CNN
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They say artists should be willing to do anything for their art, and for Joe Pesci that includes setting his head on fire.
In a new interview with Peoplethe Oscar winner reflected on making “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” to mark the sequel’s 30th anniversary and recalled how the comedy required some physically “demanding” stunts on his part.
“It was a nice change to do that particular kind of slapstick comedy,” Pesci said of making the First two ‘Home Alone’ movies in the email interview, published on Tuesday.
In the highly successful franchise, Pesci one half played a clumsy thief duo (alongside Daniel Stern) who is constantly outdone by a smart kid played by Macaulay Culkin. He acknowledged that the films were “a more physical form of comedy, so a little bit more demanding.”
Case in point: when Pesci’s character Harry unsuspectingly walks into a booby trap laid by Culkin’s Kevin, leading to a fiery ending.
“In addition to the expected punches, bruises and general aches you’d associate with that particular kind of physical humor, I suffered severe burns on the top of my head during the scene where Harry’s hat is set on fire,” the “Goodfellas”- star remembered.
In fact, Harry’s head is on fire not once but twice in the movies, once in 1990’s “Home Alone” and again in the 1992 movie, when Harry and Marv (Stern) chase Kevin through a house during renovations. (Pesci did not clarify during which movie he sustained his injury.)
Pesci added that he was “lucky enough to have professional stuntmen doing the real tough stunts”.
Home Alone 2, which hit theaters on November 20, 1992, welcomed Pesci, Culkin and Stern back as Kevin’s parents along with Catherine O’Hara and John Heard. The film also starred Oscar-winning actress Brenda Fricker as the Pigeon Lady.
