Joseph G. Grifasi (born June 14, 1944) is an American character actor of film, stage and television.
Early life and education Grifasi was born in Buffalo, New York, the son of Patricia (née Gaglione) and Joseph J. Grifasi, a skilled laborer. Grifasi graduated from Bishop Fallon High School, a now-defunct Roman Catholic high school in Buffalo, when he made the decision that he wanted to be, not just any old actor, but a character actor.Joe Grifasi on The Deer Hunter and No Pay, and Nudity
Career Grifasi has more than 130 film and television credits to his name, including two New York Yankees elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame: Phil Rizzuto in 61*, set in 1961; and Yogi Berra in The Bronx Is Burning, set in 1977.
He also played Pier 32 dock foreman in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, having one of the memorable scenes of the film while being questioned by Frank Drebin.
From 2005 and 2021, Grifasi has portrayed Defense Attorney Heshi Horowitz, who goes on to become a Superior Court Judge on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1978 On the Yard Morris The Deer Hunter Bandleader 1979 Something Short of Paradise Barney Collins 1980 Hide in Plain Sight Matty Stanek 1981The Gentleman BanditDetective Esposito Honky Tonk Freeway Osvaldo 1982Fighting BackDetectiveUncredited Still of the Night Joseph Vitucci 1984 Splash Manny The Pope of Greenwich Village Jimmy the Cheese Man The Flamingo Kid Mario Minetta 1985 Brewster's Millions J.B. Donaldo Bad Medicine Gómez 1986 F/X Mickey 1987 Ironweed Jack Matewan Fausto Moonstruck Shy Waiter 1988 The Appointments of Dennis Jennings Bartender Short film Beaches Otto Titsling Big Business Desk Clerk The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! Foreman 1989 Chances Are Omar The Feud Bud Bullard 1990 Presumed Innocent Tommy Molto 1991 City of Hope Pauly 1992 Primary Motive Paul Melton 1993 Benny & Joon Mike Household Saints Frank Manzone 1994 The Hudsucker Proxy Lou Naked Gun : The Final Insult Director Natural Born Killers Deputy Sheriff Duncan Homolka 1995 Batman Forever Bank Guard Heavy Leo Money Train Riley Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventure Man in Top Hat Two Bits Uncle Joe 1996 One Fine Day Manny Feldstein 1997 Sunday Scottie Elster 1998 The Naked Man Koski 1999 The Out-of-Towners Arresting Cop 2000 Looking for an Echo Vic 2001 Queenie in Love Berthold 2002 Auto Focus Strip Club M.C. Changing Lanes Judge Cosell 2003 Bought & Sold Alphonso 'Chunks' Colon 2004 13 Going on 30 Mr. Flamhaff 2005 Slow Burn Desk Sgt. Drown 2006 A Crime BIll Creating Karma Prighorn 2007 Dark Matter Professor Colby The Last New Yorker Jerry 2009 Under New Management Msgr. Tranni 2012 Othello Brabantio 2014 Julie Taymor's A Midsummer Night's Dream Peter Quince 2016 The American Side The Serb Baked in Brooklyn David's Dad No Pay, Nudity Mr. Davenport
Television
Year Title Role Notes 1974–1975 Police Surgeon Jerry Shields / Sam Sitko 2 episodes1977Great PerformancesCorporal MatsonEpisode: "Secret Service"Camera ThreeLouis: Suicide in B Flat2 episodes1982The Elephant ManPinhead ManagerTV film1983Will There Really Be a Morning?Wyler1986 The Equalizer Lt. Vocek Episode: "The Line"One Police PlazaInspector Nicholas ZambranoTV film 1987Hill Street BluesRonnie DelacroceEpisode: "Sorry Wrong Number"The Ellen Burstyn ShowTimothy WinnegrewEpisode: "The Box"1988MatlockHot Dog VendorEpisode: "The Ambassador: Part 1"1989MenLieutenant ChiboEpisode: "The Trouble with Harvey"MoonlightingKapatkinEpisode: "Lunar Eclipse"Perfect WitnessBreezeTV filmKojak: ArianaLieutenant Rastelli1990Midnight CallerHarry ManxEpisode: "Planes"RoseanneIRS Office SupervisorEpisode: "April Fool's Day"Down HomeDr. Ort Episode: "Sometimes a Cigar's Just a Cigar or Wade"Capital NewsEpisode: "Swanns and Drakes"1990–1991WIOUTony ProMain role, 18 episodes1991Law & OrderEzra GouldEpisode: "Out of Control"1992 Citizen Cohn Gerald Walpin TV film Sinatra George EvansMiniseries, 2 episodes 1993–1994 L.A. Law Dominic Nuzzi 5 episodes 1993 Taking the Heat Lou Valentine TV film1996, 1998, 2001Law & OrderDefense Attorney James Linde3 episodes1996–1997Early EditionHarry Hawks1996Chicago HopeLarry RuscettiEpisode: "Mummy Dearest"1997The PracticeHarry PappEpisode: "Sex, Lies and Monkeys"1998Homicide: Life on the StreetLt. Walter NealEpisode: "Closet Cases", uncredited 1999 Switching Goals DaveTV film 2000 The Other Me Conrad 2001 61* Phil Rizzuto2003ER Tom WilliamsEpisode: "Now What?"2004Hope & FaithLeoEpisode: "The Diner Show" 2005–2013,2015–2021 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Defense Attorney Hashi Horowitz/Judge Hashi Horowitz 14 episodes2007The Bronx is BurningYogi BerraMiniseries, 8 episodes 2014ElementaryCaptain MorettiEpisode: "Rip Off"2016The Good WifeJudge John MataEpisode: "Judged"2016–2021BullJudge Arlen Rand7 episodes2017The Marvelous Mrs. MaiselJudge HackettEpisode: "Because You Left" 2018–2019 Lodge 49 Burt 11 episodes2020The Good FightJudge John MataEpisode: "The Gang Deals with Alternate Reality"I Know This Much Is TrueSteve FaliceEpisode: "Four", miniseries2022 EvilLombino 3 episodesNew AmsterdamLilo Steinhauser Episode: "Right Place"
References
External links
Joe Grifasi