Henry Hill
Henry Hill | |
|---|---|
 FBI photo taken in 1980 | |
| Born | Henry John Hill June 11, 1943 Brooklyn, New York City, United States |
| Died | June 12, 2012 (aged 69) Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Cause of death | Natural causes |
| Nationality | Irish-American and Italian-American |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
Henry John Hill Jr (June 11, 1943 - June 12, 2012)[1] was an Irish-American and Italian-American mafioso.[2] He was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City.[2] His mother was Sicilian and his father was Irish.[3] Hill was a Mafia associate from 1955 until he went into the Witness Protection Program in 1980. As he was half Irish he could not be ‘made’ that is become a full Mafia member. He later left the Program.[1][3] He was a violent robber, extortionist and drug dealer. He was a compulsive gambler and drug addict[1][3] who served prison sentences. He married Karen (née Friedman) in 1965. The couple had a son and daughter and divorced in 2002.[1] Hill died in hospital in Los Angeles, California from a heart attack, aged 69.[1] Hill's children survive him.[1]
Hill's life was the basis of Nicholas Pileggi's book Wiseguy. This was later used as the basis for movie Goodfellas, in which Ray Liotta played Hill.[3]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Telegraph obituary
- 1 2 Biography.com
- 1 2 3 4 "Henry Hill dead at 69". Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2012-06-13.