What You Never Knew About the Mob Classic ‘Goodfellas’

Before Paul Sorvino stepped in to play Paul Cicero, another familiar Scorsese collaborator was nearly chosen: Frank Vincent. At the time, Vincent was known for smaller mob roles, and Scorsese considered giving him the more commanding presence of the crew’s quiet don.

Ultimately, Vincent was better suited for Billy Batts—a role that allowed him to explode, literally and figuratively. The switch worked. Vincent gave Goodfellas one of its most quotable and brutal scenes, and Sorvino delivered gravitas through silence. It was a casting shuffle that gave both men career-defining moments.