Before becoming one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors and an Academy Award winner, Joe Pesci had an unexpected day job—working as a barber and cutting the hair of future music legend Frankie Valli.
The surprising story was revealed by Frankie Valli’s brother, Bobby Valli, during a recent appearance on the Nostalgia Tonight with Joe Sibilia podcast. Bobby recalled growing up in New Jersey’s Silver Lake neighborhood, where a young Pesci worked at Branch Barbers on Franklin Street.
Frankie went there too. Joe was learning to be a barber, and he cut Frankie’s hair.
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“He cut my hair,” Bobby remembered, adding that Frankie also regularly visited Pesci for haircuts while training to become a barber himself.
According to Bobby, Pesci was already a charismatic local personality long before his Hollywood breakthrough. He performed as a child entertainer and later formed a musical act with his longtime friend Frank Vincent, who would eventually appear alongside Pesci in several iconic crime films.
Pesci’s acting career skyrocketed after landing a role in Raging Bull, directed by Martin Scorsese. He later starred in acclaimed classics including Goodfellas, Casino, and The Irishman, earning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his unforgettable performance as Tommy DeVito in Goodfellas.
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The story also highlights Pesci’s lifelong loyalty to his roots. Bobby noted that after Frank Vincent’s death in 2017, Pesci personally paid for his longtime friend’s funeral expenses, reflecting the enduring bond they shared from their early days in New Jersey.
