“I’m funny, how? I mean, funny like I’m a clown?” – Tommy DeVito
Are you doing enough to advance your career? To achieve success? Do you have the grit, determination, and creativity to realize your dreams? Are you working hard enough and being proactive in your approach to the business?
These are questions you might ask yourself as you evaluate your career. You might even ask these questions daily! Acting is a challenging field, but with full commitment, remarkable things can happen.
Consider the career of Joe Pesci, a powerhouse actor known for his roles in classic films like the gangster epic Goodfellas, the Home Alone series, the Lethal Weapon franchise, and My Cousin Vinny. Pesci’s dedication to his characters and his versatility have earned him a legendary status in the acting world.
His portrayal of the psychotic yet hilarious Tommy DeVito in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas is particularly iconic. This character is so unique that it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role. However, Joe Pesci almost didn’t get the part!
In a video, Pesci recalls that Scorsese initially thought he was too old for the role of the wild and juvenile gangster. Despite their previous work together on Raging Bull, they had a heated argument and hung up on each other.
Determined not to give up, Joe enlisted a top makeup artist to help him look younger and put himself on tape as the intense and unnerving Tommy DeVito. His persistence paid off, showcasing the importance of determination and adaptability in an acting career.
And the rest is history. Pesci won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in 1991 and went on to enjoy a thrilling and storied career. But what if he hadn’t gone the extra mile and fought like a lion to procure that role? It’s hard to say, but it’s a good bet he wouldn’t have achieved the heights of stardom and respect he now enjoys.
While we don’t recommend you hang up on or refuse to hear a “No” from a director you’re trying to impress (you might end up burning a bridge instead of building one), showing your determination to commit to the role might keep you in contention.
Just stay within the bounds of professional behavior and respect everyone’s space, and you should be good! After all, besides talent, one of the main characteristics many directors want in their actors is someone who’s a pleasure to work with.
