Acting · Buffalo - New York - USA · Born June 14, 1944
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.
MovieTornado
2024
as Rich
MovieEndgame
2023
as Nagg
MovieThe Dreams of Rene Sendam
2022
as Dr. Bradley
MovieMe To Play
2021
as Himself
MovieRadium Girls
2020
as Grandpa
TVI Know This Much Is True
2020
as Steve Falice
TVEvil
2019
as Lombino
TVNew Amsterdam
2018
as Lilo Steinhauser
TVLodge 49
2018
TVThe Good Fight
2017
as Judge John Mata
MovieNo Pay, Nudity
2016
as Mr. Davenport
MovieBaked in Brooklyn
2016
as David's Dad
TVBull
2016
as Judge Arlen Rand
MovieThe American Side
2016
as The Serb
MovieA Midsummer Night's Dream
2014
as Peter Quince
TVElementary
2012
as Captain Moretti
MovieThe Front
2010
as Mr. Zeffirelli
MovieThe Last New Yorker
2010
as Jerry
TVThe Good Wife
2009
as Judge John Mata
TVCanterbury's Law
2008
TVThe Bronx Is Burning
2007
as Yogi Berra
MovieA Crime
2006
as Bill
MovieLewis Black: Red, White & Screwed
2006
as Uncle Sam
TVConviction
2006
as Judge Harrigan
MovieSlow Burn
2005
as Desk Sgt. Drown
MovieA Jersey Tale
2004
as Alphonso "Chunks" Colon
Movie13 Going on 30
2004
as Mr. Flamhaff
TVTarzan
2003
as Lieutenant Scott Connor
TVHope & Faith
2003
as Leo
MovieAuto Focus
2002
as Strip Club M.C.
MovieChanging Lanes
2002
as Judge Cosell
MovieQueenie in Love
2001
as Berthold
Movie61*
2001
as Phil Rizzuto
TVSome of My Best Friends
2001
as Joe Zito
MovieLooking for an Echo
2000
as Vic
TVDeadline
2000
as Mike Phelan
MovieThe Other Me
2000
as Conrad
TVThe Beat
2000
as Vince Marinelli
MovieSwitching Goals
1999
as Dave
TVLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
as Hashi Horowitz
MovieThe Out-of-Towners
1999
as Arresting Cop
MovieThe Naked Man
1998
as Koski
MovieThe Deal
1998
as Boular
MovieSunday
1997
as Scottie Elster
TVThe Practice
1997
as Harry Papp
MovieOne Fine Day
1996
as Manny Feldstein
MovieShadow of a Doubt
1996
as Sidney Sherman
TVEarly Edition
1996
as Harry Hawks
TVUndue Influence
1996
as Clem
TVRemember WENN
1996
as Larry Looper
MovieHeavy
1995
as Leo
MovieMoney Train
1995
as Riley
MovieTwo Bits
1995
as Uncle Joe
MovieBatman Forever
1995
as Bank Guard
MovieJack Reed: A Search for Justice
1994
TVER
1994
as Tom Williams
TVChicago Hope
1994
as Larry Ruscetti
MovieNatural Born Killers
1994
as Deputy Sheriff Duncan Homolka
MovieNaked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
1994
as Director
MovieThe Hudsucker Proxy
1994
as Lou
MovieHousehold Saints
1993
as Frank Manzone
TVMoon Over Miami
1993
MovieTaking the Heat
1993
as Lou Valentine
MovieBenny & Joon
1993
as Mike
TVClass of '96
1993
as Joe Morrisey
TVSinatra
1992
as George Evans
MovieCitizen Cohn
1992
as Gerald Walpin
MoviePrimary Motive
1992
as Paul Melton
MovieCity of Hope
1991
as Pauly
TVWIOU
1990
as Tony Pro
TVLaw & Order
1990
as Ezra Gould
MoviePresumed Innocent
1990
as Tommy Molto
TVCapital News
1990
MovieKojak: Ariana
1989
as Lieutenant Rastelli
MoviePerfect Witness
1989
as Breeze
MovieThe Feud
1989
as Bud Bullard
MovieChances Are
1989
as Omar
MovieThe Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
1988
as Foreman
TVRoseanne
1988
as IRS Office Supervisor
MovieThe Appointments of Dennis Jennings
1988
as Bartender
MovieBig Business
1988
as Desk Clerk
MovieIronweed
1987
as Jack
MovieMoonstruck
1987
as Shy Waiter
MovieMatewan
1987
as Fausto
MovieOne Police Plaza
1986
as Insp. Nicolas Zambrano
TVL.A. Law
1986
as Dominic Nuzzi
TVMatlock
1986
as Hot Dog Vendor
MovieF/X
1986
as Mickey
MovieBad Medicine
1985
as Gómez
TVThe Equalizer
1985
as Lt. Vocek
MovieBrewster's Millions
1985
as J.B. Donaldo
TVMoonlighting
1985
as Kapatkin
MovieThe Flamingo Kid
1984
as Mario Minetta
MovieThe Pope of Greenwich Village
1984
as Jimmy the Cheese Man
MovieSplash
1984
as Manny
MovieWill There Really Be a Morning?
1983
as Wyler
MovieStill of the Night
1982
as Joseph Vitucci
TVAmerican Playhouse
1982
as Bud Bullard
MovieThe Elephant Man
1982
as Pinhead Manager
The 6th Annual Young Comedians
1981
as Self (Audience Member) (uncredited)
MovieHonky Tonk Freeway
1981
as Osvaldo
MovieThe Gentleman Bandit
1981
as Det. Esposito
TVHill Street Blues
1981
as Ronnie Delacroce
MovieHide in Plain Sight
1980
as Matty Stanek
MovieSomething Short of Paradise
1979
as Barney Collins
MovieThe Deer Hunter
1978
as Bandleader
MovieOn the Yard
1978
as Morris
MovieSecret Service
1977
as Cpl. Matson
TVGreat Performances
1971
as Cpl. Matson
