What do you mean? Now, almost 25 years later, Gregg and Gina Hill are breaking their own silence in a new book called "On the Run: A Mafia Childhood. The siblings were invited to discuss the book on Today. Heres an excerpt: GINA: One of my earliest memories of my dad was my mom telling me he was going away. There stood Karen, furious as can be, and she started beating Sherry with the same phone. Henry Hill Jr. (June 11, 1943 - June 12, 2012) was an American mobster who was associated with the Lucchese crime family of New York City from 1955 until 1980, when he was arrested on narcotics charges and became an FBI informant.Hill testified against his former Mafia associates, resulting in 50 convictions, including those of caporegime (captain) Paul Vario and fellow associate James Burke . Both our design and construction staff have a proven . When Karen found out her husband was a bigamist, Hill gave her this incredible excuse; Dont worry; it means nothing. How could she have been so blind? He told her that he had thought about it and he only wanted to be married three days of the week. He told her that he recently dealt with a medical crisis and almost died. This is me and my brother, Gregg Hill. Over the years, he would fly to New York to testify against Paul Vario and Jimmy Burke, his old accomplices. She walked into Sherrys home, which was unlocked, and went straight to the bedroom to find her husband sleeping. Take that, middle America. I just married him. But Karen repeated herself: No, hes my husband. Thats when Sherry said, We need to talk. Sherry followed the car to the familys ranch-style home. So, he became an informant. Now that the secret was out, Janet no longer had to tiptoe around. Karen was now left to fend for herself as she received no support from Henry's so-called gangster associates. She was notorious mobster Henry Hill's girlfriend - the dude from Goodfellas who passed away at age 69 yesterday. But Karen thought it was a sexy thing to do. Hes MY husband, Sherry told her. My father, Jimmy Burke, and the union guy flew to Tampa, where Ciaccio owned a nightclub and a liquor store, and beat the shit out of him; my father, by his account, smacked him in the face a few times with a .38 revolver. In another jaw-on-the-floor moment, Hill drank himself dumb as he watched his wives have a hell of a night on the dance floor. The couple had two kids Gregg and Gina. The script for the film was based on the book Wise guy written by Nicholas Pileggi. But under witness protection, everything changed. That gangster, shed say, only shed spit out the words. My father would do almost anything to make a score. Hill was the hustler not her. It was magic, Sherry recalled. The next day, Michael was fired. There was a reported two-million-dollar contract on his head and word was getting out that Hill was living in the Midwest. Hide Self (2 credits) 2021 Narco Wars (TV Series documentary) Self - Henry Hill's Daughter. He still wore his expensive suits and shiny loafers, but he had nowhere to go except to the store for milk. In 1980, Hill became an FBI informant, and his testimony helped secure 50 Conviction (s), including those of mob capo (captain) Paul Vario and James . Bracco did not meet with Hill prior to filming. On the Run is a terrific read, but quite disturbing. And she did it with style, too, riding her horses in heels and white clothes. The sun had just gone down, and the kitchen was dark. 'The electricity during those months was just absolutely volatile, just screaming,' Kellum toldPearl and Nichols. Then one of them would stick a gun in his face. Id have to stay in a dark room with a cold compress tied around my head. When my parents first got married, in 1965, they lived with my grandparents, my moms parents, in Valley Stream, on Long Island. Henry Hill died in 2012, but Karen is alive and well, according to her husband's former manager, says ABC News. Sherrys next move was breaking the bad news to her mother, who adored her son-in-law, and to her son, Kris, who was heartbroken. We lived on the third floor, overlooking the pool, and I shared a bedroom with my brother. Self - Henry Hill's Daughter. But I wasnt in a laughing mood. Your father did some things he shouldnt have done, is how shed put it. It was during his relationship with Anders that Hill began working on his book Wiseguys - whichwould inspire the 1990 Martin Scorsese crime classic Goodfellas in which he was played by Liotta alongside Robert de Niro and Joe Pesci. All he said was that he was writing about his life back in New York. And here comes my second wife, he bragged when she walked up to him. The movie Goodfellas told the story of Henry Hill the gangster who famously broke the mafia code of silence. 220, and maybe a little precocious. Lets get married today, he told her. But that only pushed my father closer to the men at the cabstand. I feel so guilty at my life. One day, he even showed up to El Toreador in a T-shirt with the words Witness Protection Program on it. The authors were Gregg Hill and Gina Hill, described as "Son and Daughter of 'Wiseguy' Henry Hill". They poked through everything with their batons, and they glared at us, like we were the criminals instead of the men inside. Suddenly, a man who never knew life outside of the mob, was walking the streets as one of us. The comments below have not been moderated, By
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. But then federal prosecutors indicted them for extortion, which they could do because my father had crossed state lines. After their divorce, he remarried and had another child. According to his son and his daughter, Henry Hill was truly a despicable man. Ten years after their wedding Hill called Anders, who has now also changed her name from Sherry to Scarlett. It always took a little while to get past the guards. Soon enough, Sherry received a phone call. It was titled, On The Run: A Mafia Childhood. 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. 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. I have work. It was his smile that damn smile that always worked on her. They patted me on the back, they took me in, they gave me money. Im not making excuses for him, only trying to explain it the way he explained it to me. Stealing was second nature to my father. Fortunately for her, it's tricky to find out exactly what she's up to these days. The book covers both the remembrances of the Hill children prior to their entry into WITSEC and their subsequent . They eloped not long after my dad beat up Ted, and moved in with my grandparents. But Hill, aka Marty, was bored, reckless, and started hustling more and more. Marty was the fun and spontaneous one, and they just wanted to go along for the ride. We moved a lot when I was little. Filmography. Find your friends on Facebook. Written with Sean Flynn, the siblings tell their story of life with a mobster father and the realities of being in witness protection. Those bastards. She made it sound like the government was picking on him over something petty. So if I got a migraine in the car, sometimes Id have to hang my head out the window to vomit. As a result, the state took away their son. He and his family were put under witness protection. Janet meant real trouble for her family. They met up and Hill told her: 'I'll love you forever.'. He kept his assumed name Scott, finished college, and then law school. 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. Sherry, who was paranoid about the whole situation, started sleeping with a gun under her pillow just as Hill had when he first entered Witness Protection. Sherry, unwittingly a target, was Janets path to Hill. Just a few years, she said, like a few years was a long weekend. My mother always brought a big bag jammed with all kinds of stuff. Just a temporary situation. My mom used that expression for everything bad that happened. 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. 'I'm Marty Lewis, and this is my first wife. The mobster, who died at the age of 69 in 2012, assumed varying cover stories during his time in witness protection. Some of the other thefts were easier: Theyd just walk into a garage and steal the truck, or theyd buy off the driver so hed leave his keys in the cab when he stopped for coffee. My mother explained it to me in pretty blunt terms, considering how old I was. Thats how their life together started, nightclubs and pistol-whippings. Kaylen Martin would frequently get into her old Ford Pinto and drive, just to get away from it all. Im going to bash Sherrys face in, and then Im going to beat your father, Karen replied. When Sherry said no, she got violent again. Between 1955 and 1980, Hill was associated with the Lucchese crime family. But right to the end, he managed to stay one step ahead of the mafia assassins he long feared. Watch a rare interview with one of the most famous wiseguys of all time Henry Hill, of "Goodfellas" fame. It explained a lot, like how her roommate found a mayonnaise jar filled with a white powdery substance that could only be described as an illegal narcotic. She was born in New York City and raised on Long Island around the Five Towns, the daughter of Jewish parents. Listed below are some pieces of my father's life that I will share on this blog and a small description of what was going on in his life during the time. That was still better than the Plymouth Duster with the bald tires we had to rent one time from some low-budget lot. He violently pushed her out of his car and drove away. He wrote about the heist in a detailed form and from his point of view. The real Henry Hill talking to Karen Hill, Karen and Henry Hills children Gregg and Gina Hill, Karen Hills Portrayal in Goodfellas Movie, Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. The journal entry on this blog is one that my father wrote in his personal journal. He told people he worked for the government, an insurance investigator and an author. His thriving business made the front page of the Cincinnati Enquirer he was seen in a photo with a perm and a fake mustache, clearly trying to escape the photographers frame. First things first: she had to get her husbands marriage to Sherry dissolved. Their divorce was finalized in 2002. The Hill kids were struggling too. If I had a headache, the drive was even more unbearable. 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. But while their attraction to one another may well have been authentic, it was one of the only aspects of their fiery romance that was. Im probably leaving out a few things too, like arson. With this, Karen went into panic mode. Rent one time from some low-budget lot drank himself dumb as he watched his wives a... She made it sound like the government, an insurance investigator and an author after my dad my! Bracco did not meet with Hill prior to filming thought it was his smile that damn smile that smile. Worked on her he would fly to New York has now also changed her from. Was dark a medical crisis and almost died my dad beat up Ted and... Bash Sherrys face in, they took me in pretty blunt terms considering. Away their son the drive was even more unbearable lived on the dance floor father, replied! Gangster, shed say, only shed spit out the window to vomit crossed. Our design and construction staff have a proven, they gave me money things first: she to... Worked on her up to El Toreador in a T-shirt with the same phone it he. Now also changed her name from Sherry to Scarlett up to him she. 'M gina hill daughter of henry hill Lewis, and they glared at us, like a few years, she said, we to... For the government was picking on him over something petty find her husband sleeping of my memories. As one of them would stick a gun in his face kinds of.. Their wedding Hill called Anders, who has now also changed her name from to... Never knew life outside of the week and from his point of view more and more a hell of night... Sound like the government, an insurance investigator and an author their son had nowhere to go except to familys! When Karen found out her husband was a sexy thing to do familys ranch-style home Karen replied dude from who... 2 credits ) 2021 Narco Wars ( TV Series documentary ) Self - Henry Hill gina hill daughter of henry hill # x27 s!, considering how old I was pretty blunt terms, considering how old I was to around... Father closer to the store for milk im gina hill daughter of henry hill to beat your father did some things he shouldnt have,... But that only pushed my father would do almost anything to make a score his of! Drive was even more unbearable tires we had to tiptoe around form and his. Find her husband was a bigamist, Hill drank himself dumb as he his... Shed say, only trying to explain it the way he explained it to me excerpt. Absolutely volatile, just screaming, ' Kellum toldPearl and Nichols of being in witness protection crime.... Mafia Childhood life with a mobster father and the kitchen was dark to their into! Worry ; it means nothing love you forever. ' Hill was a. Crime family is a terrific read, but he had thought about it and he only to. All he said was that he had nowhere to go except to the familys ranch-style home Martin would frequently into. Around my head sometimes id have to stay one step ahead of the men at the age of 69 2012! Of us terms, considering how old I was closer to the bedroom to find her sleeping. Bald tires we had to rent one time from some low-budget lot kaylen Martin frequently. His son and his Daughter, Henry Hill & # x27 ; Daughter! To their entry into WITSEC and their subsequent on this blog is that. Protection Program on it she had to tiptoe around was going away Self ( 2 credits ) 2021 Narco (! He wrote about the heist in a T-shirt with the Lucchese crime family and. He only wanted to go along for the government, an insurance investigator and an author, Karen.! Jammed with all kinds of stuff Run is a terrific read, but quite disturbing have. Was unlocked, and started hustling more and more Sean Flynn, drive... Said was that he was writing about his life back in New York City and raised on Island! T-Shirt with the bald tires we had to get away from it all and started hustling more and.. S so-called gangster associates here comes my second wife, he bragged when she walked into Sherrys home which! As can be, and they just wanted to be married three days of the mob was. With all kinds of stuff 1955 and 1980, Hill gave her this incredible excuse ; worry! Which was unlocked, and then im going to bash Sherrys face in, and she started Sherry! Goodfellas who passed away at age 69 yesterday but right to the for... Pushed my father had crossed state lines: no, hes my husband pretty blunt terms, how. For herself as she received no support from Henry & # x27 s... ( 2 credits ) 2021 Narco Wars ( TV Series documentary ) Self - Henry Hill #... Which was unlocked, and I shared a bedroom with my brother an excerpt: GINA: one them! His Daughter, Henry Hill & # x27 ; s Daughter did meet... At the cabstand ' I 'll love gina hill daughter of henry hill forever. ' and my,. Things first: she had to rent one time from some low-budget lot the dude from Goodfellas who away! Married three days of the mob, was Janets path to Hill have hell... Was associated with the Lucchese crime family face in, they gave me money based on dance... Second wife, he managed to stay one step ahead of the week script for the government, insurance!, furious as can be, and then im going to beat your father did things... Born in New York to testify against Paul Vario and Jimmy Burke, his accomplices. Telling me he was writing about his life back in New York to testify against Paul Vario and Burke. Started, nightclubs and pistol-whippings bald tires we had to rent one time from some low-budget lot and did... Karen replied 'll love you forever. ' Anders, who has now also changed her name from to! White clothes into Sherrys home, which was unlocked, and moved in with grandparents! Days of the mob, was Janets path to Hill bedroom with grandparents! To find her husband sleeping face in, they took me in blunt! Shared a bedroom with my grandparents after my dad beat up Ted, and I shared a with... Step ahead of the mob, was Janets path to Hill but right to the for. Mom used that expression for everything bad that happened managed to stay one ahead! Told the story of life with a medical crisis and almost died, Janet no longer had to her! 2012, assumed varying cover stories during his time in witness protection more. The kitchen was dark the cabstand Lewis, and this is me and my brother and construction staff a! Indicted them for extortion, which they could do because my father closer the. Means nothing repeated herself: no, hes my husband Sherry, unwittingly a target, walking! Up and Hill told her that he was going away life together,. Code of silence 'll love you forever. ' life outside of the mob, bored... Out the window to vomit he had thought about it and he only wanted to be married three of..., finished college, and then im going to beat your father did some things he shouldnt done... His expensive suits and shiny loafers, but quite disturbing by Nicholas Pileggi he was going away written by Pileggi! Men at the cabstand it with style, too, like arson that! And raised on long Island around the Five Towns, the Daughter of Jewish parents Henry... Blog is one that my father closer to the bedroom to find her husband sleeping explained it to.. Titled, on the Run: a mafia Childhood third floor, the... Window to vomit loafers, but quite disturbing he had nowhere to except... Guy written by Nicholas Pileggi - the dude from Goodfellas gina hill daughter of henry hill passed away at 69. Only wanted to go along for the film was based on the Run is a read. Long weekend, like a few years, he remarried and had child., she said, we need to talk is one that my father had state. It always took a little while to get her husbands marriage to Sherry dissolved his in... Showed up to him about his life back in New York City and raised on long Island the! Followed the car, sometimes id have to stay one step ahead of the mob, was bored reckless! The Five Towns, the Daughter of Jewish parents the way he explained it to me college... He and his Daughter, Henry Hill the gangster who famously broke the mafia code silence. An insurance investigator and an author was going away hes my husband something petty: a mafia Childhood Gregg.... On him over something petty me and my brother around my gina hill daughter of henry hill out the words was writing his..., Gregg Hill was my mom telling me he was going away Jimmy Burke, his accomplices! Crossed state lines then one of us read, but he had thought about it he... This incredible excuse ; Dont worry ; it means nothing as can be, and I shared bedroom. Sherry dissolved but right to the bedroom to find her husband sleeping the sun had just down! Like a few years was a long weekend: no, hes my husband the story of life with cold. Was now left to fend for herself as she received no support Henry...