Joe Grifasi
American actor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joseph G. Grifasi (born June 14, 1944) is an American character actor of film, stage and television.[1]
Born
June 14, 1944
Joseph G. Grifasi
June 14, 1944
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
OthernameJoseph Grifasi
EducationCanisius College (BA)
Yale University (MFA)
Yale University (MFA)
OccupationActor
Joe Grifasi | |
|---|---|
Grifasi (bottom right) with David Schramm, David Strathairn, John Amos and Joe Urla in The Boys Next Door, 1987 | |
| Born | Joseph G. Grifasi June 14, 1944 Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Other name | Joseph Grifasi |
| Education | Canisius College (BA) Yale University (MFA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Spouse | Jane Ira Bloom |
Early life and education
Grifasi was born in Buffalo, New York, the son of Patricia (née Gaglione) and Joseph J. Grifasi, a skilled laborer.[1] Grifasi graduated from Bishop Fallon High School, a now-defunct Roman Catholic high school in Buffalo, when he made the decision that he wanted to be, not just any old actor, but a character actor.[2]
Career
Grifasi has more than 130 film and television credits to his name, including two New York Yankees elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame: Phil Rizzuto in 61*, set in 1961; and Yogi Berra in The Bronx Is Burning, set in 1977.[1]
He also played Pier 32 dock foreman in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, having one of the memorable scenes of the film while being questioned by Frank Drebin.
From 2005 and 2021, Grifasi has portrayed Defense Attorney Heshi Horowitz, who goes on to become a Superior Court Judge on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.[3][4]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | On the Yard | Morris | |
| The Deer Hunter | Bandleader | ||
| 1979 | Something Short of Paradise | Barney Collins | |
| 1980 | Hide in Plain Sight | Matty Stanek | |
| 1981 | The Gentleman Bandit | Detective Esposito | |
| Honky Tonk Freeway | Osvaldo | ||
| 1982 | Fighting Back | Detective | Uncredited |
| Still of the Night | Joseph Vitucci | ||
| 1984 | Splash | Manny | |
| The Pope of Greenwich Village | Jimmy the Cheese Man | ||
| The Flamingo Kid | Mario Minetta | ||
| 1985 | Brewster's Millions | J.B. Donaldo | |
| Bad Medicine | Gómez | ||
| 1986 | F/X | Mickey | |
| 1987 | Ironweed | Jack | |
| Matewan | Fausto | ||
| Moonstruck | Shy Waiter | ||
| 1988 | The Appointments of Dennis Jennings | Bartender | Short film |
| Beaches | Otto Titsling | ||
| Big Business | Desk Clerk | ||
| The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! | Foreman | ||
| 1989 | Chances Are | Omar | |
| The Feud | Bud Bullard | ||
| 1990 | Presumed Innocent | Tommy Molto | |
| 1991 | City of Hope | Pauly | |
| 1992 | Primary Motive | Paul Melton | |
| 1993 | Benny & Joon | Mike | |
| Household Saints | Frank Manzone | ||
| 1994 | The Hudsucker Proxy | Lou | |
| Naked Gun 33+1⁄3: The Final Insult | Director | ||
| Natural Born Killers | Deputy Sheriff Duncan Homolka | ||
| 1995 | Batman Forever | Bank Guard | |
| Heavy | Leo | ||
| Money Train | Riley | ||
| Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventure | Man in Top Hat | ||
| Two Bits | Uncle Joe | ||
| 1996 | One Fine Day | Manny Feldstein | |
| 1997 | Sunday | Scottie Elster | |
| 1998 | The Naked Man | Koski | |
| 1999 | The Out-of-Towners | Arresting Cop | |
| 2000 | Looking for an Echo | Vic | |
| 2001 | Queenie in Love | Berthold | |
| 2002 | Auto Focus | Strip Club M.C. | |
| Changing Lanes | Judge Cosell | ||
| 2003 | Bought & Sold | Alphonso 'Chunks' Colon | |
| 2004 | 13 Going on 30 | Mr. Flamhaff | |
| 2005 | Slow Burn | Desk Sgt. Drown | |
| 2006 | A Crime | BIll | |
| Creating Karma | Prighorn | ||
| 2007 | Dark Matter | Professor Colby | |
| The Last New Yorker | Jerry | ||
| 2009 | Under New Management | Msgr. Tranni | |
| 2012 | Othello | Brabantio | |
| 2014 | Julie Taymor's A Midsummer Night's Dream | Peter Quince | |
| 2016 | The American Side | The Serb | |
| Baked in Brooklyn | David's Dad | ||
| No Pay, Nudity | Mr. Davenport |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974–1975 | Police Surgeon | Jerry Shields / Sam Sitko | 2 episodes |
| 1977 | Great Performances | Corporal Matson | Episode: "Secret Service" |
| Camera Three | Louis: Suicide in B Flat | 2 episodes | |
| 1982 | The Elephant Man | Pinhead Manager | TV film |
| 1983 | Will There Really Be a Morning? | Wyler | |
| 1986 | The Equalizer | Lt. Vocek | Episode: "The Line" |
| One Police Plaza | Inspector Nicholas Zambrano | TV film | |
| 1987 | Hill Street Blues | Ronnie Delacroce | Episode: "Sorry Wrong Number" |
| The Ellen Burstyn Show | Timothy Winnegrew | Episode: "The Box" | |
| 1988 | Matlock | Hot Dog Vendor | Episode: "The Ambassador: Part 1" |
| 1989 | Men | Lieutenant Chibo | Episode: "The Trouble with Harvey" |
| Moonlighting | Kapatkin | Episode: "Lunar Eclipse" | |
| Perfect Witness | Breeze | TV film | |
| Kojak: Ariana | Lieutenant Rastelli | ||
| 1990 | Midnight Caller | Harry Manx | Episode: "Planes" |
| Roseanne | IRS Office Supervisor | Episode: "April Fool's Day" | |
| Down Home | Dr. Ort | Episode: "Sometimes a Cigar's Just a Cigar or Wade" | |
| Capital News | Episode: "Swanns and Drakes" | ||
| 1990–1991 | WIOU | Tony Pro | Main role, 18 episodes |
| 1991 | Law & Order | Ezra Gould | Episode: "Out of Control" |
| 1992 | Citizen Cohn | Gerald Walpin | TV film |
| Sinatra | George Evans | Miniseries, 2 episodes | |
| 1993–1994 | L.A. Law | Dominic Nuzzi | 5 episodes |
| 1993 | Taking the Heat | Lou Valentine | TV film |
| 1996, 1998, 2001 | Law & Order | Defense Attorney James Linde | 3 episodes |
| 1996–1997 | Early Edition | Harry Hawks | |
| 1996 | Chicago Hope | Larry Ruscetti | Episode: "Mummy Dearest" |
| 1997 | The Practice | Harry Papp | Episode: "Sex, Lies and Monkeys" |
| 1998 | Homicide: Life on the Street | Lt. Walter Neal | Episode: "Closet Cases", uncredited |
| 1999 | Switching Goals | Dave | TV film |
| 2000 | The Other Me | Conrad | |
| 2001 | 61* | Phil Rizzuto | |
| 2003 | ER | Tom Williams | Episode: "Now What?" |
| 2004 | Hope & Faith | Leo | Episode: "The Diner Show" |
| 2005–2013, 2015–2021 |
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Defense Attorney Hashi Horowitz/Judge Hashi Horowitz | 14 episodes |
| 2007 | The Bronx is Burning | Yogi Berra | Miniseries, 8 episodes |
| 2014 | Elementary | Captain Moretti | Episode: "Rip Off" |
| 2016 | The Good Wife | Judge John Mata | Episode: "Judged" |
| 2016–2021 | Bull | Judge Arlen Rand | 7 episodes |
| 2017 | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Judge Hackett | Episode: "Because You Left" |
| 2018–2019 | Lodge 49 | Burt | 11 episodes |
| 2020 | The Good Fight | Judge John Mata | Episode: "The Gang Deals with Alternate Reality" |
| I Know This Much Is True | Steve Falice | Episode: "Four", miniseries | |
| 2022 | Evil | Lombino | 3 episodes |
| New Amsterdam | Lilo Steinhauser | Episode: "Right Place" |