Joey Buttafuoco, born on November 3, 1956, in Long Island, New York, grew up in Massapequa in a working-class Italian-American household. He was the son of a plumber and a homemaker, and he had a typical childhood in the suburbs of New York.
Buttafuoco's life took a dramatic turn in the early 1990s when he became embroiled in a scandal that would make him a household name. His affair with a 17-year-old girl named Amy Fisher became the stuff of tabloid headlines and late-night comedy shows when Fisher shot Buttafuoco's wife, Mary Jo, in the face.
The media frenzy that followed the shooting turned Buttafuoco into a minor celebrity. He made appearances on various comedy shows and even participated in Fox's Celebrity Boxing, one of the earliest reality TV shows.
Despite serving only four months in prison for his involvement in the incident, Buttafuoco's troubles with the law were far from over. Over the years, he faced charges ranging from prostitution to insurance fraud, which further tarnished his reputation.
Buttafuoco's personal life also suffered in the aftermath of the shooting. His wife, Mary Jo Buttafuoco, filed for divorce in 2003, more than a decade after the tragic event. The incident had taken a toll on their marriage, and the couple eventually went their separate ways.
For a time, the Buttafuoco name became a punchline in the world of comedy, with late-night talk show hosts like David Letterman making jokes at his expense. However, the scandal also served as a cautionary tale about the dangers of infidelity and the repercussions of one's actions.
In conclusion, Joey Buttafuoco's rise and fall from fame is a cautionary tale about the price of indiscretion and the impact of one's choices on their future.