I spoke to him once on a radio show.
by Barbara Goldberg
Henry Hill, the mobster turned government informant portrayed in the book “Wiseguy” and later the movie “Goodfellas,” has died after a long illness, his fiancé’s son said. He was 69.
Hill died at a Los Angeles hospital on Tuesday, Nate Caserta, son of Lisa Schinelli Caserta, told ABC News.
“Henry was one of the most laid back chill guys ever,” Caserta wrote on his Facebook page. “It breaks my heart knowing I will never get to talk to him again.”
Hill was a member of the Lucchese mafia family in New York in the 1960s through the 1980s. His most famous mafia heist netted $5 million in cash from Lufthansa at John F. Kennedy International Airport in 1978.
After becoming an informant for the FBI and entering the government’s witness protection program, Hill testified against his former organized crime bosses.
His story was portrayed in Nicholas Pileggi’s 1986 book “Wiseguys,” which was adapted by Martin Scorsese in the 1990 film “Goodfellas,” starring actor Ray Liotta in the role of Hill.
So, he managed to die of natural causes after all. Salud!
I read his book a few years back, which was pretty bad. The movie “Goodfellas” really told his story much better. Ray Liotta will never have a role that awesome again, and he played the hell out of it. Same with Joe Pesci. Dose guys were great!
@ garycooper:
I wonder what Joe will say….
@ garycooper:
Probably the most accurate mob film ever.
69? A nice age to die in, but even a better position!