
Joe Grifasi
Known for Acting · 108 credits
- Born
- 1944-06-14 (age 81)
- 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 (36)

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

The Practice
1997
as Harry Papp

Great Performances
1971
as Cpl. Matson

The Good Fight
2017
as Judge John Mata

Hill Street Blues
1981
as Ronnie Delacroce

New Amsterdam
2018
as Lilo Steinhauser

Bull
2016
as Judge Arlen Rand / Judge Rand

L.A. Law
1986
as Dominic Nuzzi

The Equalizer
1985
as Lt. Vocek

Evil
2019
as Lombino

Matlock
1986
as Hot Dog Vendor

Early Edition
1996
as Harry Hawks

Moonlighting
1985
as Kapatkin

Hope & Faith
2003
as Leo

Remember WENN
1996
as Larry Looper

Conviction
2006
as Judge Harrigan

Lodge 49
2018

Deadline
2000
as Mike Phelan

Roseanne
1988
as IRS Office Supervisor

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

Class of '96
1993
as Joe Morrisey

The Bronx Is Burning
2007
as Yogi Berra

Canterbury's Law
2008

Moon Over Miami
1993

WIOU
1990
as Tony Pro

Some of My Best Friends
2001
as Joe Zito

Sinatra
1992
as George Evans

Undue Influence
1996
as Clem
Movies (72)

Batman Forever
1995
as Bank Guard

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
1988
as Foreman

13 Going on 30
2004
as Mr. Flamhaff

The Deer Hunter
1978
as Bandleader

Chances Are
1989
as Omar

Natural Born Killers
1994
as Deputy Sheriff Duncan Homolka

Splash
1984
as Manny

Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
1994
as Director

Moonstruck
1987
as Shy Waiter

Money Train
1995
as Riley

Presumed Innocent
1990
as Tommy Molto

F/X
1986
as Mickey

Radium Girls
2020
as Grandpa

Changing Lanes
2002
as Judge Cosell

Auto Focus
2002
as Strip Club M.C.

One Fine Day
1996
as Manny Feldstein

Brewster's Millions
1985
as J.B. Donaldo

The Hudsucker Proxy
1994
as Lou

Heavy
1995
as Leo

Ironweed
1987
as Jack

Big Business
1988
as Desk Clerk

Benny & Joon
1993
as Mike

A Crime
2006
as Bill

Slow Burn
2005
as Desk Sgt. Drown

Matewan
1987
as Fausto

Secret Service
1977
as Cpl. Matson

Household Saints
1993
as Frank Manzone

61*
2001
as Phil Rizzuto

The Out-of-Towners
1999
as Arresting Cop

Two Bits
1995
as Uncle Joe

City of Hope
1991
as Pauly

The Pope of Greenwich Village
1984
as Jimmy the Cheese Man

Still of the Night
1982
as Joseph Vitucci

Switching Goals
1999
as Dave

Citizen Cohn
1992
as Gerald Walpin

Sunday
1997
as Scottie Elster

The Flamingo Kid
1984
as Mario Minetta

The Other Me
2000
as Conrad

Something Short of Paradise
1979
as Barney Collins

The Appointments of Dennis Jennings
1988
as Bartender

Honky Tonk Freeway
1981
as Osvaldo

Jack Reed: A Search for Justice
1994

Perfect Witness
1989
as Breeze

Queenie in Love
2001
as Berthold

The Naked Man
1998
as Koski

Endgame
2023
as Nagg

Baked in Brooklyn
2016
as David's Dad

No Pay, Nudity
2016
as Mr. Davenport

Bad Medicine
1985
as Gómez

The Feud
1989
as Bud Bullard

Looking for an Echo
2000
as Vic

The Front
2010
as Mr. Zeffirelli

Shadow of a Doubt
1996
as Sidney Sherman

Taking the Heat
1993
as Lou Valentine

Primary Motive
1992
as Paul Melton

The American Side
2016
as The Serb

Hide in Plain Sight
1980
as Matty Stanek

A Midsummer Night's Dream
2014
as Peter Quince

The Gentleman Bandit
1981
as Det. Esposito

Kojak: Ariana
1989
as Lieutenant Rastelli

One Police Plaza
1986
as Insp. Nicolas Zambrano

On the Yard
1978
as Morris

A Jersey Tale
2004
as Alphonso "Chunks" Colon

The Last New Yorker
2010
as Jerry

Tornado
2024
as Rich

Will There Really Be a Morning?
1983
as Wyler

Me To Play
2021
as Himself

Lewis Black: Red, White & Screwed
2006
as Uncle Sam

The Deal
1998
as Boular

The Elephant Man
1982
as Pinhead Manager
The 6th Annual Young Comedians
1981
as Self (Audience Member) (uncredited)

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 108 credits spanning from 1971 to 2024, Joe Grifasi has appeared in 72 films and 36 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 CineFlixo, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Joe Grifasi Movies
- Batman Forever (1995) — as Bank Guard
- The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988) — as Foreman
- 13 Going on 30 (2004) — as Mr. Flamhaff
- The Deer Hunter (1978) — as Bandleader
- Chances Are (1989) — as Omar
Where to Watch Joe Grifasi Films
Most Joe Grifasi movies and series are available to stream on CineFlixo 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.