GoodFellas - Characters & Cast

Henry's primary motivation is the desire to be a "somebody" in a world of "nobodies." He craves the respect, power, and glamorous lifestyle that he associates with being a gangster. Abused by his father, he seeks a new, more powerful and accepting family in the mob. Ultimately, his motivation shifts to pure survival as his world collapses around him.

Henry begins as a wide-eyed kid enamored with the gangster lifestyle, viewing it as superior to the mundane life of ordinary people. He climbs the ranks, embracing the wealth and excitement, but remains an outsider as he can never be a "made man" due to his Irish heritage. Initially, he is less violent than his peers, but becomes increasingly desensitized. His descent is accelerated by his addiction to cocaine and paranoia, which leads to his arrest. His arc is ultimately one of disillusionment and self-preservation; he betrays his friends to save himself, but his final monologue reveals he has no moral epiphany, only regret for losing his privileged, criminal life.

Jimmy is motivated by greed and a love for the thrill of stealing. He enjoys the process and the profits of crime. His core motivation, however, is self-preservation and maintaining control. He is highly cautious and preaches about not drawing attention, which ultimately drives him to extreme violence when he feels his security is threatened.

Jimmy is introduced as a charming, generous, and highly effective criminal who acts as a mentor to Henry. He is calculating and professional in his criminal endeavors, particularly hijacking. Like Henry, he is Irish-American and thus can never be a made man, which fuels his ambition. His arc darkens significantly after the Lufthansa heist. Consumed by paranoia that his associates' lavish spending will attract police attention, his pragmatism turns into ruthless brutality as he systematically has them all murdered to cover his tracks. He goes from a trusted father figure to a man who would kill his closest friends to protect himself.

Tommy is driven by a desperate need for respect and a fragile ego. Having come from humble beginnings as a shoeshine boy, he reacts with extreme violence to any perceived slight or insult. His primary motivation seems to be asserting his dominance and proving his toughness at all times. He craves the status of being a "made man," which he believes will finally give him the ultimate respect he feels he deserves.

Tommy's character does not have a traditional arc of development; he is a volatile and explosive force of nature from beginning to end. He is terrifyingly unpredictable, capable of switching from jovial humor to murderous rage in an instant. His impulsive violence, such as the murders of Billy Batts (a made man) and the young bartender Spider, escalates throughout the film. His recklessness, which makes him a feared figure, is also his undoing. His arc abruptly ends when he is killed by the mob in retribution for murdering Batts, a violation of their code that could not be ignored.

Initially motivated by a desire for a conventional life, Karen is quickly seduced by the power and excitement that Henry offers. She is motivated by a desire to maintain the luxurious lifestyle she has become accustomed to and to protect her family. Her complicity stems from both her love for Henry and her own attraction to the power and status that come with being part of the mob world.

Karen starts as an innocent outsider, a Jewish girl who is initially wary of Henry and his world. She is drawn into the lifestyle by the glamour, power, and Henry's charismatic display of control. A pivotal moment in her arc is when Henry gives her a gun to hide after brutally assaulting a man who harassed her; she admits that the act "turned her on." She transforms from an observer to an active and complicit participant, helping Henry with his drug business and embracing the perks of being a mob wife. Her arc follows a similar trajectory to Henry's, ending in disillusionment and fear as she is forced into the Witness Protection Program with him.