Joe Mantegna facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joe Mantegna
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Mantegna in 2014
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| Born |
Joseph Anthony Mantegna
November 13, 1947 |
| Education | Morton College Art Institute of Chicago |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Arlene Vrhel
(m. 1975) |
| Children | 2, including Gia Mantegna |
Joseph Anthony Mantegna (born November 13, 1947) is a well-known American actor. You might know him best from the TV show Criminal Minds, where he plays FBI agent David Rossi. He's been on the show since 2007. He's also the voice of the famous mob boss Fat Tony on the cartoon series The Simpsons, a role he started way back in 1991!
Joe Mantegna began his acting journey on stage in 1969. He won a special award called a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his role in the play Glengarry Glen Ross. This play was written by David Mamet, and Joe has worked with Mamet many times since then, both in plays and movies. Joe has also directed films, like Lakeboat.
You've probably seen Joe Mantegna in many popular movies too! He was in Three Amigos (1986), The Godfather Part III (1990), and Up Close and Personal (1996). He's also been nominated for Emmy Awards for his work in TV miniseries like The Last Don (1997) and The Rat Pack (1998).
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Early Life and Education
Joe Mantegna was born in Chicago, Illinois, on November 13, 1947. His parents were Italian American. His mother, Mary Ann, was a shipping clerk, and his father, Joseph Henry, was an insurance salesman.
Joe grew up in a Catholic family and went to high school in Cicero, Illinois. After high school, he studied at Morton College and the Goodman School of Drama. He left college in 1969 to start his acting career.
When he was younger, Joe played bass guitar in a band called The Apocryphals. This band even played with another local group that later became the famous band Chicago. Joe is still good friends with the original members of Chicago. Before becoming a full-time actor, he also worked as a photographer, taking pictures for actors.
A Look at Joe Mantegna's Career
Joe Mantegna started his acting career in a musical called Hair in Chicago in 1969. He later made his first appearance on Broadway in the play Working in 1978. He even helped write a play called Bleacher Bums, which won awards.
One of his biggest achievements was winning a Tony Award for his role in the play Glengarry Glen Ross. He has worked with the play's writer, David Mamet, on many projects.
Joe's first movie role was in Medusa Challenger in 1977. He then appeared in movies like The Money Pit (1986) and Three Amigos (1986). He also starred in two highly praised movies written by David Mamet: House of Games (1987) and Things Change (1988). For Things Change, he and his co-star Don Ameche won the Best Actor Award at the Venice Film Festival.
Joe Mantegna has played many different types of characters. He's been funny, like the disc jockey in Airheads and the clumsy kidnapper in Baby's Day Out. He's also played serious roles, such as the mobster Joey Zasa in The Godfather Part III (1990) and the singer Dean Martin in the TV movie The Rat Pack.
A role many kids know him for is the voice of Fat Tony on The Simpsons. Joe is very dedicated to this role and insists on voicing the character every time he appears, even if it's just for a small sound!
In 2007, Joe Mantegna joined the popular TV show Criminal Minds as FBI agent David Rossi. He replaced another actor and has been a main character ever since. He has even directed several episodes of the show. Joe is very close with his co-stars, especially Shemar Moore, and acts like a father figure to him.
Since 2006, Joe has also helped host the National Memorial Day Concert in Washington D.C., alongside Gary Sinise.
Awards and Recognition
Joe Mantegna has received many honors for his work. On April 29, 2011, he got his own star on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame in California. This is a huge honor for actors!
His hometown of Cicero, Illinois, also celebrated him. On June 6, 2011, they named a street "Joe Mantegna Boulevard" near his old high school. In 2014, he received another star on the Italian Walk of Fame in Toronto. And in 2017, Chicago dedicated "Joe Mantegna Way" on a street where he used to live when he was starting his acting career.
Joe has also received Lifetime Achievement Awards from film festivals, recognizing his long and successful career in movies and television.
Personal Life
Joe Mantegna married his wife, Arlene Vrhel, on October 3, 1975. They have two daughters, Mia and Gia. Their daughter Mia, born in 1987, is autistic and works as a make-up artist. She has appeared with her father to support Autism Awareness Month. Their daughter Gia, born in 1990, is also an actress.
Joe is a big fan of the Chicago Cubs baseball team. He has even sung "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during games many times. His love for the Cubs is even shown on Criminal Minds, where his character, David Rossi, has Cubs gear in his office.
In 1988, Joe had a condition called Bell's palsy, which temporarily weakens or paralyzes facial muscles. While it's usually temporary, Joe still has some lasting effects from it.
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