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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