w. Nora Ephron Photo: Jeff Vespa / WireImage.com

The career of journalist, author, screenwriter and producer Nicholas Pileggi gives lie to the adage that "crime does not pay". The New York City native has devoted himself to covering crime, criminals and law enforcement ever since 1956 when he was promoted from "go-fer" to reporter at the Associated Press. Assigned to the Police Headquarters, Pileggi began cultivating the connections that would serve him well for decades. He became the "crime expert" for New York magazine in 1968 and was still serving in this capacity in 1986 when he wrote Wiseguy, an acclaimed nonfiction account of the lives of low-level organized crime figures. Pileggi procured tales of sometimes charismatic miscreants and their dark yet flashy deeds and sold them to the likes of Esquire and Life before entering the movies at a very high level: co-writing GOODFELLAS (1990), the film adaptation of Wiseguy, with lionized director Martin Scorsese. The pair earned healthy grosses, kudos and an Oscar® nomination for their efforts. Pileggi began researching his next project as the GOODFELLAS collaboration waned. Casino would tell the violent true story of the rise and fall of a Chicago bookie amid the bright lights and flashy dreams of Las Vegas. Scorsese took an interest in the nascent tome and deemed it cinematic. They began their second collaboration referring to Pileggi's reams of notes. As things worked out, CASINO, the slightly fictionalized film, and Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas, the nonfiction hardback, both bowed within a few weeks of each other in the fall of 1995. Pileggi also wrote CITY HALL (1996) and produced FATHER HOOD (1993). In 1994, he wrote "Loyalty & Betrayal: The Story of the American Mob" for television. He was executive producer of the TV series "Michael Hayes" (1997-98). He was also executive producer for the 1999 TV movie "Vendetta", and he wrote and produced "Kings of South Beach" for TV in 2007. Also in 2007, Pileggi was executive producer for AMERICAN GANGSTER. Since 1987, Pileggi has been married to writer-producer-director Nora Ephron.  Nominated for Writing - Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium 1990: GOODFELLAS (w. Martin Scorsese) 1 nomination