Gina Mastrogiacomo(November 5, 1961 – May 2, 2001) was an American actress.[1]
Gina Mastrogiacomo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Gina Mastrogiacomo November 5, 1961 Great Neck,Long Island,United States |
| Died | May 2, 2001(aged 39) California, United States |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1986–2001 |
Career
editMastrogiacomo made her film debut as Roxie in the 1987 fantasy comedy filmHarry and the Hendersons.She next starred as the lead female character, Ginny, inRichard Haines's 1989 sci-fi comedySpace Avenger,an independent film which debuted at theToronto Film Festivaland parodied theAlienfranchiseand other sci-fi horror films likeThe Hidden.[2]Mastrogiacomo's performance impressedMartin Scorsese,who decided to cast her in his hit 1990 gangster filmGoodfellasafter watching the film.[3] In that film she portrayed Janice Rossi,Ray Liotta's mistress, and delivered a performance praised for its passionate and realistic delivery.[4][5][6][7][8]Her performance is praised as "vivid and immediate", which has not been reflected in retrospectives and oral histories of the film because of her early death.[9]Also in 1990, Mastrogiacomo starred in the 1990 musical television filmAn East Side Story.[10]In 1991 she portrayed Louise inSpike Lee'sJungle Fever,[11]one of several actors who had also appeared inGoodfellas.[12]Varietycritic Tony Scott wrote that "Mastrogiacomo excels as Maggie's loyal friend Gloria" in theUSA Network's 1995 television filmTall, Dark, and Deadly.[13]In 2000, she played the role of Jenny Uphouse in theX-Filesepisode "Chimera", playing a character having an affair with the sheriff as a form of revenge against middle-class housewife snobbery.[14]
Personal life
editMastrogiacomo was raised onOceanside, Long Island,New York,and died inCaliforniaon May 2, 2001, at the age of 39, of a bacterial heart infection.[9]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Harry and the Hendersons | Roxie | |
| 1989 | Space Avenger | Ginny | |
| 1990 | Goodfellas | Janice Rossi | |
| 1991 | Jungle Fever | Louise | |
| 1991 | The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear | Sex shop worker | |
| 1994 | NYPD Blue | Chicky | Episode:A Sudden Fish |
| 1994 | Motorcycle Gang | Waitress | TV movie |
| 1995 | Tall, Dark and Deadly | Gloria Bowers | TV movie |
| 1996 | Bloodhounds | Liz Moore | |
| 1996 | Seinfeld | The prostitute | Episode: "The Wig Master" |
| 2000 | The X-Files | Jenny Uphouse | Episode: "Chimera" (final appearance) |
References
edit- ^"Film and television credits: Gina Mastrogiacomo".TV Guide.RetrievedNovember 6,2022.
- ^Rich (September 27, 1989). "Film: TORONTO FESTIVAL OF FESTIVALS REVIEWS – Space Avenger".Variety.Vol. 336, no. 11. p. 47.
- ^Cohn, Lawrence (August 9, 1989). "Film: Haines goes back to basics: 'Space Avenger' made in old Technicolor process".Variety.Vol. 336, no. 4. pp. 16, 29.
- ^Stephanie Goldberg (April 5, 2013)."Great movies and bombs, according to Roger Ebert".CNN.
- ^CNNOpinion: Ebert's sheer love of life,January 5, 2015
- ^ScreenRantGoodfellas: Every major performance, ranked,April 8, 2020
- ^The New York TimesAretha Franklin's music powered memorable moments onscreen,August 17, 2018
- ^Decider.comPut macho pride aside: Lorraine Bracco is the true center Of ‘Goodfellas’,July 11, 2015
- ^abKenny, Glenn (2020).Made Men; The Story of Goodfellas.Hanover Square Press.ISBN9781488059131.
- ^"FILM BRIEFS - Gotham indie spotlights Latin music".Variety.Vol. 334, no. 9. March 22, 1989. p. 12.
- ^Meisel, Myron (July 1, 1991). "Buying & Booking Guide: JUNGLE FEVER".The Film Journal.94(6): 18–19.
- ^Gilbert, Valerie.Women and Mixed Race Representation in Film; Eight Profiles.McFarland Publishers Inc. p. 184.ISBN9781476644738.
- ^Scott, Tony (January 23, 1995)."Television: TV REVIEWS - TALL, DARK AND DEADLY".Variety.Vol. 357, no. 12. p. 43.
- ^Fahey, Thomas (2000).Understanding Tracy Letts.University of South Carolina Press. pp. 43–44.ISBN9781643361123.