The Real-Life Goodfellas
Meet the gangsters behind the movie. 🧵
Meet the gangsters behind the movie. 🧵
Henry Hill, the central character in Goodfellas (played by Ray Liotta), was born in 1943 to an Irish-American father and a Sicilian-American mother in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, New York.
At just 14, Hill dropped out of school to start working for Paul Vario, a capo in the Lucchese crime family, and thus became a member of the infamous Vario crew.
Though his Irish blood meant that he could never be a made man, he nevertheless became a highly active associate of the Lucchese family.
At just 14, Hill dropped out of school to start working for Paul Vario, a capo in the Lucchese crime family, and thus became a member of the infamous Vario crew.
Though his Irish blood meant that he could never be a made man, he nevertheless became a highly active associate of the Lucchese family.
After years of truck hijacking and other crimes. Hill and James Burke masterminded the 1978 Lufthansa heist.
Hill's downfall came with a drug trafficking arrest in April 1980. Initially silent, he began to cooperate with police after fearing his associates might kill him to prevent him from implicating them.
Hill entered Witness Protection but was expelled for revealing his identity. He wasn't killed by associates, dying of heart disease on June 12, 2012, the day after his 69th birthday.
Hill's downfall came with a drug trafficking arrest in April 1980. Initially silent, he began to cooperate with police after fearing his associates might kill him to prevent him from implicating them.
Hill entered Witness Protection but was expelled for revealing his identity. He wasn't killed by associates, dying of heart disease on June 12, 2012, the day after his 69th birthday.
James Burke, played by Robert De Niro as “Jimmy Conway” in the film, was the principal architect of the Lufthansa heist.
Like Henry Hill, Burke’s Irish-American heritage made it impossible for him to become a made man, but by the 1950s, he had become a major player in the Vario’s crew, earning his nickname “Jimmy The Gent” for his practice of tipping the drivers of the trucks that he stole.
Like Henry Hill, Burke’s Irish-American heritage made it impossible for him to become a made man, but by the 1950s, he had become a major player in the Vario’s crew, earning his nickname “Jimmy The Gent” for his practice of tipping the drivers of the trucks that he stole.
Burke played a key role in planning the Lufthansa heist, putting together the crew and assigning everyone their roles. Unfortunately for everyone else involved, this meant that Burke had a lot riding on his shoulders. Fearing the fallout, he's believed to have ordered the murders of many of the men involved in the heist.
In 1982, Burke was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for his involvement in the 1978–79 Boston College basketball point-shaving scandal.
In 1982, Burke was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for his involvement in the 1978–79 Boston College basketball point-shaving scandal.
Thomas DeSimone served as the inspiration for “Tommy DeVito,” played by Joe Pesci. Unlike Pesci, however, DeSimone was an imposing man who stood 6’2″ and weighed 225 pounds.
Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1950 to a deeply-rooted Mafia family,
DeSimone’s extended family included feared mobsters like a grandfather and an uncle who were both bosses of a Los Angeles crime family in the 1920s and 1950s, respectively. He also had two brothers who were associates of the Gambino crime family..
Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1950 to a deeply-rooted Mafia family,
DeSimone’s extended family included feared mobsters like a grandfather and an uncle who were both bosses of a Los Angeles crime family in the 1920s and 1950s, respectively. He also had two brothers who were associates of the Gambino crime family..
DeSimone’s most brutal murder came in 1970, during a welcome home party for the formerly imprisoned William “Billy Batts” Bentvena. DeSimone became enraged over a comment that Bentvena made about DeSimone having once been a shoeshine boy.
In 1979, almost a year after the Lufhtansa heist, DeSimone was declared missing. He was likely killed by the Gambino family in retaliation for murdering Bentvena and Mafia associate Ronald Jerothe, a protege of rising star John Gotti.
In 1979, almost a year after the Lufhtansa heist, DeSimone was declared missing. He was likely killed by the Gambino family in retaliation for murdering Bentvena and Mafia associate Ronald Jerothe, a protege of rising star John Gotti.
Paul Vario, renamed "Paul Cicero" and portrayed by Paul Sorvino in Goodfellas, was the man who controlled East New York.
Vario was born in New York City in 1914 and began getting himself into legal trouble from an early age.
By the time he was an adult, Vario was an experienced criminal, and at 6’3″, an imposing figure. His involvement in racketeering and loan-sharking led him into the Lucchese crime family. He later became a made man and eventually a crew leader (“capo”).
Vario was born in New York City in 1914 and began getting himself into legal trouble from an early age.
By the time he was an adult, Vario was an experienced criminal, and at 6’3″, an imposing figure. His involvement in racketeering and loan-sharking led him into the Lucchese crime family. He later became a made man and eventually a crew leader (“capo”).
Vario gained control of most organized crime in the East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn, located near what is now known as John F. Kennedy International Airport. He would regularly rob the airport and use his union connections to block federal investigators.
Vario was arrested based on Hill’s testimony that Vario had defrauded the government by creating a fictitious job that would ensure Hill’s release from prison. He died in prison of a heart attack in 1988.
Vario was arrested based on Hill’s testimony that Vario had defrauded the government by creating a fictitious job that would ensure Hill’s release from prison. He died in prison of a heart attack in 1988.
William “Billy Batts” Bentvena was born in 1921 in New York City and was raised in the same part of east Brooklyn as Henry Hill.
Unlike Henry Hill, Bentvena was a full-blooded Italian-American, and as such was able to become a made man. He reached this rank in 1961 and began carrying out hits as a street soldier with John Gotti.
He was arrested in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1964 while conducting a drug deal for the Gambino family and was sentenced to six years in prison.
Unlike Henry Hill, Bentvena was a full-blooded Italian-American, and as such was able to become a made man. He reached this rank in 1961 and began carrying out hits as a street soldier with John Gotti.
He was arrested in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1964 while conducting a drug deal for the Gambino family and was sentenced to six years in prison.
Upon leaving prison in 1970, Bentvena made a playful, if somewhat condescending, comment toward Tommy DeSimone about shining shoes.
Two weeks later, DeSimone met Batts at another bar, where he proceeded to pistol-whip and beat Batts to death — or almost to death — with help from Burke. DeSimone and Burke then drove away to bury the body, only to realize that Batts was still alive in the trunk.
Two weeks later, DeSimone met Batts at another bar, where he proceeded to pistol-whip and beat Batts to death — or almost to death — with help from Burke. DeSimone and Burke then drove away to bury the body, only to realize that Batts was still alive in the trunk.
Parnell “Stacks” Edwards, The Driver.
Though he only plays a minor role in Goodfellas, Parnell “Stacks” Edwards portrayed by actor Samuel L. Jackson played a major role in pushing Jimmy Burke over the edge.
Born in the South Bronx in January 1947, Parnell Edwards filled a number of roles throughout his life. He was a bodyguard, a musician, a robber and an associate of the Lucchese crime family, after getting involved with organized crime in the 1960s.
Though he only plays a minor role in Goodfellas, Parnell “Stacks” Edwards portrayed by actor Samuel L. Jackson played a major role in pushing Jimmy Burke over the edge.
Born in the South Bronx in January 1947, Parnell Edwards filled a number of roles throughout his life. He was a bodyguard, a musician, a robber and an associate of the Lucchese crime family, after getting involved with organized crime in the 1960s.
When Burke planned the Lufthansa heist, he enlisted Edwards to dispose of the stolen van. Edwards followed through but took a detour to his girlfriend's apartment instead of heading to a car compactor.
Two days later, police found the van in Canarsie, Brooklyn, and discovered Edwards' fingerprints on it. This quickly linked him to Burke’s crew. Paul Vario then ordered DeSimone to kill Edwards, which he did, along with Angelo Sepe, on December 18, 1978.
Two days later, police found the van in Canarsie, Brooklyn, and discovered Edwards' fingerprints on it. This quickly linked him to Burke’s crew. Paul Vario then ordered DeSimone to kill Edwards, which he did, along with Angelo Sepe, on December 18, 1978.
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