Joe Pantoliano

Joe Pantoliano

Highest Rated: 97% La Bamba (1987)

Lowest Rated: 0% Monsignor (1982)

Birthday: Sep 12, 1951

Birthplace: Hoboken, New Jersey

One of today's best character actors, the inexhaustible Joe Pantoliano boasts over 100 film, television, and stage credits. A favorite of directors Richard Donner, Steven Spielberg, Andrew Davis, and Andy and Larry Wachowski, he is also a dependable scene stealer with more than his share of memorable roles -- including killer pimp Guido in Risky Business (1983), bumbling criminal Francis Fratelli in The Goonies (1985), double-crossing bail bondsman Eddie Moscone in Midnight Run (1988), cynical U.S. Marshall Cosmo Renfro in The Fugitive (1993), turncoat Cypher in The Matrix (1999), and shady sidekick Teddy in Memento (2000). Born on September 12, 1951 in Hoboken, NJ, the actor is the only son of Dominic, a hearse driver, and Mary Pantoliano, a part-time seamstress/bookie. When he was 12, Pantoliano's mother left his father for her distant cousin Florio, though the couple never officially divorced. Pantoliano and his younger sister Maryann grew up throughout northern New Jersey with their mother and Florio, whom they eventually came to regard as their stepfather. Pantoliano suffered from severe dyslexia, and at age 17, he was still reading at the third-grade level. After seeing the youngster perform in his senior play, Up the Down Staircase, Florio convinced him to pursue acting professionally. Pantoliano moved to Manhattan, where he worked as a waiter while juggling acting classes and auditions. In 1972, he landed the coveted role of stuttering Billy Bibbit in the touring production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Four years later, Pantoliano moved west to try his luck in Hollywood. After making his television debut in the sitcom pilot McNamara's Band, he landed a recurring role in Rob Reiner's summer replacement series, Free Country. Reiner then tapped Pantoliano to co-star with him in James Burrows' television movie More Than Friends (1978). This led to the part of Angelo Maggio -- a role originated by fellow Hoboken-ite Frank Sinatra -- in NBC's miniseries adaptation of James Jones' From Here to Eternity (1979). After making his major feature-film debut in The Idolmaker (1980), Pantoliano guest starred on Hart to Hart, M*A*S*H, and Hardcastle and McCormick, as well as appeared on the Los Angeles stage in Orphans. He also landed a sizable part opposite a young Tom Cruise in the surprise hit Risky Business (1983). The comic ruthlessness with which Pantoliano's pimp tortures Cruise quickly earned the character actor a loyal cult following. He gave standout performances in Eddie and the Cruisers (1983) and the off-Broadway play Visions of Kerouac, before thrilling audiences again in the Spielberg-produced adventure The Goonies (1985). Scores of plum roles followed: Pantoliano joined Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines in Running Scared (1986), portrayed Lou Diamond Phillips' music producer in La Bamba (1987), re-teamed with Spielberg in Empire of the Sun (1987), and acted opposite Robert De Niro in Midnight Run (1988). He then topped these performances off with an unforgettable turn opposite Tommy Lee Jones and Harrison Ford in The Fugitive (1993), delivering a funny, fiery tour de force that was pure Pantoliano right down to the name he chose for his character, Cosmo -- his grandfather's name. By the mid-'90s, Pantoliano had a recognizable name and a devoted fan base. While making numerous television guest appearances, he starred with Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon in directors Andy and Larry Wachowski's debut thriller, Bound (1996). Pantoliano's edgy performance as a doomed money launderer impressed the Wachowskis so much that they created the character of Cypher in The Matrix (1999) exclusively for him. Shortly afterward, his co-star in the sci-fi spectacular, Carrie-Anne Moss, insisted that director Christopher Nolan hire Pantoliano for the third lead in his sleeper-hit Memento (2000). In 2001, at the behest of producer David Chase, Pantoliano joined the cast of the landmark HBO series The Sopranos. While earning a well-des

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Highest Rated Movies

Filmography

Movies

Credit
77% Bad Boys for Life Captain Howard — 2020
88% Feast of the Seven Fishes Frankie — 2019
No Score Yet The Brawler Al Braverman — 2019
No Score Yet 15 Rounds Al Braverman — 2019
No Score Yet Lake Placid: Legacy Henderson — 2018
83% Happy Anniversary Actor — 2018
5% Just Getting Started Actor — 2017
No Score Yet Random Tropical Paradise Anthony Gambazzo — 2017
25% The Perfect Match Marty $7.5M 2016
6% The Identical Avi Hirshberg $2.9M 2014
83% Dislecksia: The Movie Actor $2.7K 2013
22% Loosies Carl $3.8K 2012
No Score Yet Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life Oswald — 2011
13% Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore Peek $43.5M 2010
50% Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief Gabe Ugliano $61.2M 2010
No Score Yet Falling Up George — 2010
No Score Yet Deadly Impact (To Live and Die) Actor — 2009
No Score Yet The Job Perriman — 2009
No Score Yet No Kidding, Me Too! Producer Executive Producer Director Screenwriter — 2009
No Score Yet Spring Break '83 Actor — 2009
No Score Yet Silver Man Actor — 2008
No Score Yet The Legend of Secret Pass Actor — 2008
No Score Yet Deceit Anthony Producer — 2007
78% Canvas Producer John Marino — 2007
38% Unknown L'homme attaché — 2006
91% ...So Goes the Nation Actor — 2006
5% Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector Mayor M.T. Gunn $15.7M 2006
33% Wedding Daze Smitty — 2006
19% The Amateurs (The Moguls) (Dirty Movie) Some Idiot — 2005
35% Racing Stripes Goose $49.2M 2005
No Score Yet The Easter Egg Adventure Terrible Timothy Takit — 2004
No Score Yet Perfect Opposites Louis Carbonelli — 2004
41% Second Best Producer Elliot — 2004
23% Bad Boys II Capt. Howard $138.4M 2003
44% Daredevil Urich $102.5M 2003
4% The Adventures of Pluto Nash Morgan $4.4M 2002
39% Black and White Bill King — 2002
54% Cats & Dogs Peek — 2001
No Score Yet A Better Way to Die Flash — 2000
92% Memento Teddy $23.9M 2000
No Score Yet New Blood Hellman — 2000
23% Ready to Rumble Titus Sinclair — 2000
No Score Yet Silver Man Norbert — 2000
No Score Yet Olive, the Other Reindeer Martini — 1999
No Score Yet Top of the World Vince Castor — 1999
No Score Yet The Taxman Al Benjamin — 1999
88% The Matrix Cypher — 1999
No Score Yet Tinseltown Arnie — 1999
80% The Life Before This Jake Maclean — 1999
No Score Yet Hoods Charlie Flynn — 1998
26% U.S. Marshals Deputy Marshal Cosmo Renfro — 1997
No Score Yet Natural Enemy Actor — 1997
No Score Yet Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Ice Det. Meyer Meyer — 1996
88% Bound Caesar — 1996
12% Dunston Checks In Actor — 1996
No Score Yet The Immortals Pete Tunnell — 1995
15% Steal Big, Steal Little Eddie Agopian — 1995
No Score Yet The Last Word Doc — 1995
22% Congo Actor — 1995
43% Bad Boys Capt. Howard — 1995
20% Baby's Day Out Norby — 1994
No Score Yet Robot In The Family Actor — 1994
No Score Yet Teresa's Tattoo Bruno — 1994
No Score Yet Dangerous Heart Barclay — 1994
No Score Yet The Spy Within (The Flight of the Dove) Brezner — 1994
96% The Fugitive Cosmo Renfro — 1993
53% Three of Hearts Mickey — 1993
11% Calendar Girl Harvey Darpinian — 1993
No Score Yet Me and the Kid Roy — 1993
44% Used People Frank — 1992
No Score Yet Through the Eyes of a Killer Jerry Tarlton — 1992
33% Zandalee Gerri — 1991
No Score Yet El Diablo Kid Durango — 1990
No Score Yet The Last Of The Finest Wayne — 1990
20% Short Time Scalese — 1990
No Score Yet Downtown White — 1990
No Score Yet Backstreet Dreams Paul Antangeli (uncredited) — 1990
No Score Yet Nightbreaker Sgt. Jack Russell — 1989
No Score Yet Tales from the Crypt Actor — 1989
96% Midnight Run Eddie Moscone — 1988
No Score Yet Rock 'n' Roll Mom Ronnie — 1988
No Score Yet The In Crowd Perry Parker — 1988
75% Empire of the Sun Frank — 1987
59% Amazon Women on the Moon Sy Swerdlow $0.6M 1987
97% La Bamba Bob Keane — 1987
14% The Squeeze Norman — 1987
No Score Yet Scenes from the Goldmine Manny — 1987
60% Running Scared Snake — 1986
71% The Goonies Francis — 1985
38% Final Terror Eggar — 1985
50% The Mean Season Andy Porter — 1985
38% Eddie and the Cruisers Doc Robbins — 1983
94% Risky Business Guido — 1983
0% Monsignor Musso — 1982
89% The Idolmaker Gino Pilato — 1980
No Score Yet Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story Ray Neal — 1980
No Score Yet Road Movie Mugger — 1974
50% For Pete's Sake Actor — 1974

TV

Credit
No Score Yet SpongeBob SquarePants
1999 		Voice 2017
66% How to Make It in America
2010-2011 		Lulu's Father 2011
No Score Yet Need to Know
2010-2013 		Guest 2010
No Score Yet The Bonnie Hunt Show
2008-2010 		Guest 2009
2008
85% The Simpsons
1989 		Voice 2006
15% Dr. Vegas
2004 		Tommy Canterna 2004
88% The Handler
2003-2004 		Joe Renato 2004
2003
92% The Sopranos
1999-2007 		Ralph Cifaretto Ralphie Cifaretto 2002
2001
No Score Yet Roswell
1999-2002 		Kal Langley 2001
No Score Yet The Tonight Show With Jay Leno
1992-2014 		Guest 2001
No Score Yet Godzilla: The Series
1998-2000 		Victor “Animal” Palotti 1998
No Score Yet Hercules
1998-1999 		Voice 1998
62% Arli$$
1996-2002 		Guest 1996
84% NYPD Blue
1993-2005 		Vinnie Greco 1995
No Score Yet Highlander
1992-1998 		Doctor 1992
82% Tales from the Crypt
1989-1996 		1989
No Score Yet Hill Street Blues
1981-1987 		Orsini 1984
No Score Yet Trapper John, M.D.
1979-1986 		Michael 1984
No Score Yet M*A*S*H
1972-1983 		Cpl. Levin 1981
82% EZ Streets
1997 		Jimmy Murtha
50% The Fanelli Boys
1991 		Dominic Fanelli

QUOTES FROM Joe Pantoliano CHARACTERS

Teddy says: You don't want the truth. You make up your own truth! Like your police file. It was complete when I gave it to you. Who took out the 12 pages?

Leonard says: You, probably

Teddy says: No, it wasnt' me. See, it was you!

Leonard says: Why would I do that?

Teddy says: To create a puzzle you could never solve!

Teddy says: Lenny, you can't trust a man's life to your little notes and pictures

Leonard says: Why not?

Teddy says: Because your notes could be unreliable

Leonard says: Memory's unreliable

Teddy says: Oh, please!

Leonard says: No, no, really! Memory's not perfect. It's not even that good. Ask the police. Eyewitness testimony is unreliable. The cops don't catch a killer by sitting around remembering stuff. They collect facts, they make notes and they draw conclusions. Facts, not memory. That's how you investigate. I know. It's what I used to do. Look, memory cand change the shape of a room. It can change the colour of a car and memories can be distorted. They're just an interpretation. They're not a record. They're irrelevant if you have the facts.

Gabe Ugliano says: Woman!

Sally Jackson says: Hi Gabe.

Gabe Ugliano says: Where's my beer?

Sally Jackson says: It's in the fridge.

Gabe Ugliano says: So it's suppposed to magically float from the ice box and into my hand?

Teddy says: You're not a killer, [pinches Leonard's cheek] that's why you're so good at it.

Teddy says: You're not a killer, that's why you're so good at it.

Leonard says: These tracks are just a few days old.

Teddy says: What are you, Pocahontas?

Teddy says: Leonard you don't know what's going on you don't even know my name

Teddy says: Leonard you don't know what's going on you don't even know my name.

Leonard says: Teddy

Leonard says: Teddy.

Teddy says: that's because you read it of a fucking picture

Teddy says: That's because you read it off a fucking picture.

Teddy says: Lenny

Teddy says: Lenny.

Leonard says: its Leonard

Leonard says: It's Leonard.

Teddy says: So You Lie To Yourself To Be Happy, There's Nothing Wrong With That, We All Do It.

Teddy says: So you lie to yourself to be happy - there's nothing wrong with that, we all do it.

Leonard says: I take it I've told you about my condition.

Teddy says: Only every time I see ya.

Leonard says: I don't think they'd let someone like me carry a gun.

Teddy says: I fucking hope not.

Cypher says: (talking to Agent Smith) You know, I know this steak doesn't exist. I know that when I put it in my mouth, the Matrix is telling my brain that it is juicy and delicious. After nine years, you know what I realize? [Takes a bite of steak]

Cypher says: [talking to Agent Smith] You know, I know this steak doesn't exist. I know that when I put it in my mouth, the Matrix is telling my brain that it is juicy and delicious. After nine years, you know what I realize? [takes a bite of steak]

Cypher says: Ignorance is bliss.

Teddy says: Lenny!!!

Teddy says: Lenny!

Cypher says: No, I don't believe it!

Tank says: Believe it or not, you piece of shit, you're still going to burn!

Caesar says: Ceasar:what did she do to you? Violet:Everything you couldn´t.

Caesar says: What did she do to you?

Violet says: Everything you couldn't.

Morpheus says: The pill you took is part of a trace program. It's design to disrupt your input/output carrier signal so we can pinpoint your location.

Neo says: What does that mean?

Cypher says: It means buckle your seatbelt, Dorothy because Kansas is going bye bye.

Cypher says: I know what you're thinking, 'cause right now I'm thinking the same thing. Actually, I've been thinking it ever since I got here: Why oh why didn't I take the BLUE pill?

Cypher says: Ignorance is bliss

Cypher says: Ignorance is bliss.

Cypher says: Why oh why,didn't I take the blue pill??

Cypher says: Why oh why, didn't I take the blue pill?

Peek says: Follow me.

Peek says: Am I the only one that thinks this is a bad idea?

Teddy says: You're not a killer. That's why you're so good at it.