With more than 100 film, television and stage credits to his name, Joseph Peter Pantoliano is a prolific American character actor who has played many diverse and memorable roles, from Guido in _Risky Business , with whom he has two daughters, Daniella and Isabella. Pantoliano also has a son, Marco, from a previous marriage, and a step-daughter, Melody.
Daughter Isabella Grace born 27 August 1998.
Has a younger sister named Mary Ann.
Son Marco born in 1981.
Parents are Dominic and Mary.
Has a son and two daughters: Marco Pantoliano , Michelle Pantoliano , and Melody Pantoliano.
Formerly co-owner of Beverly Hills Grand Havana Room.
One of his favourite movies is Shrek .
Keen wine buff. On a recent episode of Jon Favreau s "Dinner for Five" on IFC, he was choosing the wine, inquiring about a 97 Ornellaia before settling on a 79 Tignanello. When the wine was presented to him for tasting, he picked up that it was corked and asked the sommelier to taste it himself, and the sommelier concurred.
Italian-American.
At age seventeen he moved from his hometown of Hoboken, New Jersey, to Manhattan to study to become a barber.
Often works with Carrie-Anne Moss.
He landed his first professional role in 1972 when he played Billy Bibbit in the national touring company of One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. He worked in regional theater appearing in more than 40 Off-Broadway productions including Vision of Kerouac at the Lion Theater and The Death Star at the Theater of St. Clements.
Studied acting with Michael Howard in New York City.
Lives in Wilton, Connecticut.
He studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.
According to his book, "Whos Sorry Now?", at age 12 during an argument in a grocery store, his mother, Mary Centrella Pantoliano, told Joe that his real father was her third cousin, Florio "Florie" Isabella, a made man who had spent several years in prison. Shortly before, Joes father, Monk, and Mary had separated and Florie moved in with the family. Monk and Mary never got divorced, and Joe never found out which man was actually his father.
Has suffered from Clinical Depression since the mid-1990s.
Is Dyslexic.
Appeared as Eddie Valiant in an early animation test for Who Framed Roger Rabbit .
(July 2001) Working on a novel about his hometown, Hoboken, New Jersey, entitled, "Whos Sorry Now?" He hopes to have the book completed in the next fifteen months and is working on a deal with a publisher.
Founded the charity organization "No Kidding, Me Too!" (nkm2.org) to foster education and awareness of mental illness. The foundations goal is to "Stomp the Stigma" associated with mental illness and encourage those suffering to seek help.
Was offered the role of Leo in Lethal Weapon 2 , but was forced to turn it down due to a conflict with the film The Last of the Finest . Joe Pesci ultimately played the role.
He and his wife Nancy Sheppard were married by Charles Rocket.
He is left-handed.
A character actor to me was someone who played a bunch of different,roles versus a leading man or supporting actor, I wanted to be a,character actor and do good parts. The guys that inspired me were,Spencer Tracy, Robert Duvall, Albert Finney and Michael Caine, you,know, urban guys that came from the street. I just thought if they,could do it, then so could I. They were the kinda guys who started out,being the fourth guy through the door and then, at last, they get a,line of dialogue. .
