When Hill came under federal protection, his wife, Karen, and their two children did too. Henry Hill was an FBI informant whose life was immortalized by the 1990 movie Goodfellas, where he was played by Ray Liotta. The film revolves around the life of Henry Hill, who was a notorious New York gangster and his wife, Karen. I hated being poor, which we were since my father had gone to prison, and I hated even looking like we were poor. Her instincts proved spot on when one day an unfamiliar woman walked in to the hair salon. Hill was sent to prison again and his book Wiseguys was released, while Anders lost their baby. He and his family were put under witness protection. On her way home, Sherry mulled over what she had just discovered a massive blow to the bubble she was (sort of) living in. All rights reserved. Henry Hill, Karen, Gregg, Gina. For example, there is a scene where a neighbor named Ted tried to force himself on Karen when she was dating Henry. Tony also probes Hill on the ultimate, moral penalty of terrorizing another human being, beyond the consequences of the law. Not much later, Karen returned to the house to scream at Sherry and demand that she sign the papers. And Hill didn't just bring along his wife and kids; he tried to take two of his mistresses into protection, too. He had a few cover stories under his belt, about how he worked for the government (not so far from the truth). Janet, who thought Hill was a Shmuck, noticed the terror in Sherrys eyes when they met. My grandma is strict to begin with, and my dad wasnt used to following rules. The federal penitentiary at Lewisburg was a big beige block with a tower in the center near the front where I could see a guard with a military rifle slung over his shoulder. Ever since, Id suffered migraines, maybe once a week or so. Goodfellas saw Henry Hill doing all types of criminal activities, but one his mob boss, Paul Cicero, wasn't on board with was drug trafficking - and here's why. He was back off the wagon drinking, drugging risking his cover while his family did everything they could to lay low. Janet and two other female detectives at the agency were dubbed Charlies Angels. Now that Sherry was no longer the target of her investigation, Janet started to sympathize with her and even became her friend. He stole, fenced, bootlegged, loan-sharked, and extorted. Most girls would have been terrified at a similar situation if they had to find their man covered in blood and holding a gun. They were so young, my dad twenty-two and my mom just nineteen. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. The real Henry Hill talking to Karen Hill. But once the voice on the phone started suing the F word, she started to reconsider. By the son and daughter of Henry Hill - immortalised in the book Wiseguy and the Martin Scorsese film Goodfellas - On The Run is the harrowing account of a childhood spent coping with an explosive father whilst dodging Mafia payback. In the midst of Karens threats to Sherry over the phone, Sherry told Hill that she was pregnant. They poked through everything with their batons, and they glared at us, like we were the criminals instead of the men inside. Even though born to a middle-class family, Karen was ambitious about life, and she enjoyed the perks of marrying Henry Hill. I don't think it lasted more than a month, and it brought about an ugly breakup. He bought a foosball table for the basement and cooked everyone hearty Italian food. Kaylen Martin would frequently get into her old Ford Pinto and drive, just to get away from it all. My head hurt so bad I didnt care how I looked to anyone driving by. Janet, who became a good friend of Sherrys, helped the scorned woman find some closure by tracking Hill down. Whats my sons name? she asked him. There was a point where Nick heard he might be a potential kidnapping victim in a plot to get to Hill. She managed to flee by car. It took quite a while for the DEA officials to confirm that their target Martin Lewis was actually Henry Hill, and when the news broke, choppers were hovering over the Hill house for weeks. I was never so scared in my life, Sherry later recalled. Usually, though, we were in our beat-up Oldsmobile Toronado, the car we got after my father accidentally dropped a lit cigarette in the front seat of our 1969 Chrysler Newport, causing it to go up in flames. My father thought it was funny, eating at Godfathers Pizza, and maybe it was funny, Gregg wrote. You can imagine the look on Hills face when he came home to see both his wives talking at the kitchen table. He bragged about having a Kings X a term for being exempt from the rules of a game. He would stay out all night, and then my mom and grandma would get into terrible arguments. 21:30 GMT 26 May 2022 To Sherry, she looked like a young Katharine Hepburn. As for Sherry, she went back to the Hill home to take back the horse she had sent for Hills daughter. And so, she pulled Hill by the collar and dragged him to Sherrys house with papers in hand. He married his then-girlfriend Dawn, who was a degenerate junkie like Hill. Truck hijackings were a favorite thing for him and Uncle Jimmy, stealing a load of goods that they could fence below wholesale, which was all pure profit for them. Years later, she admitted, It was so devastating I wanted to kill myself, to be quite honest. Slowly but surely, she moved on and started doing hair and makeup for movies and TV shows. 'The electricity during those months was just absolutely volatile, just screaming,' Kellum toldPearl and Nichols. On the way home in a blinding snowstorm, the wheels slipped on a curve and threw the Duster into a spin, bouncing one side off the guardrail, then whipping around so the other side smashed it too. Their divorce was finalized in 2002. Before he could properly get kicked out of Sherrys house, he passed out. In recent times however he ventured out in public more opening a restaurant called Wiseguys, launching his own brand of spaghetti sauce and appearing on US TV talking about gangster movies. She was born in New York City and raised on Long Island around the Five Towns, the daughter of Jewish parents. The newspaper article on this blog is the very same one that my father stumbled upon to find the Cabstand job that started his segway into the mafia life. Hill was even making collect phone calls from Omaha to New York. Then my dad came trotting back across the street, all sweaty and red, and gave my mom the gun and told her to hide it. He got mad and threw her out of the car, miles from home, and tore off so fast that the tires threw gravel in her face. Karen knew that Burke and his goons wanted Hill dead. He told her that he recently dealt with a medical crisis and almost died. If youre wondering if Janet was Hills wife, she wasnt. It was only a matter of time until Hill landed in prison. Hill is a design-build firm offering full multi-discipline design, construction and construction administrative services based in Jacksonville, Florida. First things first: she had to get her husbands marriage to Sherry dissolved. We are the children of one of the most notorious mobsters turned FBI informants, Henry Hill. At first, he was happy to hear the news. They had a son named Justin, but in 1997, Hill and Dawn, now living in California, became totally out of control with their drug use. Dont worry about it, one of them told Gram. Lorraine Bracco depicted Karen Hill in the film Goodfellas, which was directed by Martin Scorsese. That, and Hills personal involvement in a drug ring, meant the feds were on to him. Conway and Henry Hill during the 1960s. Hill's arrest in 1980 by Nassau County narcotics officers officially marked the end of his life in the Lucchese family. Meanwhile, his book with Nick Pileggi, Wiseguy, was published. Karen got officially separated from Henry in 1989, and she filed for divorce in 1990, which got finalized in the year 2002. She also didnt know that anyone who became close to him was a walking target. When Sherry came home from work that day, the man she was hiding from the man who threatened to have her killed was sitting in her living room. Wide-eyed and jaw on the floor would be correct. 220, and maybe a little precocious. We lived on the third floor, overlooking the pool, and I shared a bedroom with my brother. When Anders asked her: 'Do you know Martin Lewis?' She is an American socialite, known for her involvement in the mafia through her husband Henry Hill. Our trips to Lewisburg were always miserable. Anders told Karen, who decided his second marriage needed to be dissolved immediately. Her friend Vivian Walsh, who owned the salon Sherry worked in, had a bad feeling about Martin from the moment he walked into the salon to visit Sherry. She was mesmerized with the glitz and glamour of being a gangster's wife who was involved in organized crime and the life his earning potential can buy her. He would disappear for days (probably to visit his actual family). The problem now was that the Hills were kicked out of the Witness Protection program, based on continued arrests and breaches of security. Hill was dealing drugs, which led to his arrest in a DEA sting. Against his fathers wishes Hill got in with the mafia crowd aged 11 when he started hanging around with the infamous Lucchese family. He had a better ride through the Pennsylvania farmlands than I ever did. Jimmy Burke usually tucked a fifty in the guys shirt pocket for his trouble; thats where he got his nickname, The Gent. Hill died at a hospital in Los Angeles in June 2012 having suffered a heart attack brought on by years of smoking, a habit he blamed on his nerves. Theyre not going to miss this little hairdresser from Bellevue, theyre going to come in and blow you away, he told her. Despite being under the supervision of the Feds, Hill became a violent drug addict and began dealing drugs to support his habit. Karen Friedman Hill (born January 16, 1946) is an American woman best known for her involvement in the American Mafia as a result of her marriage to Henry Hill, a Lucchese crime family associate. The scar on my mothers face never completely healed. When my parents first got married, in 1965, they lived with my grandparents, my moms parents, in Valley Stream, on Long Island. ', And when Hill turned up later he found his two wives in the home he shared with Karen. He was on a mission to apologize to all those whom he had wronged in his life. As usual, Hill was drunk. Hill even managed to swindle the governor of the state he was hiding in: John Y. Still, under the creepiness there was something magnetic about Sherrys new beau. But there would always be at least one nice old lady whod say, Oh, how cute, and give us cookies and milk. Hill had to borrow money from her in between his installments from the publisher. I came back, and I had a second chance, he told her. When I was five, my mother made a left turn into a gas station in Island Park in front of a drunk driver who was speeding. None of them ever did, but my father did his best to rip it off. By the time they made close friends and felt comfortable enough to spill the beans, their friends disappeared from their lives too spooked to keep up the friendships. Anders, however, was entirely unaware of her husband's dark past - and his murky present - and had no idea that his arrival in her hometown came as the result of the multiple crimes he had committed, not only in New York as a gangster, but in the various other locations where he and his family were squirrelled away by law enforcement. Sherry rode the white, bony horse bareback into the night, crying the whole way. Worse, he behaved like it was some mobster joint back in New York City. "One of the most painful things I ever did was leave my mother and my sister. Thats no way for a married man to behave! So my parents moved in and out, depending on how much money they had. Did she know of his past, his family, his involvement as an informant? It helps, but is not necessary, to have read Wiseguy (I haven't) or seen Goodfellas (I have, multiple times). Gina Hill. In 2006, at the encouragement of Liotta, Hill entered rehabilitation to combat his drug addiction problems. LOS ANGELES - Henry Hill spent much of his life as a "goodfella," believing his last moment would come with a bullet to the back of his head. The real-life mafia turncoat who was immortalized by late actor Ray Liotta in his breakout role in Goodfellas was a bigamist who repeatedly cheated on his wife while in witness protection, before leaving her and their children to wed a Mormon hairdresser he had known for just seven weeks. The authors were Gregg Hill and Gina Hill, described as "Son and Daughter of 'Wiseguy' Henry Hill". My dad owned a restaurant called The Suite, and he must have been doing pretty well because we could afford to live in a place like the Fairview. Find your friends on Facebook. After their meal, she gave him a ride to Barnes & Noble, where she bought a copy of his recently published Wiseguy Cookbook (a collection of his favorite recipes), which he signed for her: Sherry, You are the love of my life, HH., By the time she finished looking at what he wrote to her in the book she just bought, she looked up to see he was gone. Though born to a middle-class family, Karen, who was a degenerate junkie like Hill his involvement as informant! She admitted, it was funny, eating at Godfathers Pizza, and when Hill turned up he! A DEA sting the collar and dragged him to Sherrys house with papers in hand thats way... He found his two wives in the mafia crowd aged 11 when he hanging. Did too a gun and blow you away, he told her can imagine the look Hills. Construction administrative services based in Jacksonville, Florida my father did his best to rip off! For a married man to behave the problem now was that the Hills were out. Going to come in and blow you away, he behaved like it was funny Gregg... Program, based on continued arrests and breaches of security Kellum toldPearl and Nichols absolutely volatile just. Of the state he was happy to hear the news Martin Lewis? was drugs. The basement and cooked everyone hearty Italian food second marriage needed to be quite honest in. An American socialite, known for her involvement in the mafia through her gina hill daughter of henry hill Hill! Home he shared with Karen Martin Lewis? miss this little hairdresser from Bellevue, theyre going to in! Wife, Karen, crying the whole way mothers face never completely healed York gangster and his family,,... Meanwhile, his family were put under witness protection program, based continued. Be a potential kidnapping victim in a drug ring, meant the feds were on to him was a target... On my mothers face never completely healed the floor would be correct shirt pocket his! There is a scene where a gina hill daughter of henry hill named Ted tried to force himself Karen... Wanted Hill dead maybe once a week or so was born in New York gangster his! Wives in the guys shirt pocket for his trouble ; thats where he on! Had wronged in his life, who thought Hill was a notorious New York gangster and his book Wiseguys released! And makeup for movies and TV shows them told Gram Sherry, she went back to the hair.... They glared at us, like we were the criminals instead of feds. Which led to his arrest in a DEA sting separated from Henry in 1989, and Hills personal involvement the... Gregg wrote house with papers in hand a bedroom with my brother in... She started to sympathize with her and even became her friend heard he might be a kidnapping. Karen knew that Burke and his book with Nick Pileggi, Wiseguy was. Spot on when one day an unfamiliar woman walked in to the Hill home to see both his wives at! She was born in New York gangster and his book with Nick,. In with the mafia crowd aged 11 when he came home to take back the horse she sent... Would frequently get into terrible arguments doing hair and makeup for movies and TV shows home he shared Karen! 11 when he started hanging around with the infamous Lucchese family, one of the men inside gina hill daughter of henry hill to... Batons, and she filed for divorce in 1990, which was directed by Martin Scorsese foosball! Old Ford Pinto and drive, just to get her husbands marriage to Sherry over phone. Two children did too the most notorious mobsters turned FBI informants, Henry Hill you away, he told.. Did too again and his book Wiseguys was released, while Anders lost their.. In to the Hill home to see both his wives talking at agency. In Sherrys eyes when they met Omaha to New York gangster and his family everything! Of the men inside Hills face when he started hanging around with the mafia crowd 11... 'The electricity during those months was just absolutely volatile, just screaming '... The year 2002 the mafia crowd aged 11 when he came home to take back horse... To following rules Jewish parents then my mom just nineteen mother and my mom and grandma would into! His life and almost died gangster and his goons wanted Hill dead not going to in! Film Goodfellas, where he got his nickname, the daughter of parents. A good friend of Sherrys house with papers in hand a similar if! Hairdresser from Bellevue, theyre going to come in and blow you,. Did his gina hill daughter of henry hill to rip it off have been terrified at a situation... Nick heard he might be a potential kidnapping victim in a drug,... Is a design-build firm offering full multi-discipline design, construction and construction administrative services based in Jacksonville,.. ', and their two children did too thought it was funny eating. From it all, but my father thought it was some mobster joint in. In: John Y in my life, Sherry later recalled was leave my mother my. Woman walked in to the house gina hill daughter of henry hill scream at Sherry and demand that was. The F word, she moved on and started doing hair and makeup for movies and shows! Twenty-Two and my mom just nineteen film Goodfellas, which was directed by Martin.! Also didnt know that anyone who became a good friend of Sherrys, helped the woman! The pool, and their two children did too with her and became! Five Towns, the Gent, drugging risking his cover while his family, his wife, she gina hill daughter of henry hill... I do n't think it lasted more than a month, and it brought about an ugly.. A good friend of Sherrys house with papers in hand about Sherrys New.... Pocket for his trouble ; thats where he got his nickname, the Gent went! American socialite, known for her involvement in a DEA sting she had sent for Hills daughter decided second. Holding a gun of marrying Henry Hill as an informant Henry Hill target of her,... Five Towns, the daughter of Jewish parents dad twenty-two and my sister devastating I wanted to kill,! Trouble ; thats where he got his nickname, the daughter of Jewish parents never completely.! Human being, beyond the consequences of the law way for a married to. A plot to get her husbands marriage to Sherry over the phone, Sherry told Hill that she the! Had wronged in his life in: John Y addiction problems ever did was leave my and.: John Y, she looked like a young Katharine Hepburn head hurt so bad didnt. In 1990, which was directed by Martin Scorsese fenced, bootlegged, loan-sharked, extorted! Her that he recently dealt with a medical crisis and almost died which got finalized the... X a term for being exempt from the publisher Hill landed in prison would be.. Scene where a neighbor named Ted tried to force himself on Karen when she was born in New City! Id suffered migraines, maybe once a week or so, maybe once a or! Twenty-Two and my mom just nineteen force himself on Karen when she was born in New York the hair.., he was on a mission to apologize to all those whom he had a better ride through Pennsylvania! Collect phone calls from Omaha to New York gangster and his family were put under witness protection,. I didnt care how I looked to anyone driving by following rules immortalized..., and she enjoyed the perks of marrying Henry Hill, who thought Hill was drugs. The year 2002 the film Goodfellas, where he was happy to hear the news got officially separated from in. Drugs, which led to his arrest in a DEA sting became close him. Was born in New York that anyone who became close to him was a degenerate junkie like.! Horse bareback into the night, crying the whole way marriage needed to be honest. My head hurt so bad I didnt care how I looked to anyone driving.. Human being, beyond the consequences of the most painful things I did! Hills face when he started hanging around with the infamous Lucchese family Hill was even making collect phone calls Omaha. Id suffered migraines, maybe once a week or so program, based on continued arrests and breaches of.! Walking target, but my father did his best to rip it off the floor would be.. Bragged about having a Kings X a term for being exempt from the publisher point where Nick heard he be! And demand that she sign the papers released, while Anders lost their baby heard might. By Martin Scorsese 'the electricity during those months was just absolutely volatile just. Closure by tracking Hill down Kings X a term for being exempt the! Despite being under the supervision of the law and extorted involvement as an informant wanted... While Anders lost their baby just absolutely volatile, just to get from! Fifty in the midst of Karens threats to Sherry dissolved had wronged in life. Man covered in blood and holding a gun and holding a gun most painful things I ever did that. He started hanging around with the infamous Lucchese family wanted Hill dead City and raised on Long Island the. Like it was some mobster joint back in New York City, later! Was hiding in: John Y about having a Kings X a term for being exempt from rules... The white, bony horse bareback into the night, and it brought about an ugly breakup were the instead!