Joe Pantoliano facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joe Pantoliano
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Pantoliano in 2009
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Joseph Peter Pantoliano
September 12, 1951 Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Other names | Joey Pants |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1974–present |
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| Children | 4 |
Joseph Peter Pantoliano, born on September 12, 1951, is an American actor. He is sometimes called "Joey Pants." He has acted in more than 150 movies, TV shows, and plays.
He is well-known for playing Francis Fratelli in the adventure movie The Goonies (1985). He also played Captain Conrad Howard in the Bad Boys film series. Another famous role was Cypher in the science fiction action film The Matrix (1999). He played Teddy in the thriller movie Memento (2000). On the TV show The Sopranos, he played Ralph "Ralphie" Cifaretto. For this role, he won a special award called a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
His other movies include Risky Business (1983) and Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun (1987). He was also in La Bamba (1987) and Midnight Run (1988). You might also know him from The Fugitive (1993) and Baby's Day Out (1994). He appeared in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010). In 2025, he was nominated for another Emmy Award for his acting in the TV series The Last of Us.
Beyond acting, Pantoliano has written two books about his life. He is also very active in helping people understand mental health better. He started a group called No Kidding, Me Too! This group works to remove the negative feelings people sometimes have about mental illness.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Joseph Peter Pantoliano was born in Hoboken, New Jersey. His birthday is September 12, 1951. His parents, Mary and Dominic Pantoliano, were Italian-American. His mother worked as a bookmaker and a seamstress. His father drove a hearse and was a factory foreman.
His family later moved to Cliffside Park, New Jersey. He went to Cliffside Park High School there. After high school, he studied acting at the HB Studio. He learned a lot from famous actors Herbert Berghof and John Lehne.
Acting Career Highlights
Pantoliano first became well-known in 1983. He played a character named Guido in the movie Risky Business. In 1985, he played the bad guy Francis Fratelli in the popular teen movie The Goonies.
He became famous with a new generation of fans in 1999. This was when he played Cypher in the important science fiction film The Matrix. He won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. This award was for his role as Ralph Cifaretto in the HBO show The Sopranos.
Pantoliano is also known for other roles. He played Eddie Moscone in the comedy Midnight Run. He was Captain Conrad Howard in the Bad Boys movies. These include Bad Boys II, Bad Boys for Life, and Bad Boys: Ride or Die. He played Caesar in Bound. He was John "Teddy" Gammell in Memento. He also played Ben Urich in the 2003 movie Daredevil. He was Deputy U.S. Marshal Cosmo Renfro in The Fugitive. He played this role again in the movie U.S. Marshals.
In 2012, Pantoliano starred in a movie for kids. It was called Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life. He played an unusual pawn broker named Oswald Oswald. From 2015 to 2018, he was Michael Gorski in the Netflix series Sense8.
In 2025, Pantoliano appeared in an episode of The Last of Us. He played Eugene Lynden, an infected husband. Even though he was only in one scene, his acting was highly praised. He received an Emmy Award nomination for this performance.
Personal Life and Advocacy
Joseph Pantoliano was married to Morgan Kester from 1979 to 1985. He married his second wife, Nancy Sheppard, in 1994. They have four children together. They live in Wilton, Connecticut.
While filming The Sopranos, Pantoliano sometimes wore a wig. This was to help him avoid being recognized by the public. The wig was based on the hairstyle of director Christopher Nolan.
On October 9, 2007, Pantoliano shared something important. He announced that he had been dealing with a mental health condition for many years. He decided to talk about it openly. He wanted to help remove the negative feelings people sometimes have about mental illness. He also has dyslexia, which affects reading.
He started a non-profit group called No Kidding, Me Too! This group works to educate people about mental illness. The name comes from how people often react when he shares his story. They say, "No kidding, me too!" He also directed and starred in a documentary film with the same name in 2009.
Pantoliano has written two books about his life. In one book, he shared that he had faced challenges with certain habits before his mental health condition was diagnosed. He chose to speak out to help others.
On May 1, 2020, Pantoliano was in an accident. He was hit by a car while walking. He had a concussion and chest injuries.
Awards and Recognitions
Joseph Pantoliano has received several awards and nominations for his acting.
- In 2003, he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role in The Sopranos.
- He was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1997 for Bound.
- In 2002 and 2004, he was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series with the cast of The Sopranos.
- In 2025, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his work in The Last of Us.
See also
In Spanish: Joe Pantoliano para niños
