Henry Hill American gangster, member of the Lucchese family. Date of Birth: 11.06.1943 Country: USA

1. Biography of Henry Hill
2. Early Life and Criminal Career
3. The Kennedy Airport Heist
4. Arrest and Witness Protection
5. Later Years and Death

Biography of Henry Hill

Henry Hill Jr. was an American gangster and a member of the Lucchese crime family. He later became an informant for the FBI. He is best known as the inspiration for the main character in Nicholas Pileggi's novel "Wiseguy" and the film adaptation "Goodfellas" directed by Martin Scorsese.

Early Life and Criminal Career

Henry Hill Jr. was born into a family of Irish-American descent. His father, Henry Hill Sr., was an electrician, and his mother, Carmella Costa Hill, was of Sicilian descent. Henry was one of eight children, and his parents were relatively poor, which led him to become involved in crime at an early age. As a young boy, Henry idolized local gangsters and was fortunate enough to be accepted by Paul Vario, a local capo, for small assignments. However, it became clear that Henry would never reach the upper echelons of the criminal world because he was only half Italian, and only Italians could become prominent mafiosi.

In June 1960, Henry joined the army. He didn't have a strong desire to serve his country, but the FBI was closing in on a major case, and Henry needed to lay low for a while. In 1963, he returned to New York and resumed his criminal career. He befriended several influential gangsters, such as Jimmy Burke and Thomas DeSimone. Henry engaged in robberies, arson, extortion, and drug trafficking, eventually becoming a respected figure in local criminal circles.

The Kennedy Airport Heist

One of Henry's most significant criminal acts was the robbery of the John F. Kennedy International Airport. On December 11, 1978, a group of six to seven individuals, including Henry, stormed the airport and stole a total of $5 million.

Arrest and Witness Protection

In April 1980, Henry was arrested in New York during a drug operation. He was quickly released on bail, but he suspected that his former associates might attempt to eliminate him for breaking mafia laws. Henry decided to seek protection from the authorities and became a witness for the federal witness protection program. His testimony led to the imprisonment of several of his old friends, including Jimmy Burke and Paul Vario.

Henry met Nicholas Pileggi in September 1981, and in 1986, Pileggi published the book "Wiseguy," which was based on Henry's life.

Later Years and Death

Despite multiple rehabilitation programs, Henry continued to struggle with drug addiction and alcoholism. He was divorced from his wife Karen Friedman in 1989. Eventually, Henry was expelled from the witness protection program due to numerous law violations. On June 12, 2012, just one day after his 69th birthday, Henry Hill passed away. He had been battling an undisclosed illness for some time, and his cause of death was officially attributed to heart problems.