Nicholas Pileggi

The career of journalist, author, screenwriter and fledgling producer Nicholas Pileggi gives lie to the adage that "crime does not pay." The New York City native has devoted himself to covering crime, criminals and law enforcement ever since 1956 when he was promoted from "go-fer" to reporter at the Associated Press. Assigned to the Police Headquarters, Pileggi began cultivating the connections that would serve him well for decades. He became the "crime expert" for NEW YORK magazine in 1968 and was still serving in this capacity in 1986 when he wrote "Wiseguy," an acclaimed nonfiction account of the lives of low-level organized crime figures. Pileggi procured tales of sometimes charismatic miscreants and their dark yet flashy deeds and sold them to the likes of ESQUIRE and LIFE before entering the movies at a very high level: co-writing "GoodFellas" (1990), the film adaptation of "Wiseguy," with lionized director Martin Scorsese. The pair earned healthy grosses, kudos and an Oscar nomination for their efforts.

Pileggi began researching his next project as the "GoodFellas" collaboration waned. "Casino" would tell the violent true story of the rise and fall of a Chicago bookie amid the bright lights and flashy dreams of Las Vegas. Scorsese took an interest in the nascent tome and deemed it cinematic. They began their second collaboration referring to Pileggi's reams of notes. As things worked out, "Casino," the slightly fictionalized film, and "Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas," the nonfiction hardback, both bowed within a few weeks of each other in the fall of 1995.

Filmography

Life Events

1956

Worked at the Associated Press as a reporter; covered police headquarters and criminal activities throughout NYC

1968

Became the crime expert for NEW YORK magazine

1986

Published "Wiseguy", a nonfiction account of low-level organized crime figures

1989

Began research for "Casino", a nonfiction account of the rise and fall of a Chicago bookie in Las Vegas

1990

Feature debut, co-scripted (with director Martin Scorsese) "GoodFellas", adapted from his book "Wiseguy"

1993

Feature producing debut, served as producer on "Father Hood", a failed family comedy-drama starring Patrick Swayze

1994

TV producing debut, executive produced "Loyalty and Betrayal: The Story of the American Mob", a two-part documentary on Fox (also wrote)

1995

Reunited with Scorsese to script the feature "Casino"; published nonfiction hardcover "Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas" nearly simultaneously with the release of the (slightly) fictionalized film