Joe Grifasi
Acting
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.
TV Shows(36)
I Know This Much Is True
Steve Falice
2020
Evil
Lombino
2019
New Amsterdam
Lilo Steinhauser
2018
Lodge 49
2018
The Good Fight
Judge John Mata
2017
Bull
Judge Arlen Rand
2016
Elementary
Captain Moretti
2012
The Good Wife
Judge John Mata
2009
Canterbury's Law
2008
The Bronx Is Burning
Yogi Berra
2007
Conviction
Judge Harrigan
2006
Tarzan
Lieutenant Scott Connor
2003
Hope & Faith
Leo
2003
Some of My Best Friends
Joe Zito
2001
Deadline
Mike Phelan
2000
The Beat
Vince Marinelli
2000
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Hashi Horowitz
1999
The Practice
Harry Papp
1997
Early Edition
Harry Hawks
1996
Undue Influence
Clem
1996
Remember WENN
Larry Looper
1996
ER
Tom Williams
1994
Chicago Hope
Larry Ruscetti
1994
Moon Over Miami
1993
Class of '96
Joe Morrisey
1993
Sinatra
George Evans
1992
WIOU
Tony Pro
1990
Law & Order
Ezra Gould
1990
Capital News
1990
Roseanne
IRS Office Supervisor
1988
L.A. Law
Dominic Nuzzi
1986
Matlock
Hot Dog Vendor
1986
The Equalizer
Lt. Vocek
1985
Moonlighting
Kapatkin
1985
Hill Street Blues
Ronnie Delacroce
1981
Great Performances
Cpl. Matson
1971
Movies(72)
Tornado
Rich
2024
Endgame
Nagg
2023
The Dreams of Rene Sendam
Dr. Bradley
2022
Me To Play
Himself
2021
Radium Girls
Grandpa
2020
No Pay, Nudity
Mr. Davenport
2016
Baked in Brooklyn
David's Dad
2016
The American Side
The Serb
2016
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Peter Quince
2014
The Front
Mr. Zeffirelli
2010
The Last New Yorker
Jerry
2010
A Crime
Bill
2006
Lewis Black: Red, White & Screwed
Uncle Sam
2006
Slow Burn
Desk Sgt. Drown
2005
A Jersey Tale
Alphonso "Chunks" Colon
2004
13 Going on 30
Mr. Flamhaff
2004
Auto Focus
Strip Club M.C.
2002
Changing Lanes
Judge Cosell
2002
Queenie in Love
Berthold
2001
61*
Phil Rizzuto
2001
Looking for an Echo
Vic
2000
The Other Me
Conrad
2000
Switching Goals
Dave
1999
The Out-of-Towners
Arresting Cop
1999
The Naked Man
Koski
1998
The Deal
Boular
1998
Sunday
Scottie Elster
1997
One Fine Day
Manny Feldstein
1996
Shadow of a Doubt
Sidney Sherman
1996
Heavy
Leo
1995
Money Train
Riley
1995
Two Bits
Uncle Joe
1995
Batman Forever
Bank Guard
1995
Jack Reed: A Search for Justice
1994
Natural Born Killers
Deputy Sheriff Duncan Homolka
1994
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
Director
1994
The Hudsucker Proxy
Lou
1994
Household Saints
Frank Manzone
1993
Taking the Heat
Lou Valentine
1993
Benny & Joon
Mike
1993
Citizen Cohn
Gerald Walpin
1992
Primary Motive
Paul Melton
1992
City of Hope
Pauly
1991
Presumed Innocent
Tommy Molto
1990
Kojak: Ariana
Lieutenant Rastelli
1989
Perfect Witness
Breeze
1989
The Feud
Bud Bullard
1989
Chances Are
Omar
1989
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
Foreman
1988
The Appointments of Dennis Jennings
Bartender
1988
Big Business
Desk Clerk
1988
Ironweed
Jack
1987
Moonstruck
Shy Waiter
1987
Matewan
Fausto
1987
One Police Plaza
Insp. Nicolas Zambrano
1986
F/X
Mickey
1986
Bad Medicine
Gómez
1985
Brewster's Millions
J.B. Donaldo
1985
The Flamingo Kid
Mario Minetta
1984
The Pope of Greenwich Village
Jimmy the Cheese Man
1984
Splash
Manny
1984
Will There Really Be a Morning?
Wyler
1983
Still of the Night
Joseph Vitucci
1982
The Elephant Man
Pinhead Manager
1982
The 6th Annual Young Comedians
Self (Audience Member) (uncredited)
1981
Honky Tonk Freeway
Osvaldo
1981
The Gentleman Bandit
Det. Esposito
1981
Hide in Plain Sight
Matty Stanek
1980
Something Short of Paradise
Barney Collins
1979
The Deer Hunter
Bandleader
1978
On the Yard
Morris
1978
Secret Service
Cpl. Matson
1977