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.
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