Goodfellas Cast Reunites

Cast and filmmakers of Goodfellas have reunited for an Italian meal 15 years after they shot Martin Scorsese's classic gangster movie.

Warner HOME VIDEO arranged Monday's (16AUG04) dinner party at Matteo's restaurant, Los Angeles, to promote Tuesday's (17AUG04) special-edition DVD release of Goodfellas and were thrilled actors Ray Liotta, Paul Sorvino and real-life mob informant HENRY HILL - who inspired the story - accepted the invitation to "break bread not legs."

The movie's director, Scorsese was unable to attend because he's working on new film The Aviator, Robert De Niro and JOE PESCI - who won a supporting actor OSCAR for his TOMMY DeVITO character - were also absent.

Liotta admits he eats at Matteo's so often they named a dish after him, "It's called on the menu 'The Ray Liotta.' Actually my ex is the one who ate it all the time. I always had this. But I guess somebody else already had the chicken parm."

Sorvino, who played mob boss PAULIE CICERO, recalls, "I wanted the role so bad! I think Marty had me in mind for it early on. So I said, 'I don't think the money is quite right.' He said, 'I'll take care of that!' And after I walked out I thought, 'I've just hoodwinked the greatest director in the world.'"

Hill, now 62, was removed from the Witness Protection Program for illegal acts, but says, "I'm not afraid for my life anymore. Most of the people I informed on have died in prison. And a lot of gangsters, myself included, are Goodfellas fans."