking the other way. And the guy is thinking what do you want from me.
Sounded like an ok guy in his reformd years a long time after going into witness protection.
agree with you totally, his drug dealing alone was evil.
Business bad? F@#k you, pay me. Oh, you had a fire? F@#k you, pay me. Place got hit by lightning, huh? F@#k you, pay me.
“Those people who took a subway to work every day just to pay bills were dead...they had no b@ll$...if we wanted something we just took it.”
I remember Hill used to go on Howard Stern decades ago and was always a mess. Drunk, on drugs or both, but he had great stories from the life.
It’s all egg noodles and ketchup in hell.
At this one Al’s Beef (italian beef sandwich shop) in Chicago, they have a picture on the wall of a bunch of kids from Little Italy in the 40’s/50’s and a plaque underneath with their nicknames, like “Shifty”, “Dirty Augie”, etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIXg9KUiy00 - My Way RIP
I wonder if Henry Hill was in any of the other gangster movies. I don't remember ever seeing him again.
I know two of the guys who appeared as extras in that scene. One owns a restaurant on Mulberry Street, in New York's Little Italy.
The real life mobster portrayed by Ray Liotta in Goodfellas (and main char in book that inspired it, N. Pileggi’s Wise Guys. Film named differently to avoid confusion with tv show Wise Guy
The short gangster was Tommy, played by Joe Pesci—and his mom was played by Scorcese’s mom.
Mad TV did a great spoof, Raging Rudolph...spoof of Rudolph Red Nosed reindeer & Scorcese films. “You’ll never be in Santa’s gang, never be in Santa’s gang...And the moral of the story is keep your f——— mouth shut.”
“He sounded like an ok guy when I heard him on Howard Stern years ago.”
You mean as murderers go he was an ok fella?
'And that's when I knew Jimmy was gonna have me whacked'
I think of that scene every time I hear Donovan’s song “Atlantis”.
You mean as murderers go he was an ok fella?
I remember the love and support neighbors gave to John Gotti. They thought he was the greatest guy in the world because he would sponsor a free BBQ and fireworks show each year. His brother Pete flipped the burgers.
People are easily purchased
“‘Good Fellas’ was the greatest movie ever made.”
That role Pesci played was outstanding. I think he was playing the role of the real Roy Demaio.
The role Pesci played was based on the real life character of Thomas DeSimone. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_DeSimone
Joe Pesci character was based on the real life wiseguy Thomas DeSimone. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_DeSimone
Thanks.
“...with their nicknames like “Shifty”, “Dirty Augie”, etc.”
They were so non-PC back then as the nicknames were about some physical “problem” — Augie probably was filthy — shifty couldn’t stand still, or his eyes waivered (who kowss). But I think they wore those names as a badge of honor of acceptance then grew up and became Chicago bankers (ha ha) — they were not Henry Hills thats for sure. A more innocent time — drugs hadn’t become a center point as in “Goodfellas”.
I do remember those days Lazlo
Yeah you could tell the dude was on something
There was one he did he yell at everybody in the studio including Fred Norris the Martian
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