Joe Grifasi
Known for Acting · 109 credits
- Born
- 1944-06-14 (age 82)
- Place of birth
- Buffalo - New York - USA
- Also known as
- Joseph G. Grifasi · Joseph Grifasi
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.
Known For
TV Shows (37)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
as Hashi Horowitz
Law & Order
1990
as Ezra Gould / Defense Attorney James Linde
The Good Wife
2009
as Judge John Mata
Elementary
2012
as Captain Moretti
ER
1994
as Tom Williams
Chicago Hope
1994
as Larry Ruscetti
Great Performances
1971
as Cpl. Matson
The Practice
1997
as Harry Papp
Bull
2016
as Judge Arlen Rand / Judge Rand
Matlock
1986
as Hot Dog Vendor
The Good Fight
2017
as Judge John Mata
Hill Street Blues
1981
as Ronnie Delacroce
L.A. Law
1986
as Dominic Nuzzi
Evil
2019
as Lombino
New Amsterdam
2018
as Lilo Steinhauser
American Playhouse
1982
as Bud Bullard
The Equalizer
1985
as Lt. Vocek
Moonlighting
1985
as Kapatkin
Early Edition
1996
as Harry Hawks
Hope & Faith
2003
as Leo
Conviction
2006
as Judge Harrigan
The Bronx Is Burning
2007
as Yogi Berra
Remember WENN
1996
as Larry Looper
Lodge 49
2018
I Know This Much Is True
2020
as Steve Falice
The Beat
2000
as Vince Marinelli
Tarzan
2003
as Lieutenant Scott Connor
Capital News
1990
Deadline
2000
as Mike Phelan
Roseanne
1988
as IRS Office Supervisor
Class of '96
1993
as Joe Morrisey
Canterbury's Law
2008
Moon Over Miami
1993
Undue Influence
1996
as Clem
WIOU
1990
as Tony Pro
Some of My Best Friends
2001
as Joe Zito
Sinatra
1992
as George Evans
Movies (72)
Batman Forever
1995
as Bank Guard
The Deer Hunter
1978
as Bandleader
13 Going on 30
2004
as Mr. Flamhaff
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
1988
as Foreman
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
1994
as Director
Natural Born Killers
1994
as Deputy Sheriff Duncan Homolka
Splash
1984
as Manny
Presumed Innocent
1990
as Tommy Molto
Moonstruck
1987
as Shy Waiter
Changing Lanes
2002
as Judge Cosell
Money Train
1995
as Riley
Brewster's Millions
1985
as J.B. Donaldo
Radium Girls
2020
as Grandpa
The Hudsucker Proxy
1994
as Lou
Benny & Joon
1993
as Mike
Chances Are
1989
as Omar
F/X
1986
as Mickey
Big Business
1988
as Desk Clerk
One Fine Day
1996
as Manny Feldstein
Still of the Night
1982
as Joseph Vitucci
Matewan
1987
as Fausto
The Naked Man
1998
as Koski
Tornado
2024
as Rich
Auto Focus
2002
as Strip Club M.C.
Ironweed
1987
as Jack
Queenie in Love
2001
as Berthold
Baked in Brooklyn
2016
as David's Dad
The Flamingo Kid
1984
as Mario Minetta
Household Saints
1993
as Frank Manzone
City of Hope
1991
as Pauly
61*
2001
as Phil Rizzuto
The Out-of-Towners
1999
as Arresting Cop
Something Short of Paradise
1979
as Barney Collins
Looking for an Echo
2000
as Vic
The Pope of Greenwich Village
1984
as Jimmy the Cheese Man
Citizen Cohn
1992
as Gerald Walpin
No Pay, Nudity
2016
as Mr. Davenport
Bad Medicine
1985
as Gómez
The Front
2010
as Mr. Zeffirelli
The Other Me
2000
as Conrad
Slow Burn
2005
as Desk Sgt. Drown
Switching Goals
1999
as Dave
The Gentleman Bandit
1981
as Det. Esposito
Perfect Witness
1989
as Breeze
Two Bits
1995
as Uncle Joe
Heavy
1995
as Leo
On the Yard
1978
as Morris
A Crime
2006
as Bill
Honky Tonk Freeway
1981
as Osvaldo
A Jersey Tale
2004
as Alphonso "Chunks" Colon
The American Side
2016
as The Serb
Taking the Heat
1993
as Lou Valentine
Hide in Plain Sight
1980
as Matty Stanek
The Elephant Man
1982
as Pinhead Manager
A Midsummer Night's Dream
2014
as Peter Quince
Jack Reed: A Search for Justice
1994
Shadow of a Doubt
1996
as Sidney Sherman
Secret Service
1977
as Cpl. Matson
The Deal
1998
as Boular
One Police Plaza
1986
as Insp. Nicolas Zambrano
Kojak: Ariana
1989
as Lieutenant Rastelli
Will There Really Be a Morning?
1983
as Wyler
Primary Motive
1992
as Paul Melton
The 6th Annual Young Comedians
1981
as Self (Audience Member) (uncredited)
Sunday
1997
as Scottie Elster
The Feud
1989
as Bud Bullard
The Appointments of Dennis Jennings
1988
as Bartender
Endgame
2023
as Nagg
Me To Play
2021
as Himself
The Last New Yorker
2010
as Jerry
Lewis Black: Red, White & Screwed
2006
as Uncle Sam
The Dreams of Rene Sendam
2022
as Dr. Bradley
About Joe Grifasi
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 tele… With 109 credits spanning from 1971 to 2024, Joe Grifasi has appeared in 72 films and 37 TV shows.
Fans searching for Joe Grifasi movies, Joe Grifasi filmography, or the latest projects starring Joe Grifasi can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Joe Grifasi Movies
- Batman Forever (1995) — as Bank Guard
- The Deer Hunter (1978) — as Bandleader
- 13 Going on 30 (2004) — as Mr. Flamhaff
- The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988) — as Foreman
- Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994) — as Director
Where to Watch Joe Grifasi Films
Most Joe Grifasi movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Joe Grifasi, check our movies catalogue and browse page.