Joseph Peter Pantoliano (born September 12, 1951) is an American character actor who has appeared in over 150 film, television, and stage productions.
After his early roles in the television series M*A*S*H and the 1983 comedy Risky Business, he gained recognition for his numerous supporting roles in high-profile films and television series; including Hill Street Blues, The Goonies, La Bamba, Empire of the Sun, The Fugitive, NYPD Blue, Memento, and Bad Boys and its sequels. He starred as Caesar in the Wachowskis’ directorial debut Bound and played Cypher in their second film The Matrix (1999). His role as Ralph Cifaretto on the HBO crime drama The Sopranos won him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
Pantoliano is a published author and is active in the field of mental health, having documented his mother’s issues and his own. He founded the nonprofit No Kidding, Me Too! dedicated to removing the stigma from mental illness.
Early life and education
Pantoliano was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, the son of Italian American parents Mary (née Centrella), a bookie and seamstress, and Dominic “Monk” Pantoliano, a hearse driver and factory foreman. Pantoliano’s family moved to Cliffside Park, New Jersey, where he attended Cliffside Park High School.
He attended HB Studio, and studied extensively with actors John Lehne and Herbert Berghof.
Career
Pantoliano aboard the USS John F. Kennedy during Fleet Week, 2005
He first grew to fame as “Guido the Killer Pimp” in Risky Business and continued to rise in 1985 when he appeared as the villainous Francis Fratelli in teen classic The Goonies. He gained fame among a new generation as Cypher in the 1999 landmark sci-fi film The Matrix and won a Primetime Emmy Award as Ralph Cifaretto in HBO’s The Sopranos. Pantoliano is also known for his role as Eddie Moscone, the foul-mouthed, double-crossing bail bondsman, in the Robert De Niro comedy Midnight Run, as Captain Conrad Howard in Bad Boys and its sequels Bad Boys II and Bad Boys for Life, as double-crossed mafioso Caesar in Bound, as John “Teddy” Gammell in Memento, and as investigative journalist Ben Urich in Mark Steven Johnson’s 2003 Daredevil adaptation. He also played Deputy U.S. Marshal Cosmo Renfro in The Fugitive along with Tommy Lee Jones and reprised the role in the sequel U.S. Marshals.
In 2003 Pantoliano replaced Stanley Tucci in the Broadway play Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune. That same year he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for The Sopranos.
In 2012 Pantoliano starred as the eccentric pawn broker Oswald Oswald in the film adaptation of Wendy Mass’s popular children’s book Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, written and directed by Tamar Halpern. In 2013, he was cast as Yogi Berra in the Broadway production of Bronx Bombers, but dropped out during rehearsals due to “creative differences.”
When not acting, Pantoliano writes. He is the author of two memoirs: Who’s Sorry Now: The True Story of a Stand-Up Guy, and Asylum: Hollywood Tales From My Great Depression: Brain Dis-Ease, Recovery and Being My Mother’s Son. In the latter, he writes about his addictions to alcohol, food, sex, Vicodin, and Percocet, before being diagnosed with clinical depression.
Personal life
Pantoliano and his wife Nancy Sheppard, a former model, have four children. He was introduced to his wife by his friend, actress Samantha Phillips.
On October 9, 2007, Pantoliano announced on the National Alliance on Mental Illness blog that he has been suffering from clinical depression for the last decade, although he was only formally diagnosed recently. He claims that his 2006 film Canvas helped him come to terms with his depression. Rather than hide his illness from the public, he has chosen to speak out about it to remove some of the stigmas commonly associated with mental illness. He founded a nonprofit organization, No Kidding, Me Too!, to unite members of the entertainment industry in educating the public about mental illness. The title comes from the response he has frequently heard after divulging how mental illness affected him and his family. In 2009, he directed, wrote, and starred in his first documentary called NO KIDDING! ME 2!! He also has dyslexia.
After a Sopranos episode in which his character brutally beat a young stripper to death, during an interview he stated, “After the episode aired a lot more women started hitting on me. I thought it was very revealing.” During his tenure on the show, Pantoliano struggled to stay anonymous in New Jersey. To avoid being recognized by fans he wore a wig based on the hair style of Christopher Nolan, with whom he had worked in Memento.
On May 1, 2020, Pantoliano was struck by a vehicle while walking, and suffered a concussion and chest trauma.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Road Movie | Mugger | Credited as Joseph Pantoliano |
| For Pete’s Sake | Undercover Cop | Uncredited | |
| 1980 | The Idolmaker | Gino Pilato | |
| 1982 | Monsignor | Pvt. Joe Musso | |
| 1983 | The Final Terror | Eggar Buelton | |
| Risky Business | Guido | ||
| Eddie and the Cruisers | Doc Robbins | ||
| 1985 | The Mean Season | Andy Porter | |
| The Goonies | Francis Fratelli | ||
| 1986 | Running Scared | Snake | |
| 1987 | Scenes from the Goldmine | Manny Ricci | |
| La Bamba | Bob Keane | ||
| The Squeeze | Norman | ||
| Amazon Women on the Moon | Sy Swerdlow | Segment: “Hairlooming” | |
| Empire of the Sun | Frank Demarest | ||
| 1988 | The in Crowd | Perry Parker | |
| Midnight Run | Eddie Moscone | ||
| 1990 | Ardouous Moon | Short film | |
| Downtown | White | ||
| Blue Heat | Wayne Gross | ||
| Short Time | Scalese | ||
| Backstreet Dreams | Paul Antangeli | Uncredited | |
| 1991 | Zandalee | Gerri | |
| 1992 | Used People | Frank | |
| 1993 | Three of Hearts | Mickey | |
| The Fugitive | Deputy U.S. Marshal Cosmo Renfro | ||
| Calendar Girl | Harvey Darpinian | ||
| Me and the Kid | Roy | ||
| 1994 | Robot in the Family | The Father | |
| Teresa’s Tattoo | Bruno | ||
| Baby’s Day Out | Norbert “Norby” LeBlaw | ||
| 1995 | Bad Boys | Captain Conrad Howard | |
| Congo | Eddie Ventro | Uncredited | |
| The Last Word | Doc | ||
| Steal Big Steal Little | Eddie Agopian, Ruben’s Lawyer | ||
| The Immortals | Pete Tunnell | ||
| 1996 | The Flight of the Dove | Attorney Brezner | |
| Bound | Caesar | ||
| 1997 | Top of the World | Vince Castor | |
| Aliens Attack | Captain Nevins | ||
| Tinseltown | Arnie | ||
| Natural Enemy | Stuart | Direct-to-video | |
| 1998 | U.S. Marshals | Deputy U.S. Marshal Cosmo Renfro | |
| Hoods | Charlie Flynn | ||
| Taxman | Al Benjamin | ||
| 1999 | Forces of Nature | Cab Driver | Uncredited cameo |
| The Matrix | Cypher | ||
| Black and White | Bill King | ||
| The Life Before This | Jake Maclean | ||
| New Blood | Hellman | ||
| 2000 | Ready to Rumble | Titus Sinclair | |
| Memento | “Teddy” James Edward Gammell | ||
| A Better Way to Die | Flash | ||
| 2001 | Cats & Dogs | Peek (voice) | |
| 2002 | A Call for Help | Charlie | |
| The Adventures of Pluto Nash | Mogan | ||
| 2003 | Daredevil | Ben Urich | |
| Bad Boys II | Captain Conrad Howard | ||
| Silver Man | Norbert | ||
| 2004 | Second Best | Elliot | |
| Perfect Opposites | Louis Carbonelli | ||
| The Easter Egg Adventure | Terrible Timothy Takit (voice) | ||
| 2005 | Racing Stripes | Goose (voice) | |
| The Check Up | The Inspector | Short film | |
| The Amateurs | Some Idiot | ||
| 2006 | Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector | Mayor M.T. Gunn | |
| Wedding Daze | Smitty | ||
| Canvas | John Marino | ||
| Unknown | Bound Man | ||
| 2007 | Spring Break ’83 | Sergeant Coltrane | Unreleased |
| 2009 | The Job | Perriman | |
| Deadly Impact | David Kaplow | ||
| Falling Up | George | ||
| 2010 | The Legend of Secret Pass | Chucksta (voice) | |
| Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief | Gabe Ugliano | ||
| Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore | Peek (voice) | ||
| New York Street Games | Himself | Documentary | |
| 2011 | Loosies | Carl | |
| Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life | Oswald Oswald III | ||
| 2014 | The Identical | Avi Hirshberg | |
| 2016 | The Perfect Match | Marty | |
| 2017 | Just Getting Started | Joe | |
| 2018 | Happy Anniversary | Aldo | |
| Feast of the Seven Fishes | Uncle Frankie | ||
| The Brawler | Al Braverman | ||
| 2019 | From the Vine | Marco Gentile | |
| 2020 | Bad Boys for Life | Captain Conrad Howard | |
| TBA | Hide and Seek | Post-production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | McNamara’s Band | Frankie Milano | Television film |
| 1978 | Free Country | Louis Peschi | 3 episodes |
| 1979 | From Here to Eternity | Pvt. Angelo Maggio | 3 episodes |
| 1980 | Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story | Ray Neal | Television film |
| 1981, 1984 | Hart to Hart | Frank Tisdale / Nate Volkman | 2 episodes |
| 1981 | M*A*S*H | Cpl. Gerald Mullen/Josh Levin | Episode: “Identity Crisis” |
| 1982 | Chicago Story | Cooney | Episode: “Who Needs the Truth?” |
| 1983 | Hardcastle and McCormick | Teddy Hollins | Episode: “The Crystal Duck” |
| 1984 | Mister Roberts | Insignia | Television film |
| Hill Street Blues | Sonny Orsini | 2 episodes | |
| Trapper John, M.D. | Michael Merrow | Episode: “Where There’s a Will” | |
| Simon & Simon | Carl | Episode: “Who Killed the Sixties?” | |
| 1985 | Robert Kennedy & His Times | Roy Cohn | Episode #1.1 |
| 1986 | Amazing Stories | Joe | Episode: “One for the Road” |
| L.A. Law | Rob Cavanaugh | Episode: “Pilot” | |
| 1987 | Destination America | Lt. Mike Amico | Television film |
| 1988 | Rock ‘n’ Roll Mom | Ronnie | Television film |
| 1989 | Nightbreaker | Sgt. Jack Russell | Television film |
| The Hitchhiker | Brother Charles | Episode: “Miracle of Alice Ames” | |
| Tales from the Crypt | Ulrich The Undying | Episode: “Dig That cat…He’s real gone” | |
| 1990 | El Diablo | Kid Durango | Television film |
| 1990–91 | The Fanelli Boys | Dominic Fanelli | 19 episodes |
| 1991 | One Special Victory | Daniel | Television film |
| 1992 | Through the Eyes of a Killer | Jerry | Television film |
| Highlander: The Series | Doctor Wilder | Episode: “Deadly Medicine” | |
| 1994 | Dangerous Heart | Barclay | Television film |
| Beethoven | Sparky (voice) | 12 episodes | |
| 1995 | The Marshal | Cameris | Episode: “Unprotected Witness” |
| NYPD Blue | Vinnie Greco | 3 episodes | |
| 1996 | Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct: Ice | Det. Meyer Meyer | Television film |
| Life with Louie | Jojo Stomopolous (voice) | Episode: “Caddy on a Hot Tin Roof” | |
| Arliss | Vic Freed | Episode: “The Client’s Best Interest” | |
| 1996–1997 | EZ Streets | Jimmy Murtha | 12 episodes |
| 1998–2000 | Godzilla: The Series | Animal Palotti (voice) | 8 episodes |
| 1998 | Hercules | King Pan (voice) | Episode: “Hercules and the King for a Day” |
| The Lionhearts | Director (voice) | 5 episodes | |
| 1999 | Sugar Hill | Joe | Pilot |
| The Outer Limits | Stan Harbinger | Episode: “Alien Radio” | |
| Olive, the Other Reindeer | Martini (voice) | Television special | |
| 2001–2002 2004 |
The Sopranos | Ralph Cifaretto | 21 episodes |
| 2001 | Roswell | Kal Langley | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | The Nick Cannon Show | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 2003–2004 | The Handler | Joe Renato | 16 episodes |
| 2003 | Gary the Rat | Anthony ‘the Heel’ Stilletto (voice) | Episode: “Sleeps with the Fishes” |
| 2004 | Dr. Vegas | Tommy Danko | 7 episodes |
| 2006 | Deceit | Anthony | Television film |
| Waterfront | James “Jimmy” Centrella | Unreleased series | |
| The Simpsons | Dante (voice) | Episode: “The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer” | |
| 2011 | How to Make it in America | Felix DiFlorio | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | More Time with Family | Stan Rizzo | Pilot |
| 2015 | Deadbeat | Famous Actor | Episode: “The Emancipation Apparition” |
| 2015–2017 | Sense8 | Michael Gorski | Uncredited 5 episodes |
| 2017 | SpongeBob SquarePants | Stickyfins Whiting (voice) | Episode: “The Getaway” |
| 2018 | Lake Placid: Legacy | Henderson | Television film |
| 2020 | Tacoma FD | Eddie Penisi Sr. | Episode: “I’m Eddie Penisi…Sr” |
| 2020 | MacGyver | Eric Andrews | Episode: ““Eclipse + USMC-1856707 + Step Potential + Chain Lock + Ma” |
Video games
| Year | Title | Character | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Majestic | Tim Pritchard | Episode 4 |
| Grand Theft Auto III | Luigi Goterelli | ||
| 2013 | Call of Duty: Black Ops II | Albert “Weasel” Arlington | Mob of the Dead expansion |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Saturn Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Bound | Nominated |
| Television Critics Association | Individual Achievement in Drama | EZ Streets | Nominated | |
| Viewers for Quality Television | Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series | Nominated | ||
| 2002 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | The Sopranos | Nominated |
| 2003 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Won | |
| 2004 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated |
Bibliography
- Who’s Sorry Now: The True Story of a Stand-Up Guy, Joe Pantoliano, David Evanier, Dutton Books (2002), ISBN 978-0525946779
- Asylum, Joe Pantoliano, Hachette Books (2013), ISBN 978-1602861992