---
name: "Michael Badalucco"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/michael-badalucco"
fi1m_id: "michael-badalucco"
imdb_id: "nm0045937"
tmdb_id: 1010
wikidata_id: "Q714675"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "20 December 1954"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 78
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-05T01:12:17.584491+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."
---

# Michael Badalucco

## Identity

Michael Badalucco

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/michael-badalucco
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** michael-badalucco
- **IMDb ID:** nm0045937
- **TMDB ID:** 1010
- **Wikidata ID:** Q714675
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Badalucco, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q714675, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0045937/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1010

Actor. Born 20 December 1954 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 20 December 1954, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1980–present
- **Also known as:**  Mike Badalucco
- **Frequently works with:** [Ethan Coen](https://film.one/person/ethan-coen.md), [Joel Coen](https://film.one/person/joel-coen.md)
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 78, as actor, over 10 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 91 (1), 1990s 74 (6), 2000s 82 (2), 2020s 77 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 78 to 72 across 9 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 7, Crime 6, Comedy 4, Action 2, Romance 2, Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 17 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $812m across 9 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Badalucco, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q714675, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0045937/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1010

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Léon: The Professional*](https://film.one/film/leon-the-professional.md) (74)

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

## Fi1m on Michael Badalucco

> Michael Badalucco brings warmth and humour to supporting parts without making every character reassuring. We value his ordinary, working-class presence, and the Coens’ volatile George Nelson shows how useful it can be when put to less comfortable work.

A volatile bank robber is not the most obvious use for Michael Badalucco’s approachable manner, which is part of the pleasure of *O Brother, Where Art Thou?* (2000). His George Nelson interrupts the Coens’ wandering musical comedy with welcome unruliness. We laughed at the mismatch between that familiar, everyday presence and the character’s volatility. The film leaves some of its people short of attention, and a memorable cameo is still a cameo. We would gladly have spent longer with him.

His early film career was built from supporting parts, including Vic Vitelli in John Turturro’s *Mac* (1992), a role written with him in mind. In Luc Besson’s *Léon: The Professional* (1994), he is Mathilda’s father. We find that film gripping and unusually tender, though its treatment of a child amid the violence remains troubling. Jean Reno and Natalie Portman supply the central bond; Badalucco belongs to the smaller parts around it. It is worth seeing, but it would not be our starting point for someone interested chiefly in his acting.

Television gave him a longer acquaintance with an audience through Jimmy Berlutti in David E. Kelley’s *The Practice* (1997–2004), his breakthrough role. The heart and humour of that performance make it the clearest reason to seek him out beyond the film cameos. His recurring casting as policemen, drivers and food workers carries a risk: we can begin to assume we know what he will offer before he has done anything. Playing David Berkowitz in Spike Lee’s *Summer of Sam* (1999) was certainly no invitation to settle down with another agreeable working man.

The Coens brought him back as Frank in *The Man Who Wasn’t There* (2001), another supporting assignment in a career largely made from them. There is no reason to demand that he become a leading man, though we would be wary of choosing every film simply because his name appears in the credits. Start with *O Brother, Where Art Thou?*; try *The Practice* when a cameo no longer seems enough.

## Biography

Michael Badalucco is an American actor. He made his screen debut in *Raging Bull* (1980) and has appeared in films including *Miller's Crossing* (1990), *Léon: The Professional* (1994) as Mathilda's Father, *You've Got Mail* (1998), *O Brother, Where Art Thou?* (2000) as George Nelson and *The Man Who Wasn't There* (2001). He is also known for portraying Jimmy Berluti in the television series *The Practice* (1997–2004), for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award in 1999.

Born on 20 December 1954 in Brooklyn, New York, Badalucco attended Xaverian High School, graduating in 1972, and later studied at the State University of New York at New Paltz. His brother is actor Joseph Badalucco Jr. He has been married to Brenda Heyob since 1996.

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

## On Fi1m (10)

- *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem* (2023), Fi1m 77, as Bad Bernie (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-mutant-mayhem.md)
- *The Man Who Wasn't There* (2001), Fi1m 81, as Frank — [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-who-wasnt-there.md)
- *O Brother, Where Art Thou?* (2000), Fi1m 82, as George Nelson — [page](https://film.one/film/o-brother-where-art-thou.md)
- *You've Got Mail* (1998), Fi1m 66, as Charlie — [page](https://film.one/film/youve-got-mail.md)
- *Clockers* (1995), Fi1m 74, as Cop #1 — [page](https://film.one/film/clockers.md)
- *Léon: The Professional* (1994), Fi1m 74, as Mathilda's Father — [page](https://film.one/film/leon-the-professional.md)
- *Sleepless in Seattle* (1993), Fi1m 78, as New York Taxi Dispatcher — [page](https://film.one/film/sleepless-in-seattle.md)
- *Law & Order* (1990), Fi1m 72, as David Zifrin — [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *Miller's Crossing* (1990), Fi1m 82, as Caspar's Driver — [page](https://film.one/film/millers-crossing.md)
- *Raging Bull* (1980), Fi1m 91, as Soda Fountain Clerk — [page](https://film.one/film/raging-bull.md)

## Complete filmography (76)

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

- *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem* (2023), as Bad Bernie (voice) — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-mutant-mayhem.md)
- *Never Have I Ever* (2020), series, as Howard Gross, Howard Gross (voice) — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/never-have-i-ever-2020.md)
- *Eagle and the Albatross* (2020), as Merle
- *The Jesus Rolls* (2019), as Security Officer Barley
- *Oh Jerome, No* (2019), series, as Craig
- *The Hammer* (2017), as Sgt. Colby
- *Rules Don't Apply* (2016), as Solly, Solly the Barber
- *The Mascot* (2015), as Karl
- *Addiction: A 60's Love Story* (2015), as Sam Kendrick
- *Dancer and the Dame* (2015), as Harrier
- *Streets of Hope* (2014), as Roger Minassian
- *Zarra's Law* (2014), as Arthur Pascano
- *Fading Gigolo* (2013), Actor
- *Heebie Jeebies* (2013), as Billy Butler
- *The Confession* (2011), as Arty
- *The Confession* (2011), series, Actor
- *The Resident* (2011), as Moving Man
- *Boardwalk Empire* (2010), series, as Harry Prince — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/boardwalk-empire.md)
- *In My Sleep* (2010), as Derek
- *Nowhere to Hide* (2009), as Paulo Farina
- *In Plain Sight* (2008), series, as Benny Cusato
- *Naked Movie* (2008), as Joe Head
- *Christmas Story* (2007), Co-Executive Producer
- *Private Practice* (2007), series, as Nick
- *Who Is Norman Lloyd?* (2007), Producer
- *Justice* (2006), series, Actor
- *Bones* (2005), series, as Scott Starret · Scott Starret / Pilot — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/bones.md)
- *Pizza My Heart* (2005), as Lou Prestolani
- *Bewitched* (2005), as Joey Props
- *Gourmet Club* (2004), as Chef Orsino Mangiacavallo
- *2BPerfectlyHonest* (2004), as Eugene
- *Cold Case* (2003), series, as Don Bardwill (2010)
- *Joan of Arcadia* (2003), series, as Father Payne
- *Heaven Touches Brooklyn in July* (2002), as Narrator
- *13 Moons* (2002), as Producer
- *Monk* (2002), series, as Owen McCloskey
- *The Man Who Wasn't There* (2001), as Frank — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-who-wasnt-there.md)
- *Boston Public* (2000), series, as Jimmy Berluti
- *O Brother, Where Art Thou?* (2000), as George Nelson — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/o-brother-where-art-thou.md)
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Tom Galli
- *Summer of Sam* (1999), as Son of Sam
- *You've Got Mail* (1998), as Charlie — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/youve-got-mail.md)
- *Lesser Prophets* (1997), as Charlie
- *The Deli* (1997), as Eric the Soda Man
- *Ally McBeal* (1997), series, as Jimmy Berluti (uncredited) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/ally-mcbeal.md)
- *Commandments* (1997), as Detective
- *The Practice* (1997), series, as Jimmy Berluti
- *Love Walked In* (1997), as Eddie Bianco
- *One Fine Day* (1996), as Lt. Bonomo
- *Basquiat* (1996), as Counterman at Deli
- *The Sunshine Boys* (1996), as Sound Man
- *Two If by Sea* (1996), as Quinn
- *New York News* (1995), series, as Street Vendor
- *Clockers* (1995), as Cop #1 — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/clockers.md)
- *Central Park West* (1995), series, Actor
- *Dearly Beloved* (1995), as Mr. Richards
- *Mixed Nuts* (1994), as AAA Driver · Assistant Property Master
- *The Search for One-eye Jimmy* (1994), as Joe Head
- *Léon: The Professional* (1994), as Mathilda's Father — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/leon-the-professional.md)
- *Men Lie* (1994), Actor
- *Sleepless in Seattle* (1993), as New York Taxi Dispatcher — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/sleepless-in-seattle.md)
- *Night and the City* (1992), as Elaine's Bartender
- *Mac* (1992), as Vico Vitelli
- *Juice* (1992), as Detective Kelly
- *Jungle Fever* (1991), as Frankie Botz
- *Switch* (1991), as Hard Hat
- *The Hard Way* (1991), as Pizza Man
- *The Godfather Part III* (1990), as Property Buyer — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/the-godfather-part-iii.md)
- *Men Of Respect* (1990), as Sal
- *Miller's Crossing* (1990), as Caspar's Driver — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/millers-crossing.md)
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as David Zifrin — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *She-Devil* (1989), as Props
- *Bright Lights, Big City* (1988), Assistant Production Manager
- *Desperately Seeking Susan* (1985), as Guy from Brooklyn
- *Broadway Danny Rose* (1984), as Money Ripper
- *Raging Bull* (1980), as Soda Fountain Clerk — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/raging-bull.md)

## Gallery

- ![Michael Badalucco](https://film.one/media/person/84362/gallery-672aedc4e9f9.jpg) Michael Badalucco — Image via TMDB
- ![Michael Badalucco](https://film.one/media/person/84362/gallery-dc276951b366.jpg) Michael Badalucco — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 1999: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (won), for *The Practice*

*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/michael-badalucco