Rebecca Miller, the director of the Apple TV docuseries *Mr. Scorsese*, has revealed that Joe Pesci declined to appear in the project. The docuseries celebrates Martin Scorsese’s remarkable career, including a focus on Pesci’s memorable character in *Goodfellas*. However, despite being one of Scorsese’s most frequent collaborators, Pesci refused the opportunity to be interviewed.
“The only person who said ‘no’ was Joe Pesci,” Miller shared. “He really didn’t want to be interviewed for this.”
The role in question is Pesci’s portrayal of Tommy DeVito in *Goodfellas*, especially spotlighting the iconic “How am I funny?” scene. The documentary uncovers that this unforgettable moment was inspired by a real-life encounter Pesci once witnessed. When Scorsese heard about it, he liked it so much that he decided to include it in the film. Additionally, the conversation between Pesci and Ray Liotta (who played Henry Hill) was improvised by the two actors, adding to the scene’s authenticity.
Pesci’s upbringing in Newark, New Jersey, immersed him in the criminal underworld, an experience that left a deep impact on him. As Miller explained, “Joe was marked far worse than Marty was by those people,” implying that Pesci prefers not to revisit those memories, which may explain his reluctance to participate.
Given Pesci’s well-known tendency to avoid interviews, his decision not to appear in *Mr. Scorsese* is not surprising. Nevertheless, the documentary honors his significant contributions to Scorsese’s films.
*Mr. Scorsese* is now available for streaming on Apple TV.
https://www.comingsoon.net/pop-culture/news/2053619-joe-pesci-martin-scorsese-docuseries-absence-why
