---
name: "Joe Pantoliano"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/joe-pantoliano"
fi1m_id: "joe-pantoliano"
imdb_id: "nm0001592"
tmdb_id: 532
wikidata_id: "Q296883"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "12 September 1951"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 14
average_fi1m_score: 73
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 14
updated: "2026-10-20T04:06:07.685252+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Joe Pantoliano

## Identity

Joe Pantoliano

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/joe-pantoliano
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** joe-pantoliano
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001592
- **TMDB ID:** 532
- **Wikidata ID:** Q296883
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Pantoliano, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q296883, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001592/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/532

Actor. Born 12 September 1951 in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 12 September 1951, Hoboken, New Jersey, USA
- **Active:** 1983–present
- **Also known as:** Joseph Peter "Joe" Pantoliano, Joey Pants, 喬·潘托利亞諾, جو پانتولیانو
- **Frequently works with:** [Carrie-Anne Moss](https://film.one/person/carrie-anne-moss.md), [Jerry Bruckheimer](https://film.one/person/jerry-bruckheimer.md), [Lana Wachowski](https://film.one/person/lana-wachowski.md), [Lilly Wachowski](https://film.one/person/lilly-wachowski.md), [Martin Lawrence](https://film.one/person/martin-lawrence.md), [Will Smith](https://film.one/person/will-smith-2888.md)
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as actor, over 14 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 80 (5), 1990s 85 (3), 2000s 52 (3), 2020s 70 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 73 to 66 across 14 titles
- **Score spread:** 8 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 12 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 7, Action 6, Drama 6, Crime 5, Thriller 5, Science Fiction 2
- **Screen time:** 26 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $2,283m across 13 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Pantoliano, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q296883, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001592/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/532

## Coming up

- *Violent Night 2* (2026-12-02) — [page](https://film.one/film/violent-night-2.md)

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Matrix*](https://film.one/film/the-matrix.md) (88), [*The Fugitive*](https://film.one/film/the-fugitive.md) (88)
- **Disney+:** [*Memento*](https://film.one/film/memento.md) (88)
- **HBO Max:** [*Risky Business*](https://film.one/film/risky-business.md) (81)
- **The Criterion Channel:** [*Bound*](https://film.one/film/bound.md) (80)
- **Peacock:** [*The Goonies*](https://film.one/film/the-goonies.md) (76)
- **Netflix:** [*La Bamba*](https://film.one/film/la-bamba.md) (72)
- **Hulu:** [*Bad Boys for Life*](https://film.one/film/bad-boys-for-life.md) (68)
- **Tubi:** [*Bad Boys II*](https://film.one/film/bad-boys-ii.md) (36)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*The Adventures of Pluto Nash*](https://film.one/film/the-adventures-of-pluto-nash.md) (32)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Joe Pantoliano

> Joe Pantoliano makes an unpleasant man worth spending time with. We value the humour and exasperation he brings to supporting parts, especially in *Bound*, where his gangster gives the women a properly entertaining opponent.

In *Bound* (1996), Joe Pantoliano's Caesar has to hold our attention alongside Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly's romance. The women make plotting together feel intimate, so there is a risk that the gangster scenes will seem like time spent away from what matters. We enjoyed Caesar's company against our better judgement: Pantoliano gives those scenes enough humour to compete. He makes their opponent worth watching without making us wish they would stop plotting against him.

He broke through with *Risky Business* (1983) and *The Goonies* (1985), then became a regular supporting presence in the 1990s, including *The Fugitive* (1993). The more conspicuous stretch runs from Cypher in *The Matrix* (1999) through Teddy in Christopher Nolan's *Memento* (2000) to Ralph Cifaretto in *The Sopranos* (2001–2004). Gangsters, cops and other questionable company recur across the work. We would not judge that career by how often he gets the leading part: making a supporting character worth following is a substantial skill.

The Wachowskis understand how easily a carefully planned crime can become farce in *Bound*, and Pantoliano is important to that balance. An awkward development is funnier when the people involved have put so much effort into avoiding it. His contribution helps the gangster material earn its place beside the romance, rather than merely fill the gaps between the women's scenes. The directors occasionally fuss over the presentation, but the actors give us a good reason to stay with the film.

The risk in casting him is settling for the familiar outburst, given how readily he makes physical and vocal exasperation entertaining. We prefer him when a part also allows some vulnerability, rather than asking him to be loud and leaving it there. That gives us someone to stay interested in after the joke, even when we would rather not know him. Start with *Bound*, preferably with someone who likes a crime thriller that also makes them laugh.

## Biography

Joe Pantoliano is an American actor. Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, on 12 September 1951, he began his career in theatre, appearing in a national touring production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in 1972 and numerous Off-Broadway plays before moving to Los Angeles in 1976.

He has appeared in more than 150 roles across film, television and theatre. Notable film credits include Francis Fratelli in *The Goonies* (1985), Guido in *Risky Business* (1983), Cosmo Renfro in *The Fugitive* (1993), Caesar in *Bound* (1996), Cypher in *The Matrix* (1999) and Teddy in *Memento* (2000). He played Captain Conrad Howard in the *Bad Boys* film series and Ralph Cifaretto in *The Sopranos* (2001–2004), for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2003. He received a further Emmy nomination in 2025 for his role in *The Last of Us*. Pantoliano has published two memoirs and founded the nonprofit No Kidding, Me Too! to reduce the stigma around mental illness.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (14)

- *Wonder Man* (2026), Fi1m 82, as Joe Pantoliano — [page](https://film.one/tv/wonder-man.md)
- *Bad Boys: Ride or Die* (2024), Fi1m 60, as Captain Howard — [page](https://film.one/film/bad-boys-ride-or-die.md)
- *Bad Boys for Life* (2020), Fi1m 68, as Captain Howard — [page](https://film.one/film/bad-boys-for-life.md)
- *Bad Boys II* (2003), Fi1m 36, as Captain Howard — [page](https://film.one/film/bad-boys-ii.md)
- *The Adventures of Pluto Nash* (2002), Fi1m 32, as Mogan — [page](https://film.one/film/the-adventures-of-pluto-nash.md)
- *Memento* (2000), Fi1m 88, as Teddy — [page](https://film.one/film/memento.md)
- *The Matrix* (1999), Fi1m 88, as Cypher — [page](https://film.one/film/the-matrix.md)
- *Bound* (1996), Fi1m 80, as Caesar — [page](https://film.one/film/bound.md)
- *The Fugitive* (1993), Fi1m 88, as Cosmo Renfro — [page](https://film.one/film/the-fugitive.md)
- *Midnight Run* (1988), Fi1m 88, as Eddie Moscone, Bail Bonder — [page](https://film.one/film/midnight-run.md)
- *Empire of the Sun* (1987), Fi1m 81, as Frank Demarest — [page](https://film.one/film/empire-of-the-sun.md)
- *La Bamba* (1987), Fi1m 72, as Bob Keane — [page](https://film.one/film/la-bamba.md)
- *The Goonies* (1985), Fi1m 76, as Francis — [page](https://film.one/film/the-goonies.md)
- *Risky Business* (1983), Fi1m 81, as Guido — [page](https://film.one/film/risky-business.md)

## Complete filmography (149)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Violent Night 2* (2026), Actor — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/film/violent-night-2.md)
- *The Isolate Thief* (2026), as "Burial" Perry Parker
- *Home Delivery* (2026), as Gary Templeton
- *Wonder Man* (2026), series, as Joe Pantoliano — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/wonder-man.md)
- *Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story* (2025), as Uncle Tommy Rossi
- *Dexter: Original Sin* (2024), series, as Anthony Moretti
- *Bad Boys: Ride or Die* (2024), as Captain Howard — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/bad-boys-ride-or-die.md)
- *The Last of Us* (2023), series, as Eugene Lynden — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-last-of-us.md)
- *Hide and Seek* (2021), as Collin Carmichael
- *The Santa Stakeout* (2021), as Mr. Miller
- *Chucky* (2021), series, as Joe Pantoliano
- *Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years* (2021), series, as Sticky Fins Whiting (voice)
- *Bad Boys for Life* (2020), as Captain Howard — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/bad-boys-for-life.md)
- *From the Vine* (2019), as Marco Gentile
- *Feast of the Seven Fishes* (2019), as Uncle Frankie
- *Tacoma FD* (2019), series, as Eddie Penisi, Sr, Eddie Penisi Sr.
- *The Brawler* (2019), as Al Braverman
- *Lake Placid: Legacy* (2018), as Henderson
- *Happy Anniversary* (2018), as Aldo
- *Just Getting Started* (2017), as Joey
- *Random Tropical Paradise* (2017), as Vincent Gambazzo
- *MacGyver* (2016), series, as Eric Andrews
- *The Perfect Match* (2016), as Marty
- *Sense8* (2015), series, as Michael Gorski
- *The Identical* (2014), as Avi Hirshberg
- *Hail Ceasar with Joe Pantoliano* (2014), Thanks
- *Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life* (2012), as Oswald
- *Loosies* (2012), as Carl
- *The Legend of Secret Pass* (2010), as Chuckster (voice)
- *Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore* (2010), as Peek (voice)
- *Deadly Impact* (2010), as David Kaplow
- *Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief* (2010), as Gabe Ugliano
- *Falling Up* (2009), as George
- *The Job* (2009), as Perriman
- *No Kidding, Me Too!* (2009), Director, Writer
- *Canvas* (2006), as John Marino · Producer
- *Unknown* (2006), as Bound Man
- *Deceit* (2006), as Anthony
- *Wedding Daze* (2006), as Smitty
- *The Amateurs* (2006), as Some Idiot
- *Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector* (2006), as Mayor M.T. Gunn
- *But Can They Sing?* (2005), series, Actor
- *The Check Up* (2005), as The Inspector
- *Racing Stripes* (2005), as Goose (voice)
- *Return to Source: The Philosophy of The Matrix* (2004), as Cypher
- *Dr. Vegas* (2004), series, Actor
- *The Easter Egg Adventure* (2004), as Terrible Timothy Takit (voice)
- *Perfect Opposites* (2004), as Louis Carbonelli
- *Second Best* (2004), as Elliot · Producer
- *The Handler* (2003), series, as Joe Renato
- *Bad Boys II* (2003), as Captain Howard — Fi1m 36, [page](https://film.one/film/bad-boys-ii.md)
- *Daredevil* (2003), as Urich
- *The Adventures of Pluto Nash* (2002), as Mogan — Fi1m 32, [page](https://film.one/film/the-adventures-of-pluto-nash.md)
- *A Better Way to Die* (2001), as Flash
- *Cats & Dogs* (2001), as Peek (voice)
- *Memento* (2000), as Teddy — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/memento.md)
- *Ready to Rumble* (2000), as Titus Sinclair
- *Silver Man* (2000), as Norbert
- *Olive, the Other Reindeer* (1999), as Martini (voice)
- *New Blood* (1999), as Hellman
- *Roswell* (1999), series, as Kal Langley
- *Taxman* (1999), as Al Benjamin
- *The Life Before This* (1999), as Jake Maclean
- *Black and White* (1999), as Bill King
- *SpongeBob SquarePants* (1999), series, as Sticky Fins Whiting (voice)
- *The Matrix* (1999), as Cypher — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-matrix.md)
- *The Sopranos* (1999), series, as Ralph Cifaretto — Fi1m 94, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-sopranos.md)
- *The Lionhearts* (1998), series, as (voice)
- *Godzilla: The Series* (1998), series, as Victor "Animal" Palotti (voice), Victor "Animal" Palotti
- *Hoods* (1998), as Charlie Flynn
- *U.S. Marshals* (1998), as Renfro
- *Top of the World* (1997), as Vince Castor
- *Tinseltown* (1997), as Arnie
- *Natural Enemy* (1996), as Stuart
- *EZ Streets* (1996), series, as Jimmy Murtha
- *Bound* (1996), as Caesar — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/bound.md)
- *Arli$$* (1996), series, as Vic Freed
- *Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Ice* (1996), as Det. Meyer Meyer
- *Bad Business* (1996), as Body Man
- *Cigars!: The New Rage!* (1996), Thanks
- *The Immortals* (1995), as Pete
- *Steal Big Steal Little* (1995), as Eddie Agopian
- *The Last Word* (1995), as Doc
- *Life with Louie* (1995), series, as Jojo Stomopolous (voice)
- *Congo* (1995), as Eddie Ventro (Uncredited)
- *Bad Boys* (1995), as Captain Howard
- *The Outer Limits* (1995), series, as Stan Harbinger
- *Beethoven* (1994), series, as Sparky (voice)
- *Baby's Day Out* (1994), as Norby
- *The Spy Within* (1994), as Attorney Brezner
- *Teresa's Tattoo* (1994), as Bruno
- *Robot in the Family* (1994), as Jack Shamir · Associate Producer
- *Dangerous Heart* (1994), as Barclay
- *Me and the Kid* (1993), as Roy
- *Calendar Girl* (1993), as Harvey Darpinian
- *The Fugitive* (1993), as Cosmo Renfro — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-fugitive.md)
- *Three of Hearts* (1993), as Mickey
- *Used People* (1992), as Frank
- *Highlander: The Series* (1992), series, as Doctor Wilder
- *Through the Eyes of a Killer* (1992), as Jerry
- *One Special Victory* (1991), as Daniel
- *Civil Wars* (1991), series, as Stan DeMarco
- *Zandalee* (1991), as Gerri
- *Backstreet Dreams* (1990), as Paul (uncredited)
- *The Fanelli Boys* (1990), series, as Dominic Fanelli
- *El Diablo* (1990), as Kid Durango
- *Short Time* (1990), as Scalese
- *The Last of the Finest* (1990), as Wayne Gross
- *Downtown* (1990), as White
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Dante Calabresi Sr. (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Ulric (segment "Dig That Cat... He's Real Gone"), Casino Dealer (uncredited)
- *Nightbreaker* (1989), as Sgt. Jack Russell
- *Midnight Run* (1988), as Eddie Moscone, Bail Bonder — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/midnight-run.md)
- *Rock 'N Roll Mom* (1988), as Ronnie
- *The In Crowd* (1988), as Perry Parker
- *Empire of the Sun* (1987), as Frank Demarest — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/empire-of-the-sun.md)
- *Beverly Hills Buntz* (1987), series, as Jimmy Montaigne
- *Amazon Women on the Moon* (1987), as Sy Swerdlow (segment "Hairlooming")
- *Scenes from the Goldmine* (1987), as Manny Ricci
- *La Bamba* (1987), as Bob Keane — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/la-bamba.md)
- *The Squeeze* (1987), as Norman
- *Destination: America* (1987), as Lt. Mike Amico
- *Roger Rabbit Screen Test* (1986), as Eddie Valiant (uncredited)
- *L.A. Law* (1986), series, as Ralph Cavanaugh
- *L.A. Law: Pilot* (1986), as Ralph Cavanaugh
- *Running Scared* (1986), as Snake
- *Amazing Stories* (1985), series, as Joe
- *The Goonies* (1985), as Francis — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/the-goonies.md)
- *The Mean Season* (1985), as Andy Porter
- *Robert Kennedy & His Times* (1985), series, as Roy Cohn
- *Mister Roberts* (1984), as Insigna
- *The Hitchhiker* (1983), series, as Brother Charles
- *Eddie and the Cruisers* (1983), as Doc Robbins
- *Hardcastle and McCormick* (1983), series, as Teddy Hollins
- *Risky Business* (1983), as Guido — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/risky-business.md)
- *The Final Terror* (1983), as Eggar
- *Monsignor* (1982), as Pvt. Joe Musso
- *Simon & Simon* (1981), series, Actor
- *Hill Street Blues* (1981), series, as Sonny Orsini — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/hill-street-blues.md)
- *The Idolmaker* (1980), as Gino Pilato
- *Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story* (1980), as Ray Neal
- *Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story* (1980), series, as Ray Neal
- *Hart to Hart* (1979), series, Actor
- *From Here to Eternity* (1979), series, as Pvt. Angelo Maggio
- *More Than Friends* (1978), as Ralphie
- *Free Country* (1978), series, Actor
- *M*A*S*H* (1972), series, as Gerald Mullen — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/m-a-s-h-1972.md)
- *I Took My Avocado to Aspen, Colorado*, as Narrator
- *Higher Love*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Joe Pantoliano](https://film.one/media/person/83078/gallery-50d4a7522f82.jpg) Joe Pantoliano — Justin Hoch photographing for Hudson Union Society, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/JoePantolianoFeb2009_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Joe Pantoliano](https://film.one/media/person/83078/gallery-2cb88f900856.jpg) Joe Pantoliano — Image via TMDB
- ![Joe Pantoliano](https://film.one/media/person/83078/gallery-f588e59808d3.jpg) Joe Pantoliano — Image via TMDB
- ![Joe Pantoliano](https://film.one/media/person/83078/gallery-91f5598f6b46.jpg) Joe Pantoliano — Image via TMDB
- ![Joe Pantoliano](https://film.one/media/person/83078/gallery-07b6a462018f.jpg) Joe Pantoliano — Image via TMDB
- ![Joe Pantoliano](https://film.one/media/person/83078/gallery-0594e5c1004e.jpg) Joe Pantoliano — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 2003: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (won), for *The Sopranos*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/joe-pantoliano