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Joe Grifasi

Joe Grifasi

Actor · Born June 14, 1944 (82) · Buffalo - New York - USA

Joseph G. "Joe" Grifasi (born June 14, 1944) is an American character actor of film, stage and television. Born in Buffalo, New York, Grifasi joined the U.S. Army prior to studying acting. He has appeared in more than 50 feature films including Presumed Innocent, The Deer Hunter, Big Business, Beaches, Auto Focus, Matewan, Naked Gun, Dark Matter, Natural Born Killers, Chances Are, Changing Lanes, One Fine Day, F/X, Benny & Joon, The Pope of Greenwich Village, Brewster’s Millions, Batman Forever, The Flamingo Kid, Ironweed, and Splash. His television credits include The Bronx is Burning (as Yogi Berra), 61* (as Phil Rizzuto), Law & Order, ER, LA Law, Chicago Hope, Hill Street Blues, SCTV, Roseanne, and The Practice. Grifasi’s Broadway credits include Dinner at Eight, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, A Memory of Two Mondays, Boy Meets Girl, The Accidental Death of an Anarchist, The 1940’s Radio Hour and Happy End. His off-Broadway credits include Conversations in Tusculum, The Boys Next Door (Drama Desk Nomination), Once Around the City, Golden Boy, Filumena and Says I, Says He. He has been married to jazz soprano saxophonist and composer Jane Ira Bloom, whom he met while studying at the Yale School of Drama, since 1974.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 14, 1944 (82)
From
Buffalo - New York - USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
73 on MovieCove · 108 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 65 days to Oct 28Up 15% in 30 days

What are Joe Grifasi's films like?

Across their 31 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary 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
Self
26%
Bonds
24%
Morality
23%
Power
11%
Survival
10%
Society
5%
Ideas
2%
Justice9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 31 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 21 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 10 · Charged 14 · Intense 7

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

A split, not a type: Steady 15 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 12 · Funny 7

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 16 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 3

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

A split, not a type: Casual 16 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 3

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

Easy watch 14 · Affecting 14 · Heavy 3

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

Resolved 21 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 2 of 4 analyzed roles.

Ally
2 of 4
Mentor
1 of 4
Threshold guardian
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
18
Melancholic
10
Absurd
7
Contemplative
9
Warm
7
Other
31

How their films linger

Feel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet14
  • Ambiguous8
  • Cyclical1

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 Grifasi's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 52 of their 73 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (18).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Joe Grifasi'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

108 credits, 73 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Tornado (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Rich

  • Endgame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Nagg

  • The Dreams of Rene Sendam(2022)

    as Dr. Bradley

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Radium Girls(2018)

    as Grandpa

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • I Know This Much Is True(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Steve Falice

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Evil(2019)

    Show 3 episodes · as Lombino

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • New Amsterdam(2018)

    Show 1 episode · as Lilo Steinhauser

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Lodge 49(2018)

    Show 6 episodes · as Burt

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • The Good Fight(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge John Mata

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • No Pay, Nudity(2016)

    as Mr. Davenport

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Baked in Brooklyn(2016)

    as David's Dad

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Bull(2016)

    Show 3 episodes · as Judge Arlen Rand · as Judge Rand

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • The American Side(2016)

    as The Serb

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Julie Taymor's A Midsummer Night's Dream(2014)

    as Peter Quince

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Elementary(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain Moretti

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Front(2010)

    as Mr. Zeffirelli

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Last New Yorker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Jerry

  • The Good Wife(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge John Mata

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Canterbury's Law(2008)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • The Bronx Is Burning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 8 episodes · as Yogi Berra

  • A Crime(2006)

    as Bill

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Lewis Black: Red, White and Screwed(2006)

    as Uncle Sam

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Conviction(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Harrigan

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • Slow Burn(2005)

    as Desk Sgt. Drown

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • A Jersey Tale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Alphonso "Chunks" Colon

  • 13 Going on 30(2004)

    as Mr. Flamhaff

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Tarzan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Lieutenant Scott Connor

  • Hope & Faith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Leo

  • Auto Focus(2002)

    as Strip Club M.C.

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Changing Lanes(2002)

    as Judge Cosell

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Queenie in Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Berthold

  • 61*(2001)

    as Phil Rizzuto

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Some of My Best Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 3 episodes · as Joe Zito

  • Looking for an Echo(2000)

    as Vic

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Mike Phelan

  • The Other Me(2000)

    as Conrad

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Beat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Vince Marinelli

  • Switching Goals(1999)

    as Dave

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 14 episodes · as Hashi Horowitz

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Out-of-Towners(1999)

    as Arresting Cop

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Naked Man(1999)

    as Koski

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Blood on Her Hands(1998)

    as Det. Larry Beers

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Deal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Boular

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

    as Scottie Elster

  • The Practice(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry Papp

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • One Fine Day(1996)

    as Manny Feldstein

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Shadow of a Doubt(1995)

    as Sidney Sherman

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Early Edition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 3 episodes · as Harry Hawks

  • Undue Influence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · as Clem

  • Remember WENN(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Larry Looper

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Heavy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Leo

  • Money Train(1995)

    as Riley

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Two Bits(1995)

    as Uncle Joe

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Batman Forever(1995)

    as Bank Guard

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Jack Reed: A Search for Justice(1994)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Williams

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Chicago Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Larry Ruscetti

  • Natural Born Killers(1994)

    as Deputy Sheriff Duncan Homolka

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult(1994)

    as Director

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Hudsucker Proxy(1994)

    as Lou

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Household Saints(1993)

    as Frank Manzone

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Moon Over Miami (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Taking the Heat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Lou Valentine

  • Benny & Joon(1993)

    as Mike

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Class of '96 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Joe Morrisey

  • Sinatra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · as George Evans

  • Citizen Cohn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Gerald Walpin

  • Primary Motive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Paul Melton

  • City of Hope(1991)

    as Pauly

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

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

    Show 13 episodes · as Tony Pro

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 3 episodes · as Defense Attorney James Linde · as Ezra Gould

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Presumed Innocent(1990)

    as Tommy Molto

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Capital News (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Kojak: Ariana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Lieutenant Rastelli

  • Perfect Witness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Breeze

  • The Feud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Bud Bullard

  • Chances Are(1989)

    as Omar

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!(1988)

    as Foreman

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Roseanne(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as IRS Office Supervisor

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • The Appointments of Dennis Jennings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Bartender

  • Big Business(1988)

    as Desk Clerk

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Ironweed(1987)

    as Jack

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Moonstruck(1987)

    as Shy Waiter

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Matewan(1987)

    as Fausto

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • One Police Plaza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Insp. Nicolas Zambrano

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 5 episodes · as Dominic Nuzzi

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Hot Dog Vendor

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • F/X(1986)

    as Mickey

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Bad Medicine(1985)

    as Gómez

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Equalizer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. Vocek

  • Brewster's Millions(1985)

    as J.B. Donaldo

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Moonlighting(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Kapatkin

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • The Flamingo Kid(1984)

    as Mario Minetta

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Pope of Greenwich Village(1984)

    as Jimmy the Cheese Man

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Splash(1984)

    as Manny

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Will There Really Be a Morning?(1983)

    as Wyler

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Still of the Night(1982)

    as Joseph Vitucci

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Bud Bullard

  • The Elephant Man(1982)

    as Pinhead Manager

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Honky Tonk Freeway(1981)

    as Osvaldo

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Gentleman Bandit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Det. Esposito

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Ronnie Delacroce

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Hide in Plain Sight(1980)

    as Matty Stanek

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Something Short of Paradise(1979)

    as Barney Collins

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • The Deer Hunter(1978)

    as Bandleader

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • On the Yard(1978)

    as Morris

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Secret Service (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Cpl. Matson

  • Great Performances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Cpl. Matson

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 107 titles from 1971 to 2024; peak year 1994.

Biggest box office

Batman Forever (1995)

$337M worldwide

Highest rated

Lewis Black: Red, White and Screwed (2006)

Midcredits 91st

Most popular right now

Batman Forever (1995)

Film career

19712024

Peak 1994 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles. 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
Acting107 of 107: 107 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score61st

By decade

1970s5 · acting1980s30 · acting1990s35 · acting2000s20 · acting2010s12 · acting2020s5 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 38 roles
7888939803

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; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Joe Grifasi's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 53rd percentile, the median of all 53; across their 31 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 39th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Approval · how many liked their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Reach · how many have seen their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Midcredits score across 73 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up27
  • 50th to 74th18
  • 25th to 49th18
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

39 of their 73 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser39
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed19

Most divisive · actor

The Dreams of Rene Sendam (2022)

97th percentile spread · 44% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Deer Hunter (1978)

Midcredits 99th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 66/100 in their films, across 28 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 43. 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 Grifasi's work okay for kids?

Across up to 12 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles20–60 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity12 titles24–58 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles26–80 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles28–37 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles29–49 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Joe Grifasi work with?

People who share at least 2 of Joe Grifasi's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Brian Dennehy shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Editors

Producers

Mixed roles