Henry Hill, mobster-turned federal witness, dies "pretty peacefully, for a goodfella"

In this Feb. 22, 2005 file photo, Henry Hill sits in a restaurant in North Platte, Neb. / AP

(CBS News) Henry Hill, a long-time New York City mobster-turned FBI informant and witness, has died at the age of 69 at a hospital in Los Angeles.

Hill's partner and manager Lisa Caserta tells CBS News Hill, "went out pretty peacefully, for a goodfella". She says he was with family members when he passed away on Tuesday. No specific cause was given, but Caserta tells CBS News that years of heavy smoking combined with complications from a recent heart attack led to his death.

Hill became infamous in 1990, when the movie "Goodfellas" dramatized his life, with Ray Liota playing the "wise guy".

But as "CBS This Morning" co-host Charlie Rose discovered in a 2004 interview for "60 Minutes" (video), the real Henry Hill wasn't born into the mob. He was half-Italian and half-Irish, and he had to earn his way in. At a young age, he became obsessed with the idea of wise guys and gangsters.

"In my neighborhood, where I came from in Brooklyn, these were the guys with the silk suits and the diamond rings and the beautiful women," Hill told Rose.

Hill did everything he could to make it into organized crime. For 20 years, he lived the mob life, until May 1980, when it all came to a crashing halt with his arrest on drug charges.

Facing serious jail time, Hill accepted a government offer of protection and no criminal charges if he testified against fellow mobsters.

"I was in trouble. I knew I was a dead man, no matter how you cut it. If I stayed in prison, I was dead. Went out in the street, I was dead," the ex-mobster told Rose. "So, I mean, my choice was already made."

He said his only choice was to enter the federal Witness Protection Program. Created in 1967, the program provides a new identity, security and relocation in exchange for testimony.

Hill's two children, Gregg and Gina, were 13 and 11 when their father made his deal with the government. Speaking to "60 Minutes" in 2009, they insisted on being disguised and said only their spouses knew who their father was, and what he used to do.

In 2009, Hill was arrested after an altercation at a bar in Illinois, after having what he said was "one too many" drinks. He was freed on bond.

[FW_Bottoms]

But as "CBS This Morning" co-host Charlie Rose discovered in a 2004 interview for "60 Minutes" (video), the real Henry Hill wasn't born into the mob. He was half-Italian and half-Irish, and he had to earn his way in.

"DISCOVERED"? - What did Charlie Rose do watch the movie.

[gunnersmateguns]

Henry hill was a "Rat" and far as I am concerned he died to peacefully. He chose the life and turned on his friends for Drugs .....

[opedanderson2]

While I enjoy a good Mob movie (or tv series) these people are absolute scum and deserve whatever they get...

[Overruled1]

The problem with your statement is they know it, some accept it as a hazard of the trade, others view their criminal lives sacred, generational and nobody else s business.....either way they are that...scum, just like the bankers that manipulated our economy.

[robert_holt]

Now comes an important question. Where will he spend eternity? If he didn't know Christ as Savior...

[displeased2]

So, if I don't worship your God, I will suffer for eternity, but if I live the life of a mobster but worship your God, then I'm fine. That's some fantasy you got going there!

[optic81]

Peddle your zombie Jesus garbage some where else! You sound like an ignorant fool!

[markrla]

"But as "CBS This Morning" co-host Charlie Rose discovered in a 2004 interview for "60 Minutes" (video), the real Henry Hill wasn't born into the mob. He was half-Italian and half-Irish, and he had to earn his way in."

Ummm, this was in the movie. Charlie Rose didn't discover anything.

[josephp5]

Charlie Rose is a dottering old fool. Perfect for CBS (the Codgerly Broadcast Network).

[disinterested-3rd-party]

No matter how hard you try in this life, you can never be lower than a rat.

[Gordy_OU812]

RIP - There are a lot of slime out there that just don't understand our way of life. Without us, now you have the russian's, the arab's, and god knows what else. Do you think they would help our mother carry her groceries, or get fresh bread from the bakery? NO!

Enjoy my friend!!!

[dman6015]

Henry Hill: You're a pistol, you're really funny. You're really funny.
Tommy DeVito: What do you mean I'm funny?
Henry Hill: It's funny, you know. It's a good story, it's funny, you're a funny guy.
Tommy DeVito: What do you mean, you mean the way I talk? What?
Henry Hill: It's just, you know. You're just funny, it's... funny, the way you tell the story and everything.
Tommy DeVito: Funny how? What's funny about it?
Anthony Stabile: Tommy no, You got it all wrong.
Tommy DeVito: Oh, oh, Anthony. He's a big boy, he knows what he said. What did ya say? Funny how?
Henry Hill: Jus...
Tommy DeVito: What?
Henry Hill: Just... ya know... you're funny.
Tommy DeVito: You mean, let me understand this cause, ya know maybe it's me, I'm a little f****d up maybe, but I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I'm here to f****n' amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny?
Henry Hill: Just... you know, how you tell the story, what?
Tommy DeVito: No, no, I don't know, you said it. How do I know? You said I'm funny. How the f**k am I funny, what the f**k is so funny about me? Tell me, tell me what's funny!
Henry Hill: [long pause] Get the f**k out of here, Tommy!
Tommy DeVito: [everyone laughs] Ya mother******! I almost had him, I almost had him. Ya stuttering pr**k ya. Frankie, was he shaking? I wonder about you sometimes, Henry. You may fold under questioning.

[matt6052]

See, what I don't get is that the only time Jimmie asked Henry to kill someone was when it was a witness that could put Henry in prison for decades. And that's when Henry flipped. He said it was because it was the first time Jimmie ever asked him to kill someone, but the person he was asking Henry to kill was Henry's problem, not Jimmie's. Besides, throughout the whole film, it was clear to everyone that Henry wasn't the sort of killer that Jimmie and Tommy were.

[unclebernies]

Why do people enjoy watching these BS movies about criminals to begin with. This dude was a snitch and criminal. Not virtues that should be celebrated

[matt6052]

"We paid off cops. We paid off lawyers. We paid off judges.

"Everybody had their hands out. Everything was for the taking.

"And now, it's all over."


---Henry Hill

[karek40]

Holy,holy,holy is the lord God almighty and he can't be "paid off"

[Bojax39]

by karek40: "Holy,holy,holy is the lord God almighty and he can't be "paid off"

Yeah, almost as holy as you seem to think you are.......