Jon Raymond Polito (December 29, 1950 – September 1, 2016) was an American actor. In a film and television career spanning 35 years, he amassed over 220 credits. His television roles included Detective Steve Crosetti in the first two seasons of Homicide: Life on the Street and Phil Bartoli on the first season of Crime Story. He also appeared in several films including The Rocketeer, The Crow and Gangster Squad, as well as his work with the Coen brothers. He appeared in five of their films, including Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink and The Big Lebowski. Polito also portrayed hungry i nightclub impresario Enrico Banducci in a large supporting role in Tim Burton's 2014 film Big Eyes starring Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz.

Early life Polito was born on December 29, 1950, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to John and Delaida "Dee" () Polito. He had an older sister and brother, Rosemary Simpson and Jack Polito, an animator. After acting at the West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys, he studied theater at Villanova University.

Career Homicide: Life on the Street Polito was initially reluctant to audition for Homicide as he had just relocated from New York City to Los Angeles, and did not want to move to Baltimore for the series. He was initially offered a role as a Polish-American detective, but series co-creators Barry Levinson and Tom Fontana rewrote the character as an Italian named Steve Crosetti and cast him in the role. The Polish detective was also rewritten, becoming Detective Meldrick Lewis, and was played by African-American actor Clark Johnson.

The show was rating poorly and the producers were under pressure from NBC to include a new female character (Megan Russert) in the hope of gaining broader appeal. As a result, they decided to write out Polito's character at the end of Season 2. Fontana assured him that he would be brought back later in the season, but Polito was unhappy and criticized the producers publicly, an action he later said that he regretted. The outburst caused a rift with Fontana, and the Crosetti character was killed off early in Season 3, with the explanation that the detective had committed suicide. This further infuriated Polito, who again complained to the media, triggering a public dispute with Fontana. Interviewed about the situation in 2005, Polito expressed regret for his handling of the matter. He said that he and Fontana had subsequently reconciled, and as a result the Crosetti character returned to make a farewell appearance as a spirit in Homicide: The Movie.

Coen brothers collaboration Polito was a regular in the films of the Coen brothers, appearing in five of their films. The Coens had seen Polito in the New York stage adaptation of Death of a Salesman in 1986 playing Howard Wagner. They approached him to play the part of The Dane in Miller's Crossing (1990), but after reading the script he turned them down saying he would only play the Italian gangster Johnny Caspar. The Coens auditioned several other actors but eventually used Polito after they made him read his entire role cold.

He was offered the role of Lou Breeze in their next film Barton Fink (1991), in a role which was written especially for him. Again he turned down the Coens' offer, saying he wanted to play the part of film producer Jack Lipnick. Actress Frances McDormand persuaded him to take the role, saying it would change his career. He later appeared in The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) as an eccentric businessman, The Big Lebowski (1998) as a private detective and finally in 2001 as a flirtatious salesman in The Man Who Wasn't There.

Personal life Polito was gay and married fellow actor Darryl Armbruster on October 16, 2015, fifteen years after they first met.

Death Polito was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2010. He fell into a coma and later was taken off life support on September 1, 2016 at the City of Hope National Medical Center, where he was being treated. He was 65 years old.

Filmography Film + Jon Polito film credits A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. Year Title Role Notes Ref 1982 The Clairvoyant Detective Sporaco Also known as The Killing Hour 1984 The Princess and the Call Girl Private Detective C.H.U.D. Newscaster 1985 Compromising Positions 1st Cop Credited as John Polito Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins Zack 1986 Highlander Detective Walter Bedsoe Dream Lover Dr. James Fire with Fire Boss 1987 Critical Condition Kline 1988 Homeboy Moe "Fingers" 1990 The Freshman Chuck Greenwald Miller's Crossing Giovanni Gasparo / Johnny Caspar 1991 Barton Fink Lou Breeze The Rocketeer Bigelow 1992 Leather Jackets Jack "Fat Jack" Flodders in America Larry Rosenbaum Flodder in Amerika! in Dutch 1993 The Contenders Pedro Perusia 1994 The Hudsucker Proxy Mr. Bumstead The Crow Gideon Blankman Michael "The Suit" Minelli 1995 Fluke Boss Bushwhacked FBI Agent Palmer 1996 Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco Ashcan Voice Just Your Luck Nick Direct-to-video Inside Out Paparazzi Short film Included in Boys Life 3 1997 The Corporate Ladder Mr. Deacon 1998 The Big Lebowski Private Investigator Da Fino With Friends Like These... Rudy Ptak Tale of the Mummy Parsons Music from Another Room Lorenzo Palmieri Nowhere Land Frank 1999 Angel's Dance Vinnie "Uncle Vinnie" Road Kill "Jelly" The Green Mile D Block Prison Guard Uncredited Stuart Little Detective Sherman Carlo's Wake Uncle Gus Surgeon General's Warning The Other Guy Short film 2000 The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle Schoentell The Dancing Pumpkin Animated short Credited as John Polito The Tangerine Bear: Home in Time for Christmas! Virgil Voice Boys Life 3 Paparazzi Segment: Inside Out 2000 Flies on Cupid Giorgio Gagantano 2001 The Tailor of Panama Ramón Rudd, The Banker Frank's Last Dance Frank Short film Mimic 2 Morrie Deaver Direct-to-video The Shrink Is In Judge Bob The Man Who Wasn't There Creighton Tolliver After Sex Naldo Credited as John Polito 2002 Black Mask 2: City of Masks King 29 Palms The Security Guard 2003 Second Hood View from the Top Roy Roby No Credits, No Peace The Network Executive Short film The Box Michael Dickerson 2004 Charlie the Ox Freddy Boon The Last Shot Wally Kamin 2005 Short Order Tony The Honeymooners Kirby 2006 The Alibi Jimmy, The Photographer Released on DVD as Lies & Alibis Cutting Room Sandy Grilled Leon Waterman Flags of Our Fathers Borough President Big Nothing FBI Agent Hymes Happily N'Ever After Wolf 1 Voice Credited as John Polito Cleaners Short film 2007 Cougar Club Mr. Archibald American Gangster Rossi 2008 The Marconi Bros. Lou Burns Bart Got a Room Bob Animated American Max Rabbit Short film 2009 Super Capers: The Origins of Ed and the Missing Bullion Captain Sludge Locker 13 Don Dillon Short film Also known as Locker 13: Down and Out 2010 DC Showcase: The Spectre Police Captain Voice, short film Burning Palms Ned The Grind HIM Venus & Vegas Frank The Last Godfather Don Bonfante Stiffs John "The Prince" Monaco The Talking Head Mr. Opportunity Short film 2011 Son of Morning Mr. Bordasche Atlas Shrugged: Part I Orren Boyle From the Head Vinnie Batman: Year One Commissioner Loeb Voice, direct-to-video 2012 Jonny Boy Jonny Boy Short film Anti-Muse Anti-Muse Short film 2013 Gangster Squad Jack Dragna 2014 Big Eyes Enrico Banducci 2018 The Maestro Herbert Englehart Final film role; posthumous

Television