who played defense attorney in my cousin vinnie

by Wyatt Cruickshank Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago 8 min read

Austin Pendleton

Who are the actors in my Cousin Vinny?

Vinny Gambini Ralph Macchio ... Bill Gambini Marisa Tomei ... Mona Lisa Vito Mitchell Whitfield ... Stan Rothenstein Fred Gwynne ... Judge Chamberlain Haller

Who wrote my Cousin Vinny?

Sep 26, 2019 · My Cousin Vinny has nostalgia appeal today, but when it was released in 1992 it was a stranger proposition. Primarily a comedic vehicle for Joe Pesci, a character actor best known for gangster ...

What happened to Vinny and Lisa in my Cousin Vinny?

Feb 04, 2022 · "My Cousin Vinny" cast Joe Pesci — an actor best known for playing serious criminals in gory dramas — as the earnest but ill-equipped defense lawyer Vinny in …

Is'My Cousin Vinny'based on a true story?

My Cousin Vinny is a 1992 legal comedy film directed by Jonathan Lynn, written by Dale Launer, starring Joe Pesci, Marisa Tomei, Ralph Macchio, Mitchell Whitfield, and Fred Gwynne. Two college kids from New York, Bill Gambini (Macchio) and Stan Rothenstein (Whitfield), are driving through Alabama when they are arrested for the armed robbery of a convenience store and the …

Who played the lawyer in My Cousin Vinny?

Lane Smith plays District Attorney Jim Trotter and is splendidly aggressive, effective, and, ultimately, fair-minded. Most important, Pesci was brilliant and brave and blustery and profane as Vinny LaGuardia Gambini (that name being a nice little mash-up of NYC political and criminal history).

Was My Cousin Vinny really a lawyer?

Despite not being an actual lawyer, which is always a big no-no when practicing law, Vinny managed to learn and, finally, to listen to his girlfriend when it came time to put his nose to the grindstone. Another great part of this film is that there are no real bad guys in the courtroom.

How old was Marisa Tomei in the movie My Cousin Vinny?

age 27A 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

Who is the paralegal in My Cousin Vinny?

Marisa Tomei's character of Mona Lisa Vito in the film My Cousin Vinny could hardly be called a paralegal.Sep 5, 2017

How rich is Joe Pesci?

Joe Pesci Net WorthNet Worth:$50 MillionDate of Birth:Feb 9, 1943 (79 years old)Gender:MaleHeight:5 ft 3 in (1.6256 m)Profession:Actor, Comedian, Musician, Singer1 more row

How old was Joe Pesci in Goodfellas?

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

How old was Joe Pesci My Cousin Vinny?

49Joe Pesci was 49, while Marisa Tomei was 27 when this movie was released. Director Jonathan Lynn proposed Fred Gwynne for the role of the judge after seeing him in The Cotton Club (1984). Joe Pesci won the Academy Award for Goodfellas (1990) while making this film and brought the award to the set to show cast and crew.

Did Marisa Tomei deserve her Oscar?

She didn't deserve to win.

How old is Ralph Macchio in My Cousin Vinny?

Actor 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.

What Does My Cousin Vinny say about the legal system?

She then utters one of my favorite lines in the movie: “Don't they teach you that in law school?” Vinny's response is just as classic: “NO! They teach you Contracts…! Obviously, the implication is that in law school they teach “law” not “how to practice law”.Mar 14, 2012

What is the theme of My Cousin Vinny?

Everything that happens in the trial in Vinny could happen and sometimes does happen in real life. This is one reason I place My Cousin Vinny under the theme of legal education. It provides so much material you can use in the classroom.May 16, 2016

Storyline

Bill Gambini and Stanley Rothenstein are two friends from New York University who just received scholarships to UCLA. They decide to drive through the South. Once they arrive in Alabama, they stop at a local convenience store to pick up a few snacks. But, no sooner than they leave the store, they are arrested.

Did you know

The misunderstanding between Vincent Gambini and Judge Haller regarding the two "youts" was in fact a real conversation between Joe Pesci and director Jonathan Lynn. Lynn, who is British, at first had a hard time understanding Pesci's pronounced New York accent. He decided that the routine was quite funny and put it in the film.

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What is the Japanese language plot outline for My Cousin Vinny (1992)?

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.

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.

How much did My Cousin Vinny make?

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.

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.

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 ...

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.

What happened to Stan and Bill in the movie?

Right after they leave, the clerk is murdered and Bill and Stan are taken to the police station, charged with shooting the clerk. They think it's for shoplifting the tuna can, and comment on how the punishment is a little excessive.

Who won the 1993 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress?

Tomei won the 1993 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film. Advertisement: The film is also notable for not leaning on Deep South stereotypes — the residents of the small Alabama town are shown to be a bit simple but are definitely not stupid, and are overall decent and sensible folk.

Is Vinny a lawyer?

Vinny is licensed to practice law only in the state of New York. In order for him to be able to act as a lawyer in Alabama, a lawyer who is licensed to practice in Alabama would need to file a motion (pro hac vice, absurdly standard practice), and be a part of his legal team.

Overview

My Cousin Vinny is a 1992 American comedy film directed by Jonathan Lynn, from a screenplay 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

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.
My Cousin Vinny 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 Jo…

Legal accuracy

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…

Album

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.