Who Is Claudia Haro? From Hollywood Actress to a Notorious Prison Sentence

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Claudia Haro’s story is one of fame, glamour, crime, and controversy. Known in the 1990s for her modest but visible film roles and as the ex-wife of Oscar-winning actor Joe Pesci, Claudia Haro later made headlines for a chilling reason: her involvement in a high-profile murder-for-hire plot against her second husband, Garrett Warren.

Though she once stood beside A-list stars and appeared in major Hollywood productions, Haro’s reputation eventually became synonymous with one of the most sensational criminal cases in the entertainment world. In this article, we take a deep dive into Claudia Haro’s life—her rise to visibility, her tumultuous personal life, the shocking crime that changed everything, and where she is now.

Table of Contents

Early Life and Entry into Hollywood

Claudia Martha Haro was born on October 17, 1967, in the United States. Unlike many Hollywood hopefuls, Claudia didn’t begin her career in acting. She came into the public eye largely due to her high-profile relationship with Joe Pesci, a legendary actor known for roles in Goodfellas, Casino, and Home Alone. The pair married in 1988, and Haro’s visibility in the entertainment industry soon followed.

Claudia Haro’s Acting Career: A Brief Hollywood Chapter

Though not a household name, Claudia Haro had a brief but notable acting career between 1994 and 1997, appearing in a handful of films—most of which were linked to or starred her then-husband, Joe Pesci. Her performances were generally supporting roles or cameos, but she shared the screen with some of the most recognized names in film.

Her Notable Film Credits Include:

Jimmy Hollywood (1994) – Played a Newscaster
With Honors (1994) – Portrayed a student named Marty
Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994) – Appeared as a receptionist at New Line Cinema
Casino (1995) – Played Trudy, a minor role in Martin Scorsese’s mob epic
Gone Fishin’ (1997) – Cast as Julie, a role in the slapstick comedy featuring Pesci and Danny Glover

Her acting career was short-lived, with her last credited performance coming just a few years after her debut. It’s widely believed she left the industry to focus on family and personal life.

Marriage to Joe Pesci and Their Daughter

Claudia Haro’s most high-profile relationship was with Joe Pesci, whom she married in 1988. Together, they had a daughter, Tiffany Pesci, who has kept a low profile throughout her life. Despite Pesci’s fame and success, the couple’s marriage ended in 1992, with rumors of infidelity and lifestyle differences contributing to the breakup.

Even after their divorce, Joe Pesci reportedly supported Claudia at various points in her life—though he was not involved in the later criminal events that would define her public image.

Second Marriage to Garrett Warren and Family Turmoil

In the late 1990s, Claudia married Garrett Warren, a prominent Hollywood stuntman and fight choreographer known for his work on Avatar, Iron Man 2, and Logan. The couple had a daughter named Kaylie, but their marriage was short-lived.

In 2000, Garrett filed for divorce and was awarded primary custody of their daughter. This decision reportedly devastated Claudia and escalated tensions between them. Their volatile custody battle would become the catalyst for one of Hollywood’s darkest real-life crimes.

The Attempted Murder of Garrett Warren

On May 20, 2000, shortly after finalizing the divorce, Garrett Warren was shot four times at his home in Westlake Village, California. He was hit in the chest, neck, left hip, and right eye, resulting in the loss of his right eye. Miraculously, he survived the assassination attempt.

Initially, there were no leads. However, the case remained open, and investigators continued digging. Years later, a breakthrough came when a relative of Claudia Haro was found with a “murder book”—a dossier containing detailed information about Garrett Warren’s home, routines, and photos. The evidence eventually led authorities to Claudia herself.

Arrest, Trial, and Conviction

In December 2005, Claudia Haro was arrested for conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder. The evidence painted a chilling picture of a woman so consumed by anger over a custody dispute that she orchestrated a hit on her ex-husband.

Claudia initially denied all charges but eventually pleaded no contest in 2012. She was sentenced to 12 years and 4 months in a California state prison. According to court documents and reports, Claudia was not the shooter but had paid intermediaries to carry out the job.

Her role in one of Hollywood’s most shocking true crime stories has been covered in several documentaries, including episodes of Dateline NBC and Snapped.

Prison Life and Early Release

Claudia Haro served her sentence at the California Institution for Women in Corona, California. While she was scheduled to be released in 2024, records confirm that she was released early in August 2019, after serving approximately 7 years.

Details about her prison life remain scarce. It is believed she maintained good behavior and participated in rehabilitation programs, which may have contributed to her early release.

Where Is Claudia Haro Today?

Since her release, Claudia Haro has remained entirely out of the public spotlight. She does not maintain a social media presence, hasn’t given interviews, and has avoided public appearances. There is no confirmed information about her current occupation or residence.

Given the nature of her crime and the media attention it attracted, it’s likely that Haro is intentionally keeping a low profile to protect herself and her family from further scrutiny. As of 2024, no new legal trouble or public controversies have involved her.

Her daughter with Garrett Warren, Kaylie, has also stayed private, and there are no verified public records of her adult life or activities. Likewise, her daughter with Joe Pesci, Tiffany Pesci, is known to keep away from the public eye.

Claudia Haro’s Net Worth

Estimates regarding Claudia Haro’s net worth vary widely. Some sources claim she may be worth as much as $12 million, while others suggest it is closer to $1–2 million as of 2024. These figures are speculative and likely based on:

Divorce settlements from Joe Pesci and Garrett Warren
Earnings from her brief acting career
Potential residuals from film appearances
Possible support from family or investments

There is no known business or public project that currently contributes to her income.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

Claudia Haro’s life is now more remembered for its crime-related notoriety than her brief Hollywood career. Her story stands as a cautionary tale of how personal vendettas and unchecked emotions can lead to devastating consequences.

She has become a central figure in discussions of true crime in Hollywood, and her name often surfaces in blogs, documentaries, and crime podcasts exploring cases involving celebrities.

Despite her past fame and connections to household names like Joe Pesci and Martin Scorsese, Claudia Haro now lives in virtual anonymity—a fallen figure from Hollywood’s golden age of crime and drama.

Final Words

Claudia Haro’s journey from actress and celebrity spouse to a convicted felon is as shocking as it is tragic. Her involvement in one of the most notorious Hollywood crimes of the 2000s ended her brief acting career and left a permanent mark on her legacy.

While she may have paid her debt to society, the stigma of her past continues to shape how she is remembered. As of today, she remains a mystery in her post-prison life, a woman who once walked red carpets and now walks in silence.