From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Joseph G. "Joe" Grifasi (born June 14, 1944) is an American character actor of film, stage and television. Grifasi was born in Buffalo, New York, the son of Patricia (née Gaglione) and Joseph J. Grifasi, a skilled laborer. Grifasi graduated from Bishop Fallon High School, a now defunct Catholic high school in Buffalo. He played football and acted in many of the school's plays. Grifasi briefly attended Canisius College in Buffalo before joining the United States Army. He went on to study at the Yale School of Drama. While at the Yale School of Drama, he met his future wife, the jazz soprano saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom. Grifasi has played two separate members of the Baseball Hall of Fame who played for the New York Yankees. In 61, set in 1961, he played Phil Rizzuto; in The Bronx Is Burning, set in 1977, he played Yogi Berra. Paul Borghese played Berra in 61, while actual 1977 broadcast recordings of Rizzuto were used in The Bronx Is Burning.
Movie | The Dreams of Rene Sendam | Dr. Bradley | 2022-01-18 |
Movie | Radium Girls | Grandpa | 2020-10-23 |
Movie | The American Side | The Serb | 2016-04-14 |
Movie | Baked in Brooklyn | David's Dad | 2016-10-14 |
Movie | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Peter Quince | 2014-09-08 |
Series | Elementary | Captain Moretti | 2012-09-27 |
Movie | The Last New Yorker | Jerry | 2010-02-19 |
Movie | The Front | Mr. Zeffirelli | 2010-05-26 |
Series | Canterbury's Law | Unknown | 2008-03-10 |
Series | The Bronx Is Burning | Yogi Berra | 2007-07-09 |
Movie | A Crime | Bill | 2006-09-11 |
Movie | Lewis Black: Red, White & Screwed | Uncle Sam | 2006-06-10 |
Movie | Slow Burn | Desk Sgt. Drown | 2005-09-12 |
Movie | 13 Going on 30 | Mr. Flamhaff | 2004-04-13 |
Series | Hope & Faith | Leo | 2003-09-23 |
Movie | Auto Focus | Strip Club M.C. | 2002-10-18 |
Movie | Changing Lanes | Judge Cosell | 2002-04-07 |
Movie | 61* | Phil Rizzuto | 2001-04-28 |
Movie | Queenie in Love | Berthold | 2001-09-12 |
Series | Deadline | Unknown | 2000-10-02 |
Movie | The Other Me | Conrad | 2000-09-08 |
Movie | Looking for an Echo | Vic | 2000-11-10 |
Series | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Hashi Horowitz | 1999-09-20 |
Movie | Switching Goals | Dave | 1999-12-12 |
Movie | The Deal | Boular | 1998-01-01 |
Movie | The Naked Man | Koski | 1998-08-02 |
Movie | Sunday | Scottie Elster | 1997-05-01 |
Movie | Undue Influence | Clem | 1996-09-15 |
Movie | One Fine Day | Manny Feldstein | 1996-12-20 |
Series | Early Edition | Unknown | 1996-09-28 |
Movie | Shadow of a Doubt | Sidney Sherman | 1996-12-03 |
Movie | Batman Forever | Bank Guard | 1995-06-16 |
Movie | Two Bits | Uncle Joe | 1995-10-22 |
Movie | Heavy | Leo | 1995-12-29 |
Movie | Money Train | Riley | 1995-11-21 |
Movie | Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult | Director | 1994-03-18 |
Movie | The Hudsucker Proxy | Lou | 1994-03-11 |
Movie | Natural Born Killers | Deputy Sheriff Duncan Homolka | 1994-08-26 |
Series | Chicago Hope | Unknown | 1994-09-18 |
Movie | Jack Reed: A Search for Justice | Mike 'Gravedigger' Edwards | 1994-10-02 |
Series | ER | Unknown | 1994-09-19 |
Series | Class of '96 | Unknown | 1993-01-19 |
Movie | Benny & Joon | Mike | 1993-04-16 |
Movie | Household Saints | Frank Manzone | 1993-09-15 |
Movie | Taking the Heat | Lou Valentine | 1993-06-06 |
Series | Moon Over Miami | Unknown | 1993-09-15 |
Movie | Primary Motive | Paul Melton | 1992-08-02 |
Movie | Citizen Cohn | Gerald Walpin | 1992-08-22 |
Series | Sinatra | George Evans | 1992-11-08 |
Movie | City of Hope | Pauly | 1991-10-11 |
Series | Law & Order | Unknown | 1990-09-13 |
Movie | Presumed Innocent | Tommy Molto | 1990-07-27 |
Series | WIOU | Tony Pro | 1990-10-24 |
Movie | The Feud | Bud Bullard | 1989-09-30 |
Movie | Chances Are | Omar | 1989-03-10 |
Movie | Perfect Witness | Breeze | 1989-10-28 |
Movie | Kojak: Ariana | Lieutenant Rastelli | 1989-11-02 |
Movie | The Appointments of Dennis Jennings | Bartender | 1988-09-07 |
Movie | Big Business | Desk Clerk | 1988-06-10 |
Series | Roseanne | Unknown | 1988-10-18 |
Movie | The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! | Foreman | 1988-12-02 |
Movie | Moonstruck | Shy Waiter | 1987-12-16 |
Movie | Matewan | Fausto | 1987-08-28 |
Movie | Ironweed | Jack | 1987-12-18 |
Movie | F/X | Mickey | 1986-02-07 |
Series | L.A. Law | Unknown | 1986-09-15 |
Movie | One Police Plaza | Insp. Nicolas Zambrano | 1986-11-29 |
Series | Moonlighting | Unknown | 1985-03-03 |
Movie | Bad Medicine | Gómez | 1985-11-22 |
Movie | Brewster's Millions | J.B. Donaldo | 1985-05-22 |
Movie | Splash | Manny | 1984-03-09 |
Movie | The Flamingo Kid | Mario Minetta | 1984-12-21 |
Movie | The Pope of Greenwich Village | Jimmy the Cheese Man | 1984-06-22 |
Movie | Will There Really Be a Morning? | Wyler | 1983-02-22 |
Movie | Still of the Night | Joseph Vitucci | 1982-11-19 |
Movie | The Elephant Man | Pinhead Manager | 1982-01-04 |
Movie | The Gentleman Bandit | Det. Esposito | 1981-05-06 |
Series | Hill Street Blues | Unknown | 1981-01-15 |
Movie | Honky Tonk Freeway | Osvaldo | 1981-08-21 |
Movie | Hide in Plain Sight | Matty Stanek | 1980-03-21 |
Movie | Something Short of Paradise | Barney Collins | 1979-09-14 |
Movie | The Deer Hunter | Bandleader | 1978-12-08 |
Movie | On the Yard | Morris | 1978-09-16 |
Movie | Secret Service | Cpl. Matson | 1977-01-12 |