Joe Grifasi | |
|---|---|
 Grifasi (bottom right) with David Schramm, David Strathairn, John Amos and Joe Urla in The Boys Next Door, 1987 | |
| Born | Joseph G. Grifasi June 14, 1944 Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Other names | Joseph Grifasi |
| Education | Canisius College (BA) Yale University (MFA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Spouse | Jane Ira Bloom |
Joseph G. Grifasi (born June 14, 1944) is an American character actor of film, stage and television.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Grifasi was born in Buffalo, New York, the son of Patricia (née Gaglione) and Joseph J. Grifasi, a skilled laborer.[1] Grifasi graduated from Bishop Fallon High School, a now-defunct Roman Catholic high school in Buffalo, when he made the decision that he wanted to be, not just any old actor, but a character actor.[2]
Career
[edit]Grifasi has more than a hundred-thirty film and television credits to his name, including two New York Yankees elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame: Phil Rizzuto in 61*, set in 1961; and Yogi Berra in The Bronx Is Burning, set in 1977.[1]
He also played Pier 32 dock foreman in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, having one of the memorable scenes of the film while being questioned by Frank Drebin.
From 2005 and 2021, Grifasi has portrayed Defense Attorney Hashi Horowitz, who goes on to become a Superior Court Judge on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.[3][4]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | On the Yard | Morris | |
| 1978 | The Deer Hunter | Bandleader | |
| 1979 | Something Short of Paradise | Barney Collins | |
| 1980 | Hide in Plain Sight | Matty Stanek | |
| 1981 | Honky Tonk Freeway | Osvaldo | |
| 1982 | Still of the Night | Joseph Vitucci | |
| 1984 | The Flamingo Kid | Mario Minetta | |
| 1984 | The Pope of Greenwich Village | Jimmy the Cheese Man | |
| 1984 | Splash | Manny | |
| 1985 | Bad Medicine | Gómez | |
| 1985 | Brewster's Millions | J.B. Donaldo | |
| 1986 | F/X | Mickey | |
| 1987 | Ironweed | Jack | |
| 1987 | Matewan | Fausto | |
| 1987 | Moonstruck | Shy Waiter | |
| 1988 | The Appointments of Dennis Jennings | Bartender | Short |
| 1988 | Beaches | Otto Titsling | |
| 1988 | Big Business | Desk Clerk | |
| 1989 | Chances Are | Omar | |
| 1988 | The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! | Foreman | |
| 1989 | The Feud | Bud Bullard | |
| 1990 | Presumed Innocent | Tommy Molto | |
| 1991 | City of Hope | Pauly | |
| 1992 | Primary Motive | Paul Melton | |
| 1993 | Benny & Joon | Mike | |
| 1993 | Household Saints | Frank Manzone | |
| 1994 | The Hudsucker Proxy | Lou | |
| 1994 | Naked Gun 33+1⁄3: The Final Insult | Director | |
| 1994 | Natural Born Killers | Deputy Sheriff Duncan Homolka | |
| 1995 | Batman Forever | Bank Guard | |
| 1995 | Heavy | Leo | |
| 1995 | Money Train | Riley | |
| 1995 | Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventure | Man in Top Hat | |
| 1995 | Two Bits | Uncle Joe | |
| 1996 | One Fine Day | Manny Feldstein | |
| 1997 | Sunday | Scottie Elster | |
| 1998 | The Naked Man | Koski | |
| 1999 | The Out-of-Towners | Arresting Cop | |
| 2000 | Looking for an Echo | Vic | |
| 2001 | Queenie in Love | Berthold | |
| 2002 | Auto Focus | Strip Club M.C. | |
| 2002 | Changing Lanes | Judge Cosell | |
| 2003 | Bought & Sold | Alphonso 'Chunks' Colon | |
| 2004 | 13 Going on 30 | Mr. Flamhaff | |
| 2005 | Slow Burn | Desk Sgt. Drown | |
| 2006 | A Crime | BIll | |
| 2006 | Creating Karma | Prighorn | |
| 2007 | Dark Matter | Professor Colby | |
| 2007 | The Last New Yorker | Jerry | |
| 2009 | Under New Management | Msgr. Tranni | |
| 2012 | Othello | Brabantio | |
| 2014 | Julie Taymor's A Midsummer Night's Dream | Peter Quince | |
| 2016 | The American Side | The Serb | |
| 2016 | Baked in Brooklyn | David's Dad | |
| 2016 | No Pay, Nudity | Mr. Davenport |
Television
[edit] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974–1975 | Police Surgeon | Jerry Shields / Sam Sitko | 2 episodes |
| 1986 | The Equalizer | Lt. Vocek | Episode: "The Line" |
| 1992 | Citizen Cohn | Gerald Walpin | TV movie |
| 1992 | Sinatra | George Evans | TV movie |
| 1993–1994 | L.A. Law | Dominic Nuzzi | 5 episodes |
| 1993 | Taking the Heat | Lou Valentine | TV movie |
| 1999 | Switching Goals | Dave | TV movie |
| 2000 | The Other Me | Conrad | TV movie |
| 2001 | 61* | Phil Rizzuto | TV movie |
| 2005–2013 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Defense Attorney Hashi Horowitz | 9 episodes |
| 2015–2021 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Judge Hashi Horowitz | 5 episodes |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Joe Grifasi Biography (1944–)". Film Reference. Retrieved 2015-01-21.
- ^ Joe Grifasi on The Deer Hunter and No Pay, and Nudity
- ^ Brady, Erik (31 Aug 2022). "From the West Side to Hollywood, jock-turned-thespian Joe Grifasi turned character into a career". Retrieved 17 March 2025.
- ^ Green, Susan; Dawn, Randee (2009). Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: The Unofficial Companion. Dallas: BenBella Books. p. 312. ISBN 978-1933771-88-5. Retrieved 2025-05-23 – via Internet Archive text collection.
External links
[edit]- Joe Grifasi at IMDb
- Joe Grifasi at the Internet Broadway Database
- Joe Grifasi at Library of Congress, with 3 library catalog records
- Joe Grifasi
