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 People , the Oscar winner reflected on the making of “Home Alone 2: Lost In New York” on the occasion of the sequel’s 30th anniversary and recalled how the comedy required some physically “demanding” stunts on his part.
“It was a nice change of pace to do this kind of slapstick comedy,” Pesci said of making the first two “Home Alone” films in an email interview published Tuesday.
In the uber-successful franchise, Pesci played one half of a bungling thief duo (alongside Daniel Stern) who is constantly being charmed by a smart kid played by Macaulay Culkin. He admitted that the films “were a more physical kind of comedy, so a little more demanding.”
One example is when Pesci’s character Harry doesn’t realize that a trap set by Culkin’s Kevin, which leads to a fiery finish, is a botched trap.
“In addition to the expected bumps, bruises, and general pain that you would associate with that particular type of physical humor, I sustained serious burns to the top of my head during the scene where Harry’s hat is set on fire,” the “Goodfellas” star recalled.
In fact, Harry’s head is placed on the head not once but twice in the films, once in 1990’s “Home Alone” and again in the 1992 film, when Harry and Marv (Stern) chase Kevin through a house involved in renovations. (Pesci didn’t specify which films he suffered the injury in.)
Pesci added that he was “lucky to have professional stuntmen doing the real hard tricks.”
“Home Alone 2,” which hit theaters on November 20, 1992, brought back Pesci, Culkin, and Stern, along with Catherine O’Hara and John Heard as Kevin’s parents. The film also featured Oscar-winning actress Brenda Fraker as the pigeon lady.
