Joe Grifasi
Born: 1944-06-14 in Buffalo - New York - USA
Known For: Acting
Biography
Joseph G. "Joe" Grifasi (born June 14, 1944) is an American character actor of film, stage and television. Born in Buffalo, New York, Grifasi joined the U.S. Army prior to studying acting. He has appeared in more than 50 feature films including Presumed Innocent, The Deer Hunter, Big Business, Beaches, Auto Focus, Matewan, Naked Gun, Dark Matter, Natural Born Killers, Chances Are, Changing Lanes, One Fine Day, F/X, Benny & Joon, The Pope of Greenwich Village, Brewster’s Millions, Batman Forever, The Flamingo Kid, Ironweed, and Splash. His television credits include The Bronx is Burning (as Yogi Berra), 61* (as Phil Rizzuto), Law & Order, ER, LA Law, Chicago Hope, Hill Street Blues, SCTV, Roseanne, and The Practice. Grifasi’s Broadway credits include Dinner at Eight, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, A Memory of Two Mondays, Boy Meets Girl, The Accidental Death of an Anarchist, The 1940’s Radio Hour and Happy End. His off-Broadway credits include Conversations in Tusculum, The Boys Next Door (Drama Desk Nomination), Once Around the City, Golden Boy, Filumena and Says I, Says He. He has been married to jazz soprano saxophonist and composer Jane Ira Bloom, whom he met while studying at the Yale School of Drama, since 1974.
Filmography
2024
- Tornado as Rich
2023
- Endgame as Nagg
2022
- The Dreams of Rene Sendam as Dr. Bradley
2021
- Me To Play as Himself
2020
- I Know This Much Is True as Steve Falice
- Radium Girls as Grandpa
2019
- Evil as Lombino
2018
- New Amsterdam as Lilo Steinhauser
- Lodge 49
2017
- The Good Fight as Judge John Mata
2016
- Bull as Judge Arlen Rand
- The American Side as The Serb
- No Pay, Nudity as Mr. Davenport
- Baked in Brooklyn as David's Dad
2014
- A Midsummer Night's Dream as Peter Quince
2012
- Elementary as Captain Moretti
2010
- The Front as Mr. Zeffirelli
- The Last New Yorker as Jerry
2009
- The Good Wife as Judge John Mata
2008
2007
- The Bronx Is Burning as Yogi Berra
2006
- Conviction as Judge Harrigan
- A Crime as Bill
- Lewis Black: Red, White & Screwed as Uncle Sam
2005
- Slow Burn as Desk Sgt. Drown
2004
- 13 Going on 30 as Mr. Flamhaff
- A Jersey Tale as Alphonso "Chunks" Colon
2003
- Hope & Faith as Leo
- Tarzan as Lieutenant Scott Connor
2002
- Changing Lanes as Judge Cosell
- Auto Focus as Strip Club M.C.
2001
- 61* as Phil Rizzuto
- Some of My Best Friends as Joe Zito
- Queenie in Love as Berthold
2000
- Deadline as Mike Phelan
- The Beat as Vince Marinelli
- The Other Me as Conrad
- Looking for an Echo as Vic
1999
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Hashi Horowitz
- The Out-of-Towners as Arresting Cop
- Switching Goals as Dave
1998
- The Naked Man as Koski
- The Deal as Boular
1997
- The Practice as Harry Papp
- Sunday as Scottie Elster
1996
- Early Edition as Harry Hawks
- Remember WENN as Larry Looper
- One Fine Day as Manny Feldstein
- Undue Influence as Clem
- Shadow of a Doubt as Sidney Sherman
1995
- Batman Forever as Bank Guard
- Money Train as Riley
- Heavy as Leo
- Two Bits as Uncle Joe
1994
- ER as Tom Williams
- Chicago Hope as Larry Ruscetti
- Natural Born Killers as Deputy Sheriff Duncan Homolka
- Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult as Director
- The Hudsucker Proxy as Lou
- Jack Reed: A Search for Justice
1993
- Class of '96 as Joe Morrisey
- Benny & Joon as Mike
- Moon Over Miami
- Taking the Heat as Lou Valentine
- Household Saints as Frank Manzone
1992
- Sinatra as George Evans
- Citizen Cohn as Gerald Walpin
- Primary Motive as Paul Melton
1991
- City of Hope as Pauly
1990
- Law & Order as Ezra Gould
- Capital News
- Presumed Innocent as Tommy Molto
- WIOU as Tony Pro
1989
- Chances Are as Omar
- Kojak: Ariana as Lieutenant Rastelli
- Perfect Witness as Breeze
- The Feud as Bud Bullard
1988
- The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! as Foreman
- Roseanne as IRS Office Supervisor
- Big Business as Desk Clerk
- The Appointments of Dennis Jennings as Bartender
1987
- Moonstruck as Shy Waiter
- Ironweed as Jack
- Matewan as Fausto
1986
- L.A. Law as Dominic Nuzzi
- Matlock as Hot Dog Vendor
- F/X as Mickey
- One Police Plaza as Insp. Nicolas Zambrano
1985
- The Equalizer as Lt. Vocek
- Moonlighting as Kapatkin
- Brewster's Millions as J.B. Donaldo
- Bad Medicine as Gómez
1984
- Splash as Manny
- The Pope of Greenwich Village as Jimmy the Cheese Man
- The Flamingo Kid as Mario Minetta
1983
- Will There Really Be a Morning? as Wyler
1982
- Still of the Night as Joseph Vitucci
- The Elephant Man as Pinhead Manager
1981
- Hill Street Blues as Ronnie Delacroce
- The Gentleman Bandit as Det. Esposito
- Honky Tonk Freeway as Osvaldo
- The 6th Annual Young Comedians as Self (Audience Member) (uncredited)
1980
- Hide in Plain Sight as Matty Stanek
1979
- Something Short of Paradise as Barney Collins
1978
- The Deer Hunter as Bandleader
- On the Yard as Morris
1977
- Secret Service as Cpl. Matson
1971
- Great Performances as Cpl. Matson