Karen Friedman Hill is a famous personality, who has come into the limelight, for being married to a gangster. Karen’s relationship with Henry Hill has made her a celebrity, although not in a good way. While she grew up in a Jewish family leading a modern life, she slowly found herself ensnared into a crime life, that she did not anticipate.
Karen was born in New York City, and she grew up in Long Island. She lived away from the limelight for most of her early years until she met Henry Hill, an associate of the Lucchese crime family. The first time Karen witnessed her husband’s criminal activities was when she called him after a neighbor had attempted to force himself on her.
Hill went to pick up Karen, but instead of taking her home, he decided to revenge. He walked to the neighbor and pulled a pistol on him. After Hill killed Ted, the neighbor who had tried to rape Karen, he handed the gun to Karen and told her to hide it.
Early Life
Karen was born in New York City on January 16, 1946. She grew up in a Jewish family of five and spent her early life in Long Island. Hill’s early life remains unknown until the 1990 film Goodfellas and several other books began giving a highlight of her life.
Karen’s journey to the limelight began in 1965 when she met Henry Hill. Karen met Hill through Paul Vario who insisted that Karen should accompany Hill to a double date at a restaurant. The date was not successful, as Hill ended up showing up late.
Hill and Karen began going on dates, and she was impressed with Hill’s outward lifestyle. The duo married later in a big wedding event, which was attended by Henry’s gangster friends.
Rise to Fame
Karen Hill became a public image after the 1990 film Goodfellas was released. She was portrayed by Lorraine Bracco in the film. Apart from the film, Karen’s story has been shared through various books, making her name recognized, for entertaining gangster lifestyle.
Later Life
Karen Hill’s life changed when her husband agreed to be an informant. This came after he was arrested in 1980 on a narcotics-trafficking charge. Because he did not want to go to jail, he agreed to be an informant and he entered the U.S Marshal’s Witness Protection Program in 1980, alongside his entire family.
Karen and her children changed their names, and they moved around many places to hide their identities. Henry Hill was convicted of cocaine trafficking in 1987 and was expelled from the protection program. Karen filed for divorce in 1990 after 23 years of marriage.
Karen has continued to use an alias, to hide her identity. Also, her children use different names. The two children released a book in 2004, and they opened up about their experience with the mafia. The children disclosed in the book that while Karen and her ex-husband were committing crimes, their maternal grandparents and maternal aunts took care of them.
