who was the actor that played the lawyer on my cousin vinny

by Dr. Karli Satterfield 9 min read

One of the co-defendants (Mitchell Whitfield) loses faith in Vinny (Joe Pesci) and asks for the public defender. Played by Austin Pendleton, the lawyer seems cool and calm — especially compared to Vinny — until he can barely get through his opening statement because of a stutter.Feb 3, 2022

Who are the actors in the movie my Cousin Vinny?

Vinny Gambini: Ralph Macchio ... Bill Gambini: Marisa Tomei ... Mona Lisa Vito: Mitchell Whitfield ... Stan Rothenstein: Fred Gwynne ... Judge Chamberlain Haller: Lane Smith ... Jim Trotter III: …

Who did Will Smith play in my Cousin Vinny?

My Cousin Vinny - Full Cast & Crew. 68 ... an untested Brooklyn lawyer takes on his first case as he attempts to defend two penniless youths in the heart of Dixie, where he clearly does not ...

Who plays Judge Chamberlain Haller in my Cousin Vinny?

Mar 13, 1992 · My Cousin Vinny Photos 157 Top cast Joe Pesci as Vinny Gambini Marisa Tomei as Mona Lisa Vito Ralph Macchio as Bill Gambini Mitchell Whitfield as Stan Rothenstein Fred Gwynne as Judge Chamberlain Haller Lane Smith as Jim Trotter III Austin Pendleton as John Gibbons Bruce McGill as Sheriff Farley Maury Chaykin as Sam Tipton Paulene Myers

What is'My Cousin Vinny'movie about?

Sep 26, 2019 · Before My Cousin Vinny, TV fans would have recognized Bruce McGill from MacGyver as Jack Dalton, an aviator and old friend of the heroic title character. He also appeared in the first and last ...

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Mar 11, 2022 · Joe Pesci will certainly be remembered for critically acclaimed films such as Raging Bull and Goodfellas, but fans of the Italian American actor can't help but continuously quote his dialogue from My Cousin Vinny. We're sure the Oscar-winning actor has probably heard the phrase "two youts" a few times throughout his career. Though he announced his retirement …

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Who played the attorney in My Cousin Vinny?

Lane SmithAt one point in the film you can espy Judge Haller's Yale diploma. In reality, Gwynne was a Harvard man. Lane Smith plays District Attorney Jim Trotter and is splendidly aggressive, effective, and, ultimately, fair-minded.

Who has died from My Cousin Vinny?

James Rebhorn, the prolific character actor whose credits included "Homeland," ''Scent of a Woman" and "My Cousin Vinny," has died. He was 65. Rebhorn's agent, Dianne Busch, said Sunday that the actor died Friday at his home in South Orange, N.J, after a long battle with skin cancer.

How old was Marisa Tomei My Cousin Vinny?

A little-known soap and sitcom actress, she had scored a major breakthrough in spring 1992 at age 27 with “My Cousin Vinny,” a slapsticky sleeper comedy about a personal injury lawyer from New York who had just passed the bar on his sixth try (Joe Pesci), sent to spring his wrongly accused cousin from an Alabama jail.Feb 27, 2017

What town in Alabama was My Cousin Vinny filmed?

Downtown Monticello In many scenes from My Cousin Vinny, the quaint Alabama town is shown, specifically when Vinny first shows up in town.May 7, 2021

How much older is Joe Pesci than Marisa Tomei?

Joe Pesci was 49 years old, playing a guy who just recently finished law school and has a 22-year-old cousin. Marisa Tomei is 21 years younger than him.

How old was Ralph Macchio in My Cousin Vinny?

24Actor Ralph Macchio starred in "My Cousin Vinny" and "The Outsider," but he's probably best-known for playing teenager Daniel LaRusso in the 1984 hit film "The Karate Kid." Macchio was 24 at the time.

Who played the girlfriend in My Cousin Vinny?

Marisa Tomei (Mona Lisa Vito) Marisa gained international recognition for her role as Vinny's fiancée — for which she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress — in My Cousin Vinny, and is now known as one of the greatest actresses of her generation.

How short is Joe Pesci?

5′ 4″Joe Pesci / Height

How old is Joe Pesci?

79 years (February 9, 1943)Joe Pesci / Age

Where was Sweet Home Alabama filmed?

GeorgiaDid you know that despite the film's title, Sweet Home Alabama was mostly filmed in Georgia? The film used the rolling hills of the Georgia International Horse Park (Bald Rock Meadows) for the scenes featuring the Civil War re-enactors.Jul 18, 2014

Was Vinny really a lawyer?

Vinny was a new lawyer and had no courtroom experience. This was a huge case for the small town county court that doesn't likely see a lot of murder cases. The judge quizzed Vinny on his trial history to confirm that he was experienced enough to take the case, particularly as he had passed the bar in a different state.May 23, 2015

What was judge Haller's first name?

Judge Chamberlain HallerFred Gwynne: Judge Chamberlain Haller.

What is my cousin Vinny about?

The movie released on March 13, 1992. The movie revolves around the life of two characters who are falsely accused of a murder and then put on trial. They appoint their cousin, who has recently passed his Bar exams, to fight their case. The movie is full of comic court-room ...

What is Ralph from the Karate Kid?

Ralph is best known for his performance in The Karate Kid, The Outsiders, The Deuce, to name a few movies. He has essayed a variety of roles in both movies and TV industry. Some of his TV shows include The Whole Truth, Eight Is Enough, Ugly Betty, Happily Divorced, and Psych.

Who is Joe Pesci?

Instagram. Joseph Frank Pesci, popularly known as Joe Pesci, is an American actor and musician. He won an Academy Award for his amazing portrayal of a psychopathic gangster in Goodfellas. Some of his other movies are Easy Money, Man On Fire, Home Alone, Raging Bull, Eureka, Moonwalker, The Irishman, and Love Ranch.

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Where was My Cousin Vinny filmed?

Principal location of filming was Monticello, Georgia. My Cousin Vinny was a critical and financial success, with Pesci, Gwynne, and Tomei all praised for their performances. Tomei won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Attorneys have also lauded the film for its accurate depiction of court procedure and trial strategy.

What is the rating of My Cousin Vinny?

The film received generally positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a rating of 86%, based on 56 reviews. The site's consensus reads, "The deft comic interplay between Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei helps to elevate My Cousin Vinny 's predictable script, and the result is a sharp, hilarious courtroom comedy." On Metacritic the film has a score of 68 out of 100 based on reviews from 23 critics. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a grade of "A-" on an A+ to F scale.

How much did My Cousin Vinny make?

With a budget of $11 million, My Cousin Vinny was more successful than anticipated, grossing $52,929,168 domestically and $11,159,384 internationally, bringing its overall worldwide total to $64,088,552.

Who is Vinny Gambini?

The film deals with two young New Yorkers traveling through rural Alabama who are arrested and put on trial for a murder they did not commit and the comical attempts of a cousin, Vinny Gambini, a lawyer who had only recently passed the bar exam after several unsuccessful attempts, to defend them.

What degree did Jonathan Lynn have in My Cousin Vinny?

Director Jonathan Lynn has a law degree from Cambridge University, and lawyers have praised the accuracy of My Cousin Vinny ' s depiction of courtroom procedure and trial strategy, with one stating that " [t]he movie is close to reality even in its details. Part of why the film has such staying power among lawyers is because, unlike, say, A Few Good Men, everything that happens in the movie could happen—and often does happen—at trial". One legal textbook discusses the film in detail as an "entertaining [and] extremely helpful introduction to the art of presenting expert witnesses at trial for both beginning experts and litigators"; furthermore, criminal defenders, law professors, and other lawyers use the film to demonstrate rules of evidence, voir dire, relevance, and cross examination.

Who is Vinny's fiancée?

Vinny travels there, accompanied by his fiancée, Mona Lisa Vito. Although willing to take the case, Vinny is a personal injury lawyer from Brooklyn, newly admitted to the bar and with no trial experience. Vinny manages to fool the trial judge, Chamberlain Haller, that he is experienced enough for the case.

What song did Pesci sing for Vinny Gambini?

Pesci later reprised the Vinny Gambini character for his 1998 album Vincent LaGuardia Gambini Sings Just for You, which contains the song "Yo, Cousin Vinny ". The album cover portrays Pesci in a red suit similar to the usher suit he wore in the film.

Who won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for My Cousin Vinny?

Marisa Tomei surprised everyone by winning a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for My Cousin Vinny, but by then everyone knew she was its breakout star. She had previously been best known for her role in the first season of the sitcom A Different World, but My Cousin Vinny made her a big name and got her leading roles in romantic comedies like Untamed ...

When was My Cousin Vinny released?

My Cousin Vinny has nostalgia appeal today, but when it was released in 1992 it was a stranger proposition.

What was Joe Pesci's career?

1992 was arguably the height of Joe Pesci 's career. After spending the '80s playing predictable character roles, he broke through to the mainstream in 1990 thanks to the unique combination of Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas and Chris Columbus' Home Alone. By 1992 he was getting starring roles in movies like The Public Eye —and, of course, My Cousin Vinny .

Who is the karate kid?

Ralph Macchio. Prior to My Cousin Vinny, Ralph Macchio was best known as the star of The Karate Kid and its first two sequels, in which he plays a teen named Daniel LaRusso who learns karate as a way of dealing with bullying.

What was Fred Gwynne's last role?

My Cousin Vinny was Fred Gwynne 's final onscreen appearance before he died in 1993, ending a battle against pancreatic cancer at the age of 66. His long and successful career included an unforgettable turn as the Frankenstein-inspired Herman Munster, the father on the 1964-'66 sitcom The Munsters; immediately prior to that, he starred in Car 54, Where Are You? as Officer Francis Muldoon. His final role as Judge Haller in My Cousin Vinny now stands alongside those two parts as a comedic performance he'll always be remembered for. It's rare that an actor goes out on such a high note.

What was Lane Smith's career?

Prior to My Cousin Vinny, Lane Smith had a strong background in theatre, having appeared in the original Broadway production of David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ros s, along with a television career that included a role in the sci-fi classic V. In 1992, the same year as Vinny, Smith was also in The Mighty Ducks . Television remained the focus of his career, however, and his most noteworthy role in that medium was Perry White in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, which ran from 1993 until 1997. After that series ended, Smith made guest appearances on Walker, Texas Ranger, King of the Hill, and The Practice, among other shows. He also played a supporting role in The Legend of Bagger Vance. Lane Smith passed away in 2005, succumbing to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at the age of 69.

Who played Barry in Friends?

Mitchell Whitfield. In 1994, just a couple of years after My Cousin Vinny, Mitchell Whitfield appeared in the second episode of Friends as Barry Farber, the fiancé Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) left at the altar as the series began.

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Overview

My Cousin Vinny is a 1992 American comedy film directed by Jonathan Lynn, and written by Dale Launer. The film stars Joe Pesci, Ralph Macchio, Marisa Tomei, Mitchell Whitfield, Lane Smith, Bruce McGill, and Fred Gwynne in his final film appearance. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox and released on March 13, 1992.

Plot

Driving through Alabama in their metallic mint-green 1964 Buick Skylark convertible, Bill Gambini and Stan Rothenstein, college students from New York who just got scholarships to UCLA, shop at a Sac-O-Suds convenience store and accidentally shoplift a can of tuna. After they leave, the store clerk is robbed and killed, and Bill and Stan are arrested for the murder. Due to circumstantial evidenceand a confession to the shoplifting that is misconstrued as one to the shooting, Bill is c…

Cast

• Joe Pesci as Vinny Gambini
• Ralph Macchio as Bill Gambini
• Marisa Tomei as Mona Lisa Vito
• Mitchell Whitfield as Stan Rothenstein

Development

Screenwriter Dale Launer had come up with the idea for My Cousin Vinny while he was in college in the 1970s, after hearing from a friend about a lawyer that had finally passed the bar after their 13th attempt. Launer thought it would be funny to have someone traveling through the southern United States, run into legal trouble, and end up being represented by that type of lawyer. Launer did not do much with the concept until after he had wrote a few successful screenplays such as Ruthless …

Release

My Cousin Vinny was released in the United States on March 13, 1992.

Reception

With a budget of $11 million, My Cousin Vinny was more successful than anticipated, grossing $52,929,168 domestically and $11,159,384 internationally, bringing its overall worldwide total to $64,088,552.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a rating of 87%, based on 60 reviews. The site's consensus reads, "The deft comic interplay between Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei helps to elevate My Cousi…

Legal accuracy

Director Jonathan Lynn has a law degree from Cambridge University, and lawyers have praised the accuracy of My Cousin Vinny's depiction of courtroom procedure and trial strategy, with one stating that "[t]he movie is close to reality even in its details. Part of why the film has such staying power among lawyers is because, unlike, say, A Few Good Men, everything that happens in the movie could happen—and often does happen—at trial". One legal textbook discusses the film in …

Sequels

In an interview on March 14, 2012, the film's screenwriter, Dale Launer, talked about a sequel he had written involving Vinny Gambini practicing law in England. Marisa Tomei dropped out. The studio hired another screenwriter to rework the script without Tomei's character. Eventually, the project was shelved.
In 2017, author Lawrence Kelter began a My Cousin Vinny novel series with Back to Brooklyn, wh…