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Joe Cortese

Joe Cortese

Actor · Born February 22, 1949 (77) · Paterson, New Jersey, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Joseph Cortese (born 22 February 1949) is an American actor who has been in Evilspeak and American History X. He was married to Kim Delaney from 1989 to 1994.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 22, 1949 (77)
From
Paterson, New Jersey, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
33 on MovieCove · 62 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 33% in 30 days

What are Joe Cortese's films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 11th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 22nd percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 16th percentile
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
32%
Survival
19%
Bonds
12%
Self
12%
Power
11%
Society
8%
Ideas
5%
Betrayal4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 14 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 9 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 3 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 11 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 10 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 3 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 2

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 3 of 5 analyzed roles.

Shadow
3 of 5
Hero
2 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Melancholic
7
Dread
4
Absurd
4
Hopeful
3
Other
6

How their films linger

Unsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Joe Cortese's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 16 of their 33 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Joe Cortese's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

62 credits, 33 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Here's Yanni! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Producer · as Yianni

  • In the Shadowlands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Michael Greco

  • Scarlett(2021)

    as Johnny

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Loudest Voice(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Roger Stone

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Making a Deal with the Devil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Frankie

  • The Last Big Save(2019)

    as Frank Zimmer

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Green Book(2018)

    as Gio Loscudo

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Doobious Sources(2017)

    as Magnus Martindale

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Rules Don't Apply(2016)

    as Mobster

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Bronx Bull(2016)

    as Vito Lazio

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Perception(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Paolo Genardi

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Fairly Legal(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Danny Sabbatino

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • The Good Guys(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Jimmy

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Go Go Tales(2007)

    as Danny Cash

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Shut Up and Shoot!(2006)

    as Spencer Spector

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Bones(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Lou Mackey

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Sal

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Against the Ropes(2004)

    as Irving Abel

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Las Vegas(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Nick Calabrini

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • The Shipment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Vincent Florio

  • The Agency (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank First - Drug Dealer

  • Luckytown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Sarni

  • Malevolence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Billy Bob Jones

  • Young Hearts Unlimited (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Sardini

  • American History X(1998)

    as Rasmussen

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Nowhere Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Luke Santelli

  • Dellaventura (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Marty Stasski

  • The Sentinel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Pendergrast

  • Pacific Blue(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Gene Savage

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all shows

  • The Last Word (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Jimmy

  • Bandit: Beauty and the Bandit(1994)

    as Slade

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Illicit Dreams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Daniel Davis

  • Born to Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Phil

  • To Protect and Serve(1992)

    as Kazinski

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Lady Boss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · as Santino Bonnatti

  • Exclusive(1992)

    as Oliver

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Renegade(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Sgt. Jack Winslow

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Ruby(1992)

    as Louie Vitali

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Dragonfight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Baybington

  • The Closer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as John Morgan

  • Something Is Out There (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 8 episodes · as Jack Breslin

  • C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf(1988)

    as Doc Burkholder

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Something Is Out There (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jack Breslin

  • Deadly Illusion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Detective Paul Lefferts

  • C.A.T. Squad(1986)

    as John 'Doc' Burkholder

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • If Tomorrow Comes(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Romano

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Letting Go(1985)

    as Neil

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Brothers-in-Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Mickey Gubiacci

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. Jerry Marino

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Tales from the Darkside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Nicholas Casavin

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Marco Brokaw

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Gone Are the Dayes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Frank Delgado

  • Monsignor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Ludovico 'Lodo' Varese

  • Computercide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Lisa Korter

  • Evilspeak(1981)

    as Reverend Jameson

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Worlds Apart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Ram

  • Windows(1980)

    as Bob Luffrono

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Death Collector(1976)

    as Jerry Bolanti

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Jessi's Girls(1975)

    as Baldry

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Lotsa Luck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Smith

  • Arizona Slim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Reggie

  • Object of Desire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 90th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 62 titles, 61 of them dated from 1973 to 2024; peak year 2018.

Biggest box office

Green Book (2018)

$322M worldwide

Highest rated

Green Book (2018)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

19732024

Peak 2018 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting62 of 62: 61 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score38thProducing1 of 62: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s4 · acting1980s17 · acting1990s18 · acting2000s9 · acting2010s10 · acting2020s3 · 3 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 8 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Joe Cortese's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 22nd percentile, the median of all 21; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 21st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

21stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

16thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 33 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th13

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 33 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Loved with Detractors2
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

Scarlett (2021)

99th percentile spread · 44% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

American History X (1998)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 57/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 37. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Joe Cortese's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 51 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Joe Cortese work with?

People who share at least 2 of Joe Cortese's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ennio Morricone shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers