Performer
A performer whose catalogue work here is strong, with the fuller case still to be made.
Nutevio rank
#4346
of 909177 performers
Top 1%
Mike Starr represents the rare performer whose career became more ambitious with every decade — 38 years in, and Mike is still choosing the harder script.
The essay
Our editors on the work, the patterns and the reason this body of work holds together.
Mike Starr appears in 34 films in the Nutevio catalogue, and none of them would work the same way without Mike. Goodfellas is the clearest case: a film rated 9.3 by our editors, where the performance carries weight the script only implies.
The recognisable elements are versatility, transformation, quiet performance. Watch two of these films back to back and the method separates from the material — the same instrument, tuned differently for drama, action, horror. It is a style built on what is withheld as much as what is played.
Working with Jonathan Hensleigh, Harold Ramis, Kevin Smith and others, Mike Starr helped set a standard other performers now audition against. Awards bodies have been slower than the work, which is usually the sign of a career built on choices rather than campaigns.
Goodfellas (1990) as Frenchy · GoodFellas (1990) as Frenchy · Ed Wood (1994) as Georgie Weiss
Career snapshot
Ranked #4346 of 909177 performers tracked in the Nutevio library.
Films in Nutevio
34
1985–2023
Career length
38 yrs
Measured across our catalogue
Academy Awards
—
Unknown
Oscar nominations
—
Unknown
Highest Nutevio score
9.3
Goodfellas
Average Nutevio score
6.3
Across catalogue work
Highest IMDb rating
8.7
Goodfellas
Most frequent director
Spike Lee
2 films together
Longest collaboration
2×
With Spike Lee
Most common genre
Drama
19 titles
Average runtime
1h 46m
Across catalogue work
Golden Globe wins
—
Unknown
Nutevio metric
Ten weighted categories, applied identically to everyone we cover.
Nutevio Performer Score
7.0
out of 10
A performer whose catalogue work here is strong, with the fuller case still to be made.
Nutevio metric
Cultural impact and legacy, measured separately from craft — how far the work travelled once it left the cinema.
Nutevio Influence Score
6.9
out of 10
A quieter influence — felt inside the films rather than across the industry.
How far the work travelled past the people who saw it first.
What survives once the release-week conversation has burned off.
Institutional acknowledgement, weighted but never decisive.
Years of chosen, relevant work rather than years merely employed.
Statuettes, read as evidence rather than verdict.
Roles named without needing the film named alongside them.
Directors who wrote parts because this performer existed.
The reading other performers now have to answer.
Actor DNA
A fingerprint derived from the roles themselves — register, range and the kind of film they carry.
The shape of a career
Every performance plotted in time. Hover a point to read the title behind it.
Peak years
Where the scores, the awards and the sheer volume of work agree with each other.
Best decade
1990s
6.7 average MV
The 1990s are where the work and the material meet. Gloria, Summer of Sam, Snake Eyes — the run our editors reach for first when the argument is about range rather than fame.
Highest average Nutevio score
1990s
6.7
Across 18 catalogue films in this decade, our scores never drop below the level a career is judged on.
Highest average IMDb rating
1990s
6.6
The public agrees most strongly about this stretch — useful context, and occasionally a decade behind our own reading.
Most awarded era
1990s
1 Academy Awards
Statuettes for the films themselves, which is the honest way to read an ensemble career. Gloria, Summer of Sam, Snake Eyes.
Most productive era
1990s
18 films
The busiest stretch of the catalogue — volume that reads as appetite rather than availability.
Range, mapped
Genres down the side, decades across the top. Warmer cells mean stronger titles.
| Genre | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drama | 6.73 films | 7.111 films | 6.12 films | 6.81 film | 6.22 films |
| Action | — | 6.02 films | 7.11 film | 6.81 film | 5.61 film |
| Thriller | 6.71 film | 6.17 films | 6.02 films | 6.32 films | 5.61 film |
| Comedy | 6.44 films | 6.84 films | 6.43 films | 5.91 film | — |
| Crime | — | 6.811 films | 6.02 films | 6.32 films | 5.41 film |
| Romance | 6.23 films | 6.42 films | 6.21 film | — | — |
| Horror | 6.71 film | — | — | — | 5.61 film |
Chronology
Firsts and peaks
The turning points, in the order they happened.
First film in Nutevio
1985Cat's Eye
Where our catalogue meets this career, as Ducky.
First Nutevio masterpiece · Highest rated performance · Career peak
1990Goodfellas
The first film here to clear 9.0 on our scale — a threshold fewer than one film in ten reaches. 9.3 on the Nutevio scale, the top of the catalogue for this performer. Weighing billing against the film's own quality, this is the point where everything aligned at once.
Most recent film
The current state of the argument, as Father.
Our order
Every performance in the catalogue, ordered by Nutevio Score.
Every title
Filter by genre or decade, and compare any two titles side by side.
34 of 34 films
as Frenchy
Directed by Martin Scorsese
as Frenchy
Directed by Martin Scorsese
as Georgie Weiss
Directed by Tim Burton
as Rafelli
Directed by Unknown
From the library
Every movie and TV credit stored for this name in the Nutevio catalogue — filter by media, role or sort by rating.
Showing 24 of 36 titles · 36 total credits · active 1985–2023
Sweetwater
2023 · Eddie Gottlieb
Til Death Do Us Part
2023 · Father
East New York
2022 · TV · Kurt Walsh
Scarlett
2021 · Gino
The Cleaner
2021 · Carl
The Finder
2012 · TV · Benny Famosa
Kill the Irishman
2011 · Leo "Lips" Moceri
Ca$h
2010 · Melvin Goldberg
Black Dynamite
2009 · Rafelli
The Ice Harvest
2005 · Roy Gelles
Jersey Girl
2004 · Block
Knockaround Guys
2001 · Bobby Boulevard
Gloria
1999 · Sean
Summer of Sam
1999 · Eddie
Snake Eyes
1998 · Walt McGahn
Hoodlum
1997 · Albert Salke
James and the Giant Peach
1996 · Cop
Blood and Wine
1996 · Mike
Clockers
1995 · Thumper
NewsRadio
1995 · TV · Building Super
Ed Wood
1994 · Georgie Weiss
Dumb and Dumber
1994 · Joe Mentaliano
The Hudsucker Proxy
1994 · Newsroom Reporter
On Deadly Ground
1994 · Big Mike
The defining work
#1
Frenchy
Goodfellas (1990)
Performance score8.9
The performance the rest of the career is read through. Frenchy gives Mike Starr a structure to work against, and the film hands over its centre of gravity without hesitation.
View movie#2
Frenchy
GoodFellas (1990)
Performance score8.4
GoodFellas asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Frenchy is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movie#3
Georgie Weiss
Ed Wood (1994)
Performance score7.2
Ed Wood asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Georgie Weiss is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movie#4
Frankie
Miller's Crossing (1990)
Performance score7.2
Miller's Crossing asks for something the previous films did not, and gets it. Frankie is played without a single line of pleading for the audience's sympathy — which is exactly why it lands.
View movieStart here
A guided path through the work, ordered so each film explains the next.
Best entry point
as Frenchy
Start here. Goodfellas is the clearest statement of what Mike Starr does — accessible, 145 minutes, and rated 9.3 by our editors. No context required.
Our editors order this path by accessibility first and chronology second. You meet Mike at the most legible performance, then move forward in time so each film reads as a response to the one before it rather than a repetition of it.
GoodFellas (1990)
Same director as Goodfellas, different problem to solve. Watching them in order shows how much of the effect was the collaboration.
Miller's Crossing (1990)
Keeps the crime register of GoodFellas but asks for a colder reading of it.
Ed Wood (1994)
Keeps the drama register of Miller's Crossing but asks for a colder reading of it.
Black Dynamite (2009)
Keeps the comedy register of Ed Wood but asks for a colder reading of it.
Company kept
The directors and performers this career keeps returning to.
Martin Scorsese
Director
2 films together
Notably Goodfellas
Joel Coen
Director
2 films together
Notably Miller's Crossing
Spike Lee
Director
2 films together
Notably Clockers
Lewis Teague
Director
1 film together
Notably Cat's Eye
Richard Benjamin
Director
1 film together
Notably The Money Pit
James Foley
Director
1 film together
Notably Who's That Girl
Francis Ford Coppola
Director
1 film together
Notably New York Stories
Oliver Stone
Director
1 film together
Notably Born on the Fourth of July
John Hughes
Director
1 film together
Notably Uncle Buck
Kathryn Bigelow
Director
1 film together
Notably Blue Steel
Robert Benton
Director
1 film together
Notably Billy Bathgate
Mick Jackson
Director
1 film together
Notably The Bodyguard
John McNaughton
Director
1 film together
Notably Mad Dog and Glory
Steven Seagal
Director
1 film together
Notably On Deadly Ground
Peter Farrelly
Director
1 film together
Notably Dumb and Dumber
Tim Burton
Director
1 film together
Notably Ed Wood
Bob Rafelson
Director
1 film together
Notably Blood and Wine
Henry Selick
Director
1 film together
Notably James and the Giant Peach
Bill Duke
Director
1 film together
Notably Hoodlum
Brian De Palma
Director
1 film together
Notably Snake Eyes
Sidney Lumet
Director
1 film together
Notably Gloria
Brian Koppelman
Director
1 film together
Notably Knockaround Guys
Kevin Smith
Director
1 film together
Notably Jersey Girl
Harold Ramis
Director
1 film together
Notably The Ice Harvest
Jonathan Hensleigh
Director
1 film together
Notably Kill the Irishman
Robert De Niro
Actor
1 film together
Notably Goodfellas
Ray Liotta
Actor
1 film together
Notably Goodfellas
Joe Pesci
Actor
1 film together
Notably Goodfellas
Lorraine Bracco
Actor
1 film together
Notably Goodfellas
Paul Sorvino
Actor
1 film together
Notably Goodfellas
Frank Sivero
Actor
1 film together
Notably Goodfellas
Tony Darrow
Actor
1 film together
Notably Goodfellas
Frank Vincent
Actor
1 film together
Notably Goodfellas
Chuck Low
Actor
1 film together
Notably Goodfellas
Frank DiLeo
Actor
1 film together
Notably Goodfellas
Henny Youngman
Actor
1 film together
Notably Goodfellas
Gina Mastrogiacomo
Actor
1 film together
Notably Goodfellas
Behind the camera
Who casts this performer, how often, and what the pairing produces.
Martin Scorsese
Director
2 films together · 9.0 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
GoodfellasJoel Coen
Director
2 films together · 7.3 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
Miller's CrossingSpike Lee
Director
2 films together · 6.6 avg MV
A working relationship rather than a booking — 2 films, and the register shifts each time.
Best film together
ClockersTim Burton
Director
1 film together · 7.4 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Ed WoodOliver Stone
Director
1 film together · 7.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Born on the Fourth of JulyJonathan Hensleigh
Director
1 film together · 6.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Kill the IrishmanPeter Farrelly
Director
1 film together · 6.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Dumb and DumberMick Jackson
Director
1 film together · 6.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The BodyguardJohn Hughes
Director
1 film together · 6.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Uncle BuckLewis Teague
Director
1 film together · 6.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Cat's EyeHenry Selick
Director
1 film together · 6.6 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
James and the Giant PeachBill Duke
Director
1 film together · 6.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
HoodlumRichard Benjamin
Director
1 film together · 6.5 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Money PitKevin Smith
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Jersey GirlBrian De Palma
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Snake EyesFrancis Ford Coppola
Director
1 film together · 6.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
New York StoriesBrian Koppelman
Director
1 film together · 6.1 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Knockaround GuysSidney Lumet
Director
1 film together · 6.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
GloriaJohn McNaughton
Director
1 film together · 6.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Mad Dog and GloryJames Foley
Director
1 film together · 6.0 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Who's That GirlHarold Ramis
Director
1 film together · 5.9 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
The Ice HarvestRobert Benton
Director
1 film together · 5.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Billy BathgateKathryn Bigelow
Director
1 film together · 5.8 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Blue SteelBob Rafelson
Director
1 film together · 5.7 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
Blood and WineSteven Seagal
Director
1 film together · 5.2 avg MV
One film, but the kind that reorganises how a performer is cast afterwards.
Best film together
On Deadly GroundSix degrees
Follow the thread outward — director, film, co-star, and the film after that.
Recognition
1 win
1 win · latest 1991
Goodfellas
Categories of our own
Six editorial categories we apply to every performer we cover.
Most rewatchable
Goodfellas
as Frenchy
The one that survives a fourth viewing. Nothing in the performance depends on surprise, which is why it keeps paying out.
Most emotional performance
James and the Giant Peach
as Cop
Grief played at conversational volume. The film never asks the audience to cry; the performance simply makes it difficult not to.
Most influential performance
Goodfellas
as Frenchy
You can hear this reading in other actors' auditions a decade later — the surest measure of influence there is.
Best ensemble performance
The Hudsucker Proxy
as Newsroom Reporter
Work that makes everyone else in the frame better without ever pulling the camera towards itself.
Career defining performance
Goodfellas
as Frenchy
If the career had to be argued in a single scene, our editors would pick one from this film and rest the case.
In their films' words
“You can build a whole film around a performer who knows when not to speak. Mike Starr has known it for a long time.”
“As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster.”
“Funny how? Like I'm a clown? I amuse you?”
Head to head
Put two careers on the same scale and see where the argument actually sits.
| Nutevio Performer Score | 8.3 | 9.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Career ranking | #111 of 681 | #1 of 681 |
| Awards on file | Unknown | 3 recorded |
| Oscar wins | Unknown | 1 |
| Oscar nominations | Unknown | 5 |
| Average Nutevio score | 9.3 | 9.1 |
| Genres | Crime, Drama | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, History |
| Directors | Martin Scorsese | Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorsese |
| Performance DNA | Quiet performance, Drama, Screen presence | Transformation, Drama, Screen presence |
| Career timeline | 1990–1990 | 2006–2026 |
| Most iconic role | Frenchy — Goodfellas | Odysseus — The Odyssey |
| Most rewatchable film | Goodfellas | Interstellar |
| Filmography | 1 catalogue film | 4 catalogue films |
Films together
Nothing in common in the library yet.
Shared directors
Martin Scorsese
Shared collections
Top 100 Crime Movies, Top 250 Movies of All Time, Crime Movies, Drama Movies
Collaborators in common
Martin Scorsese
Matt Damon edges ahead here — a higher floor across a comparable body of work.
Ours alone
Recognitions handed out by this desk, on criteria no awards body uses.
Career Achievement
Awarded
38 years of relevant work — not merely a long career, but a long career of choices.
Modern Classic Performer
Awarded
Defining performances delivered inside the last twenty-five years, in films already being taught rather than merely remembered.
Drama Legend
Awarded
19 catalogue titles in drama, each one a reference point for the films that followed.
Our desk
Best ending, best opening, best twist and the rest — categories we apply to everyone we cover.
Best ending
Goodfellas
as Frenchy
The last five minutes reorganise everything before them, and hold up when you already know what's coming.
Best opening
Goodfellas
as Frenchy
A first sequence that states the rules of the film without explaining a single one of them.
Most emotional
James and the Giant Peach
as Cop
The film where the technique steps aside and lets the feeling arrive undefended.
Best twist
Clockers
as Thumper
A reversal earned by information the film gave you and trusted you to misread.
Best visual achievement
Goodfellas
as Frenchy
Images that would survive with the sound switched off.
Best action sequence
On Deadly Ground
as Big Mike
Geography, stakes and consequence held in the same frame — spectacle you can follow.
Best dialogue
Mad Dog and Glory
as Harold
Lines written to be spoken, staged so the pauses do half the work.
Most underrated film
Goodfellas
as Frenchy
The public vote sits below ours on this one, and the direction is the reason for the gap.
Across the library
Every Nutevio collection this name turns up in, and how high they rank there.
Collection footprint
Appears in 4 Nutevio collections
Keep reading
From the magazine
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Works with the same directors — Martin Scorsese
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Built a career in the same territory: adventure and drama
Tom Hanks
Built a career in the same territory: animation and family
Bonnie Hunt
Built a career in the same territory: animation and family
Leonardo DiCaprio
Works with the same directors — Martin Scorsese
Rudy Bond
Works with the same directors — shared collaborators
Have your say
Community
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Reference
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