Joe Mantegna

Photo of Joe Mantegna

Biography

A versatile, seasoned player on both stage and screen, Joe Mantegna first garnered national prominence for his work with writer-director David Mamet, earning a Tony award for "Glengarry Glen Ross" in 1983 before appearing in Mamet films like "House of Games" (1987), "Homicide" (1991) and the slated 2008 release "Redbelt. " The Italian Chicago native was often typecast in mafia and con man roles when he first transitioned to film and …
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Job Title

Actor, Director, Producer, Writer, Music

Born

Joseph Anthony Mantegna on November 13, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois, USA

Career Milestones

2007

Joined the cast of CBS' drama "Criminal Minds," replacing Mandy Patinkin

2007

Reprised the character of Fat Tony in "The Simpsons Movie"

2007

Portrayed studio head 'Lou Manahan' in USA Network's "The Starter Wife"; earned an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie

2005

Cast in the ensemble "Nine Lives"; Rodrigo García directs a series of vignettes, offering glimpses into the lives of nine women

2005

Co-starred with Anne Archer in "Uncle Nino" a film about a dysfunctional family brought closer by a visiting relative

2004

Cast as the father of Jonathan Tucker's character in the drama "Stateside"

2002

Co-starred as a US Supreme Court Justice in the CBS series "First Monday"

2001

Reprised role as Parker's PI Spenser in the A&E original "Walking Shadows"

2000

Feature directorial debut, "Lakeboat"

2000

Again played Spenser in "Thin Air" (A&E)

1999

Had supporting role in Barry Levinson's semi-autobiographical coming-of-age tale "Liberty Heights"

1999

Appeared as Robert Parker's private investigator Spenser in the A&E telefilm "Small Vices"

1999

Executive produced and starred in "Hoods" (Starz!)

1998

Cast as Dean Martin in the HBO biopic "The Rat Pack"

1998

Reprised role in the sequel "Mario Puzo's The Last Don II" (CBS)

1998

Recreated stage role of Gomez who covets the titular "The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit"; screened at the Sundance Film Festival before becoming a direct-to-video release

1997

Starred opposite Blythe Danner as Holocaust survivors in "A Call to Remember" (Starz!)

1997

Portrayed yet another mafiosa in the CBS miniseries "Mario Puzo's The Last Don"; received an Emmy nomination

1996

Played an agent in "Up Close and Personal"

1994

Directed Mamet's play "Lifeboat" at the Tiffany Theater in West Hollywood

1994

Received strong notices as an emergency room physician in the "HBO Showcase" production "State of Emergency"

1993

Offered a fine change-of-pace turn as the father of a chess prodigy in "Searching for Bobby Fischer"

1993

Co-starred with Madonna in the film "Body of Evidence"

1992

Had the leading role of a genius inventor in the TV adaptation of Mamet's "The Water Engine" (TNT)

1991

Portrayed Hollywood veteran George Raft in Barry Levinson's "Bugsy"

1991

Provided the voice of the recurring character Fat Tony in episodes of the Fox animated series "The Simpsons"

1990

Cast as a small-time hood named Joey Zasa in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather, Part III"

1990

Starred opposite Mia Farrow in Woody Allen's "Alice"

1988

Returned to Broadway in Mamet's "Speed-the-Plow"; co-starring with Madonna and Ron Silver

1988

Starred opposite Don Ameche in Mamet's "Things Change"

1987

Played first leading role in a film, "House of Games"; written and directed by David Mamet

1985

First major feature acting role, "Compromising Positions" portraying a womanizing dentist who is murdered

1984

Breakthrough stage role as Ricky Roma in Mamet's Pulitzer-winning "Glengarry Glen Ross"; won Tony Award

1979

Primetime TV debut in the ABC biopic "Elvis"

Started a business taking head shots of actors

1978

Moved to Los Angeles with wife; actor Dennis Franz traveled with them

1978

Broadway debut in the musical "Working"

1977

Staged and co-scripted (with Organic Theater associates) "Bleacher Bums"

Acted in David Mamet's "A Life in the Theater"

1976

Worked as teacher at Columbia College, Chicago

1973

Joined Organic Theatre Company (remained six years) acting in such productions as "The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit"

1971

Returned to Chicago

1969

First professional stage job cast as Berger in a touring production of "Hair"

Sang in a rock band, Apocryphals, while in high school

Acted in several high school plays

Awards

2007

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie in The Starter Wife

1999

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie in The Rat Pack

1998

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television in The Rat Pack

1997

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor In a Miniseries or Special in Mario Puzo's The Last Don II

1988

Venice International Film Festival for Volpi Cup for Best Actor in Things Change

1984

Tony Award for Actor (Featured Role--Play)