I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Academy Award winning Joe Pesci

When I interview someone, I like to be very prepared with significant time put into research of the subject I'll be talking with.

So here it is. A once in a career chance to interview a major celebrity and I had no idea this interview was going to take place. The only preparation I had was my own off the cuff knowledge of what I know about Joe.

The Screen Actors Guild Foundation's 6th Annual Los Angeles Golf Classic
Jason Kempin
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There was so much more I wanted to talk about and I kick myself for not bringing it up. However, I also knew I had a limited amount of time. He was so gracious and I thoroughly enjoyed my time talking with Joe Pesci.

I was at The Pro-Am Jam out at Eagle Oaks Country Club and my friend Denis Gallagher was running the whole charity event. Joe Pesci was there to lend support but he was doing it very quietly and Denis says to Joe, go over and talk to my friend Big Joe Henry. Joe says no I don’t want to talk with the “big guy”.

The Irishman Scorsese NJ Paterson
Scorsese brings movie with Pacino, DeNiro & Pesci to NJ (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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Denis explains who I’m and that I have a radio show, Joe says “I know who he is and I’m not talking to him.” Denis begs a little more and most of the participants are still out on the course so it’s only a few people around us.

Joe looks around and says, “Okay, okay I’ll talk to him but he can’t say a word about my new movie.” He was talking about The Irishman which was scheduled for release in a couple of weeks.

3rd Annual New Jersey Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show
Getty Images ( Joe at the New Jersey Hall of Fame)
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So Denis comes over and says “don’t say a word about the new movie, I’m serious, not a word.” Of course I agree and Joe comes over. My mind is whirling for questions as to not act like a knucklehead and totally upset Joe who I know would shut down the interview in a New York minute.

While I was totally unprepared for my impromptu opportunity with Joe, I had no idea he’d be there, I remembered how he loves the races at Monmouth Park, how he has a house in Lavallette, NJ, how he’s into music, so I’m thinking I’m going to be okay

Monmouth Park
Monmouth Park (EQUI-PHOTO /Bill Denver via Monmouth Park)
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We open with some banter about Monmouth Park and he lights up talking about a new horse that he has with great potential. Before our camera rolled, he said he was a little sore from golf and getting old was a b***h.

60th Annual Tony Awards At Radio City Music Hall - Show
Getty Images
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We finished our small talk and the camera rolled and I kept it pretty generic as you see from my interview above but as we’re going to wrap it up he looks me square in the face and says “why didn’t you ask me about my new movie?” That was a good laugh. He was a great guy to talk with and would have loved to have more time.

Photo from realtor.com
Photo from realtor.com
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He eluded in my interview last year that he was packing it in, leaving Jersey and heading to Florida. He wants to stay warm and enjoy year round horse racing. He put up his home in Lavallette for sale to the tune of $6,500,000! The price has been held steady. Check out the pictures of his house below!

Make no mistake that this is Joe’s house; you can still see the movie posters and memorabilia from his blockbuster movies as part of the décor. Take a tour of his house down below. Jersey will miss Joe but if the entertainment rumors are true and Joe is leaving the movie business that will be a very big void. Thanks Joe!

The post above reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 weekend host Big Joe Henry. Any opinions expressed are Big Joe’s own

 

Tour Joe Pesci's $6.5M Lavallette home that is still up for sale

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