Joe 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

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Law & Order

Law & Order

The Good Wife

Elementary

ER

The Practice

New Amsterdam

All Movies (72)

• Tornado2024 · as Rich
• Endgame2023 · as Nagg
• The Dreams of Rene Sendam2022 · as Dr. Bradley
• Me To Play2021 · as Himself
• Radium Girls2020 · as Grandpa
• No Pay, Nudity2016 · as Mr. Davenport
• Baked in Brooklyn2016 · as David's Dad
• The American Side2016 · as The Serb
• A Midsummer Night's Dream2014 · as Peter Quince
• The Front2010 · as Mr. Zeffirelli
• The Last New Yorker2010 · as Jerry
• A Crime2006 · as Bill
• Lewis Black: Red, White & Screwed2006 · as Uncle Sam
• Slow Burn2005 · as Desk Sgt. Drown
• A Jersey Tale2004 · as Alphonso "Chunks" Colon
• 13 Going on 302004 · as Mr. Flamhaff
• Auto Focus2002 · as Strip Club M.C.
• Changing Lanes2002 · as Judge Cosell
• Queenie in Love2001 · as Berthold
• 61*2001 · as Phil Rizzuto
• Looking for an Echo2000 · as Vic
• The Other Me2000 · as Conrad
• Switching Goals1999 · as Dave
• The Out-of-Towners1999 · as Arresting Cop
• The Naked Man1998 · as Koski
• The Deal1998 · as Boular
• Sunday1997 · as Scottie Elster
• One Fine Day1996 · as Manny Feldstein
• Shadow of a Doubt1996 · as Sidney Sherman
• Heavy1995 · as Leo
• Money Train1995 · as Riley
• Two Bits1995 · as Uncle Joe
• Batman Forever1995 · as Bank Guard
• Jack Reed: A Search for Justice1994
• Natural Born Killers1994 · as Deputy Sheriff Duncan Homolka
• Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult1994 · as Director
• The Hudsucker Proxy1994 · as Lou
• Household Saints1993 · as Frank Manzone
• Taking the Heat1993 · as Lou Valentine
• Benny & Joon1993 · as Mike
• Citizen Cohn1992 · as Gerald Walpin
• Primary Motive1992 · as Paul Melton
• City of Hope1991 · as Pauly
• Presumed Innocent1990 · as Tommy Molto
• Kojak: Ariana1989 · as Lieutenant Rastelli
• Perfect Witness1989 · as Breeze
• The Feud1989 · as Bud Bullard
• Chances Are1989 · as Omar
• The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!1988 · as Foreman
• The Appointments of Dennis Jennings1988 · as Bartender
• Big Business1988 · as Desk Clerk
• Ironweed1987 · as Jack
• Moonstruck1987 · as Shy Waiter
• Matewan1987 · as Fausto
• One Police Plaza1986 · as Insp. Nicolas Zambrano
• F/X1986 · as Mickey
• Bad Medicine1985 · as Gómez
• Brewster's Millions1985 · as J.B. Donaldo
• The Flamingo Kid1984 · as Mario Minetta
• The Pope of Greenwich Village1984 · as Jimmy the Cheese Man
• Splash1984 · as Manny
• Will There Really Be a Morning?1983 · as Wyler
• Still of the Night1982 · as Joseph Vitucci
• The Elephant Man1982 · as Pinhead Manager
• The 6th Annual Young Comedians1981 · as Self (Audience Member) (uncredited)
• Honky Tonk Freeway1981 · as Osvaldo
• The Gentleman Bandit1981 · as Det. Esposito
• Hide in Plain Sight1980 · as Matty Stanek
• Something Short of Paradise1979 · as Barney Collins
• The Deer Hunter1978 · as Bandleader
• On the Yard1978 · as Morris
• Secret Service1977 · as Cpl. Matson

All TV Shows (38)

• I Know This Much Is True2020 · as Steve Falice
• Evil2019 · as Lombino
• New Amsterdam2018 · as Lilo Steinhauser
• Lodge 492018
• The Good Fight2017 · as Judge John Mata
• Bull2016 · as Judge Arlen Rand
• Bull2016 · as Judge Rand
• Elementary2012 · as Captain Moretti
• The Good Wife2009 · as Judge John Mata
• Canterbury's Law2008
• The Bronx Is Burning2007 · as Yogi Berra
• Conviction2006 · as Judge Harrigan
• Tarzan2003 · as Lieutenant Scott Connor
• Hope & Faith2003 · as Leo
• Some of My Best Friends2001 · as Joe Zito
• Deadline2000 · as Mike Phelan
• The Beat2000 · as Vince Marinelli
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit1999 · as Hashi Horowitz
• The Practice1997 · as Harry Papp
• Early Edition1996 · as Harry Hawks
• Undue Influence1996 · as Clem
• Remember WENN1996 · as Larry Looper
• ER1994 · as Tom Williams
• Chicago Hope1994 · as Larry Ruscetti
• Moon Over Miami1993
• Class of '961993 · as Joe Morrisey
• Sinatra1992 · as George Evans
• WIOU1990 · as Tony Pro
• Law & Order1990 · as Ezra Gould
• Law & Order1990 · as Defense Attorney James Linde
• Capital News1990
• Roseanne1988 · as IRS Office Supervisor
• L.A. Law1986 · as Dominic Nuzzi
• Matlock1986 · as Hot Dog Vendor
• The Equalizer1985 · as Lt. Vocek
• Moonlighting1985 · as Kapatkin
• Hill Street Blues1981 · as Ronnie Delacroce
• Great Performances1971 · as Cpl. Matson