Joe Pantoliano

Photo of Joe Pantoliano

Biography

After knocking around the New York theater scene, Pantoliano broke into television after moving to Los Angeles. Though remaining busy, he took some time to truly establish himself. His moment arrived when he played Guido the Pimp in the Tom Cruise vehicle, "Risky Business" (1983), which helped him gain a degree of recognition. From there, he became known for playing low-level crooks and hustlers in movies and on television until he …
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Job Title

Actor, Director, Producer, Writer

Born

Joseph Peter Pantoliano on September 12, 1951 in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA

Career Milestones

1968

Made professional stage debut on the New York stage at age 17

1972

Portrayed Billy Bibbit in a stage production of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"

1976

Moved to Los Angeles

1978

Had a recurring role in the summer replacement series, "Free Country" (ABC); co-star Rob Reiner also co-scripted and co-produced

1978

Re-teamed with Rob Reiner for the TV-movie, "More Than Friends"

1979

Gained notice for his interpretation of Angelo Maggio - Frank Sinatra's role in the original - for the NBC miniseries, "From Here to Eternity"

1980

Feature acting debut, "The Idolmaker"

1983

Breakthrough feature, played the supporting role of Guido 'The Killer Pimp' in the surprise hit, "Risky Business"

1983

Originated the lead role of Philip in "Orphans" at the Matrix Theatre in Los Angeles, CA

1985

Played the villainous Francis Fratelli in "The Gooonies"; produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Richard Donner

1987

Played John Malkovich's sidekick in the Steven Spielberg directed, "Empire of the Sun"

1987

Played Ritchie Valens' manager in the biopic, "La Bamba"

1987

Portrayed anti-Communist attorney Roy Cohn in the CBS miniseries, "Robert Kennedy and His Times"

1990

Cast as a regular in the short-lived NBC sitcom, "The Fanelli Boys"

1993

Portrayed Agent Cosmo Renfro in the thriller, "The Fugitive"

1994

Played Captain Howard, opposite Martin Lawrence and Will Smith, in Michael Bay's "Bad Boys"

1995

Played the recurring role of stoolie Vinnie Greco on ABC's "NYPD Blue"

1996

Cast as a regular on the CBS crime drama, "EZ Streets"

1996

Played Jennifer Tilly's gangster lover in "Bound"; directed by the Wachowski brothers

1998

Reprised role of Cosmo Renfro in "U.S. Marshals"

1999

Re-teamed with the Wachowski brothers to play renegade Cypher in "The Matrix"

2000

Joined the cast of HBO's "The Sopranos" as mob hothead Ralph Cifaretto

2000

Played a slightly mysterious figure shadowing a man who cannot form new memories in Christopher Nolan's stylish thriller, "Memento"

2001

Appeared in two episodes of the WB's teen sci-fi series, "Roswell"

2002

Featured in the Eddie Murphy misfire, "The Adventures of Pluto Nash"

2003

Feature directorial debut, "Just Like Mona"

2003

Reprised role as Captain Howard for the sequel, "Bad Boys 2"

2003

Reprised role as Cypher in "The Matrix: Reloaded"

2003

Starred in the short-lived CBS series, "The Handler"

2005

Played a recurring role on the short-lived NBC drama, "Dr. Vegas"

2005

Voiced Goose, a former mob hitman pelican, in the animated feature "Racing Stripes"

2009

Co-starred in the independent dark comedy, "The Job"

2010

Cast as Gabe Ugliano, Percy's mean stepfather, in the film adaptation of "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief"

2010

Voiced the character of Peek the Chinese crested dog in "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore," the sequel to the 2001 family film "Cats & Dogs"

Awards

2002

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in The Sopranos

2003

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in The Sopranos

2003

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in The Sopranos