Joe Mantegna Biography (1947-)

Full name, Joseph Anthony Mantegna, Jr.; born November 13, 1947, in Chicago,IL; son of Joseph Anthony (in insurance sales) and Mary Ann (a shipping clerk; maiden name, Novelli) Mantegna; married Arlene Urhel (some sources cite surname as Vrhel; an actress and owner of a baked good company), December 3, 1975; children: Mia Marie, Gina Christine. Addresses: Agent: Peter Strainand Associates, 5455 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1812, Los Angeles, CA 90036 (somesources cite 5724 West Third St., Suite 302, Los Angeles, CA 90036).

Nationality: American
Gender: Male
Occupation: Actor, voice performer, producer, director, writer
Birth Details: November 13, 1947; Chicago, Illinois, United States

Famous Works

CREDITS
Film Appearances
Joe, Medusa Challenger, 1977
Chris, Towing (also known as Fun Girls and Who Stole MyWheels?), United International Pictures/Condor, 1978
A Steady Rain, 1978
To Be Announced, 1979
Xanadu (musical), Universal, 1980
Orderly, Second Thoughts, Universal, 1983
Bruce Fleckstein, Compromising Positions, Paramount, 1985
Art Shirk, The Money Pit, Universal, 1986
Harry Flugleman, Three Amigos!, Orion, 1986
Pete Peterson, Off Beat, Buena Vista, 1986
Assistant United States attorney Charlie Stella, Suspect, TriStar,1987
Carmine, Weeds, De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, 1987
Chambers, Critical Condition, Paramount, 1987
Mike, House of Games, Orion, 1987
Jerry, Things Change, Columbia, 1988
Svevo Bandini, Wait until Spring, Bandini (also known as Bandini, John Fante's "Wait until Spring, Bandini," Aspetta primaveraBandini, and Le ragioni del cuore), Orion/Warner Bros., 1989
Joe, Alice, Orion, 1990
Joey Zasa, The Godfather Part III (also known as Mario Puzo's "The Godfather Part III"), Paramount, 1990
Al, Queen's Logic, Seven Arts, 1991
Bobby Gold, Homicide, Triumph Releasing, 1991
George Raft, Bugsy, TriStar, 1991
Fred Waitzkin, Searching for Bobby Fischer (also known as Innocent Moves), Paramount, 1993
Martin Jacobs, Family Prayers (also known as A Family Divided), Arrow Releasing, 1993
Robert Garrett, Body of Evidence (also known as Deadly Evidence), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1993
Eddie, Baby's Day Out, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1994
Ian, Airheads, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1994
Andy, Forget Paris, Columbia, 1995
Joey Franelli, Captain Nuke and the Bomber Boys (also known as Demolition Day), New Horizons Home Video, 1995
Stone, For Better or Worse, Columbia, 1995
Bucky Terranova, Up Close and Personal (also known as Up Close& Personal: The Jessica Savitch Story), Buena Vista, 1996
Detective sergeant Denillo, Eye for an Eye, Paramount, 1996
Frank Galivan, Frank Cassady, and Richard Essex, Underworld, Legacy Releasing, 1996
G. D. Browning, Albino Alligator, Miramax, 1996
Richie Ginelli, Thinner (also known as Stephen King's "Thinner"), Paramount, 1996
Gomez, The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit, Buena Vista, 1998
Il magnifico, Boy Meets Girl, 1998
Narrator, Vietnam Long Time Coming (documentary), Seventh Art Releasing, 1998
Tony Gardella, Celebrity, Miramax, 1998
Nate Kurtzman, Liberty Heights, Warner Bros., 1999
Rocco, The Runner, First Look Pictures Releasing, 1999
Agent Jim Danaher, Fall (also known as Fall: The Price of Silence), Annex Entertainment, 2000
De Salvo, More Dogs Than Bones, Dream Entertainment, 2000
(Uncredited) Man at gate, Lakeboat, Cowboy Booking International/Oregon Trail Films, 2000
The Last Producer (also known as The Final Hit), USA Network, 2000
Narrator, Holocaust: New York Tolerance Center (documentary shortfilm), Scott Goldstein Productions, 2001
Ricardo Palacios, Off Key (also known as Desafinado), Lolafilms Distribution, 2001
Voice of Monty, The Trumpet of the Swan (animated), TriStar, 2001
Laguna, Fries Film Group, 2001
Jerry, Mother Ghost, It's an Us Thing Productions/It's a You and Me Thing Productions, 2002
Robert Micelli, Uncle Nino, Lange Film Releasing, 2003
Gil Deloach, Stateside (also known as Sinners), Samuel Goldwyn, 2004
Jacopo Carrucci (Pontormo), Pontormo (also known as Pontormo--AHeretical Love), Eagle Pictures, 2004
Narrator, This Old Cub (documentary), Emerging Pictures, 2004
Davis Roman, The Kid & I, The Kid & I Productions, 2005
Gaetano D'Amico, West of Brooklyn, 68 Cent Features, 2005
Joe, The Book of Joe, Dave Bell Associates/Studio Partners LLC, 2005
Richard, Nine Lives, Mockingbird Films, 2005
Edmond, First Independent Pictures, 2005
Some sources cite an appearance in Conundrum, c. 1998.
Film Work
Director and producer, Lakeboat, Cowboy Booking International/Oregon Trail Films, 2000
Television Appearances
Series
Juan One, a recurring role, Soap, ABC, 1980-81
Regular performer, The Comedy Zone, CBS, 1984
Voice of Fat Tony, The Simpsons (animated), Fox, between 1991
Justice Joseph Novelli, First Monday, CBS, 2002
Will Girardi, Joan of Arcadia, CBS, 2003-
Miniseries
Pippi DeLena, The Last Don (also known as Mario Puzo's "The Last Don"), CBS, 1997
Pippi DeLena, The Last Don II (also known as Mario Puzo's "TheLast Don II"), CBS, 1998
Himself, I Love the '80s Strikes Back, VH1, 2003
Movies
Joe Esposito, Elvis, ABC, 1979
Lawrence Oberman, "The Water Engine," TNT Screenworks, TNT, 1992
Sparky Smith, The Comrades of Summer, 1992
Alan Rhinehart, Above Suspicion (also known as The Rhinehart Theory), HBO, 1994
Dr. John Novelli, "State of Emergency" (also known as "Slow Bleed"), HBO Showcase, HBO, 1994
Frank Musso, Favorite Deadly Sins (also known as National Lampoon's "Favorite Deadly Sins"), Showtime, 1995
Jim Holland, Persons Unknown, HBO, 1996
Bob Signorelli, Face Down, 1997
David Tobias, A Call to Remember, Encore and Starz!, 1997

Dean Martin, The Rat Pack, HBO, 1998
Raymond Stone, Airspeed, HBO, 1998
Alan Webber, For Hire, The Movie Channel, 1999
Alex Dumas, Body and Soul, The Movie Channel, 1999
Angelo "Ange" Martinelli, Hoods, Starz!, 1999
Eric, Error in Judgment, Cinemax, 1999
Fidel Castro, My Little Assassin, Lifetime, 1999
Spenser, Spenser: Small Vices (also known as Robert B. Parker's"Small Vices" and Small Vices), Arts and Entertainment, 1999
Tom, Jerry and Tom, Showtime, 1999
Spenser, Thin Air (also known as Robert B. Parker's "Thin Air" and A Spenser Mystery), Arts and Entertainment, 2000
Frank Garner, Turbulence 3: Heavy Metal (also known as Turbulence 3: Metal hurlant), Cinemax, 2001
Spenser, Walking Shadow, Arts and Entertainment, 2001
Himself, I Was a Teenage Faust, Showtime, 2002
Michael, Women vs. Men, Showtime, 2002
Frank Griffin, A Very Married Christmas, CBS, 2004
Specials
A fan, Bleacher Bums, PBS, 1979
Narrator, "Crack U.S.A.," America Undercover, HBO, 1989
Narrator, "Death on the Job," America Undercover, HBO, 1991
The Godfather Family: A Look Inside, HBO, 1991
Voice, When It Was a Game II, HBO, 1992
Wax Cracks Hollywood, HBO, 1993
Narrator, The People's Plague: Tuberculosis in America, PBS, 1995
Voice of Mark Goodson, Blacklist: Hollywood on Trial, American Movie Classics, 1996
Voice, How Do You Spell God?, HBO, 1996
Nick and Joseph, Merry Christmas, George Bailey, PBS, 1997
The Italian Americans, PBS, 1997
Host and narrator, The Great Empire: Rome, History Channel, 1998
Narrator, The ACLU: A History, PBS, 1998
Voice of Not Joe Montana, Big Game XXVIII: Road Runner vs. Coyote(animated), The Cartoon Network, 2000
The Great American History Quiz: America at War, History Channel,2001
The Great American History Quiz: 50 States, History Channel, 2001
Heroes for the Planet--A Tribute to National Geographic, Fox NewsChannel, CNBC, and National Geographic Channel, 2001
Host and narrator, And Thou Shalt Honor (documentary), PBS, 2002
Host and narrator, Inside "NYPD Blue": A Decade on the Job, ABC, 2002
Himself, Comedy Central Roast of Denis Leary, Comedy Central, 2003
Himself, John Ritter Remembered, VH1, 2003
National Memorial Day Concert, 2004
Awards Presentations
The 42nd Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1988
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1988
Presenter, The Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, CBS, 1995
Presenter, Screen Actors Guild Awards, NBC, 1995
Presenter, AFI Awards 2001, CBS, 2001
Presenter, The Fifth Annual Family Television Awards, The WB, 2003
Presenter, The 2003 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, E! Entertainment Television, 2003
Presenter, The Sixth Annual Family Television Awards, The WB, 2004
Episodic
Juan, "Now You See It," Greatest American Hero, CBS, 1981
Mugger, "Of Mace and Men," It's a Living (also known as Makinga Living), ABC, 1981
The sheik, "On the Road to Monte Carlo," Bosom Buddies, ABC, 1981
Henry, "Emeralds Are Not a Girl's Best Friend," Simon & Simon,CBS, 1982
Joe Garver, "Of Mice and Bunker," Archie Bunker's Place, CBS, 1982
Mr. Smith, NBC, 1983
Harry Dobbs, "Shelter Skelter," The Twilight Zone, CBS, 1987
Guest host, Saturday Night Live (also known as NBC's "SaturdayNight," Saturday Night, and SNL), NBC, 1991
Guest, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, 1991
Carl Streeter, "The Quiet Room," Fallen Angels, Showtime, 1993
Derek Mann, "I Hate Frasier Crane," Frasier, NBC, 1993
(Uncredited) Bill Swerski, Saturday Night Live (also known as NBC's "Saturday Night," Saturday Night, and SNL), NBC, 1993
Himself, "A New York Story," Hope & Gloria, NBC, 1996
Narrator, Sex and the Silver Screen, Showtime, 1996
Voice of Jack, "The Mattress, Looking for Jack," Rugrats (animated), Nickelodeon, 1997
Voice of Rube Richter, "Love! Anger! Kvetching!" (also known as "Ain't Gonna Be No Mo No Mo"), Duckman (animated), USA Network, 1997
Voice of Rube Richter, "A Star Is Abhorred," Duckman (animated), USA Network, 1997
Himself, "Andy Garcia: Latin Rhythms & America Dreams," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 2001
Himself, "Dennis Franz: Out of the Blue," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 2001
Himself, "The Films of David Mamet," The Directors, Encore, c. 2002
(Uncredited) NFL Monday Night Football (also known as Monday Night Football), ABC, 2003
Himself, "The Films of Barry Levinson," The Directors, Encore, c.2003
Guest, ALF's Hit Talk Show, TV Land, 2004
Guest, Dinner for Five, Independent Film Channel, 2004
Guest, Jimmy Kimmel Live, ABC, 2004
Guest, The Wayne Brady Show, syndicated, 2004
Himself, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, CBS, 2005
Also appeared in "A Taste of Abruzzi," an episode of Emeril Live,Food Network; and in Magnum, P.I., CBS.
Pilots
Ernie, Now We're Cookin', CBS, 1983
Yuri, The Outlaws, ABC, 1984
Jovan "Joey" Shagula, Big Shots in America, NBC, 1985
Also appeared in the pilot Open All Night, ABC.
Television Executive Producer
Movies
Hoods, Starz!, 1999
Jerry and Tom, Showtime, 1999
(With others) Walking Shadow, Arts and Entertainment, 2001
Television Work
Specials
Executive producer, Corduroy (animated), 1984
Stage Appearances
Judas, Godspell (musical), Chicago, IL, 1972-73
A Life in the Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Chicago, IL, 1976-77
Decker, Bleacher Bums, Organic Theatre Company, Chicago, IL, 1977
Migrant worker and interstate trucker, Working (musical), GoodmanTheatre, 1977-78, then Forty-Sixth Street Theatre, New York City, 1978
The Disappearance of the Jews, Goodman Theatre, 1982-83
Richard "Ricky" Roma, Glengarry Glen Ross, Goodman Theatre, 1983-84, then John Golden Theatre, New York City, 1984-85
Bobby Gould, Speed-the-Plow, Royale Theatre, New York City, 1988
Appeared as Jack Rolf, Cops, as Corvino, Volpone, and as Gomez, The Wonderful Ice Cream Shirt, all Organic Theatre Company; as Judas, Jesus Christ Superstar (musical), Chicago production; and as Michael, Mattress, LaMama Theatre; also appeared in Sirens of Titan.
Major Tours
Berger, Hair (musical), U.S. cities, 1969-70
Understudy, Lenny, U.S. cities, 1974
Richard "Ricky" Roma, Glengarry Glen Ross, U.S. cities, 1985-86
Also appeared as Jack Rackam, Bloody Bess, and as Duke, Huckleberry Finn, both on a tour of European cities.
Stage Director
Bleacher Bums, Organic Theatre Company, Chicago, IL, 1977
Lifeboat, Tiffany Theater, West Hollywood, CA, 1994
RECORDINGS
Videos
Christmas in Tinseltown, New Line Home Video, 2004
Audiobooks
Mario Puzo, Omerta, Random House Audio, 2000
Scott Turow, Personal Injuries, Random House Audio, 2000
Lorenzo Carcaterra, Gangster, 2001
Robert B. Parker, Widow's Walk, Random House Audio, 2002
Robert B. Parker, Back Story, Random House Audio, 2003
Robert B. Parker, Potshot, Random House Audio, 2003
WRITINGS
Stage Plays
(With others) Bleacher Bums, produced at Organic Theatre Company,Chicago, IL, 1977, then American Place Theatre, New York City, 1978, published by Samuel French, 1977
(With others) Leonardo, produced at Lee Strasberg Institute, Los Angeles, c. 1980
Teleplays
Specials
Bleacher Bums (based on his stage play), PBS, 1979
Bleacher Bums (also known as The Cheap Seats; based on hisstage play), Showtime, 2002

Further Reference

ADAPTATIONS

Mantegna's appearance as Joey Zaza was included in the compilation videoThe Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980 (also known as The Godfather Saga and The Godfather Trilogy), 1992.

OTHER SOURCES

Books

Newsmakers 1992, Issue Cumulation, Gale, 1992

Periodicals

American Theatre, September, 1991, pp. 18-25, 69
Biography, September, 2000, pp. 90-93, 119
Movieline, July, 1999, p. 24
New York Times, May 18, 1984; November 15, 1987; May 16, 1988
People Weekly, May 19, 1997, p. 193
Premiere, October, 1991, pp. 68-72
TV Guide, July 17, 1999, p. 7

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