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Joseph Anthony Mantegna (, ; born November 13, 1947) is an American actor best known for starring on CBS's Criminal Minds since 2007 as FBI Supervisory Special Agent David Rossi. He has voiced the recurring role of mob boss Fat Tony on the animated series The Simpsons, beginning with the 1991 episode "Bart the Murderer", as well as in The Simpsons Movie (2007).
Mantegna began his career on stage in 1969 in the Chicago production of the musical Hair. He earned a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play and a Joseph Jefferson Award for portraying Richard Roma in the first American productions of David Mamet's Pulitzer Prize–winning play Glengarry Glen Ross, the first of many collaborations with Mamet. His long-standing association with Mamet includes the premieres of A Life in the Theatre, The Disappearance of the Jews, and Speed-the-Plow on Broadway. Mantegna also directed a highly lauded production of Mamet's Lakeboat, which enjoyed a successful theatrical run in Los Angeles. He later directed the film version of Lakeboat. In addition to theatrical appearances directed by Mamet, Mantegna appeared in Mamet's films House of Games (1987), Things Change (1988), Homicide (1991), and Redbelt (2008).
In film and on television, Mantegna is best known for his roles in box office hits such as Three Amigos (1986), The Godfather Part III (1990), Forget Paris (1995), and Up Close and Personal (1996). He starred in the television series First Monday (2002) and Joan of Arcadia (2003–2005). He has earned Emmy Award nominations for his roles in three different miniseries: The Last Don (1997), The Rat Pack (1998), and The Starter Wife (2007). He has also served as executive producer for various movies and television movies, including Corduroy (1984), Hoods (1998), and Lakeboat (2000), which he also directed. Additionally, he played Robert B. Parker's fictional detective Spenser in three made-for-TV movies between 1999 and 2001, and has narrated a number of audiobook readings of the Spenser novels.
Mantegna was raised Catholic and attended J. Sterling Morton High School East in Cicero, Illinois. He then attended Morton College and the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago (now at DePaul University), leaving just before graduation in 1969.
As a young man in Chicago, he played bass in a band called The Apocryphals, which later played with another local group, The Missing Links, who went on to form the band Chicago. As of 2007, Mantegna remained very close with the original members of Chicago.
Mantegna started off in the film industry as a photographer, taking head shots.
Mantegna won a Tony award for his portrayal of Richard Roma in David Mamet's play Glengarry Glen Ross. He has had a long and successful association with Mamet, appearing in a number of his works.
Mantegna made his feature-film debut in Medusa Challenger (1977). He played womanizing dentist Bruce Fleckstein in Compromising Positions (1985). He starred in an episode of The Twilight Zone in 1985 called "Shelter Skelter". His other early film roles were supporting performances in The Money Pit (1986), Weeds (1987), and Suspect (1987).
He also starred in the critically acclaimed movies House of Games (1987) and Things Change (1988), both written by Mamet. Things Change co-star Don Ameche and he received the Best Actor Award at the Venice Film Festival. In 1991, Mantegna starred in another Mamet story, the highly praised police thriller Homicide.
Mantegna has played a wide range of roles, from the comic, as a jaded disc jockey in Airheads and an inept kidnapper from Baby's Day Out, to the dramatic, in roles such as Joey Zasa, a treacherous mobster in The Godfather Part III (1990) and an Emmy-nominated performance as singer Dean Martin in HBO's film The Rat Pack (1998).
Mantegna has a recurring role in the animated series The Simpsons as the voice of mob boss Anthony "Fat Tony" D'Amico. He insists on voicing the character every time he appears, no matter how little dialogue he has. To quote Mantegna: "If Fat Tony sneezes, I want to be there." However, in one instance, Phil Hartman voiced Fat Tony in the episode "A Fish Called Selma".
Mantegna spoofed himself when he hosted Saturday Night Live for the 1990–1991 season in which he calmly began his monologue by saying he did not wish to be typecast from his gangster roles. A disappointed little boy and his father leave, as they mistakenly believed the host would be Joe Montana (the football player) due to the similar names. Mantegna then began speaking in a low, controlled voice to the little boy, telling him it was best to stay in the audience and respect his performance; he warned the boy that if he (Mantegna) made a call, then Montana would not play in his next game—an implication that Mantegna's true personality equaled his gangster roles.
In 2002, Mantegna starred as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Justice Joseph Novelli, on the CBS midseason replacement drama First Monday.
Mantegna received the Lifetime Achievement Award on April 26, 2004, at the Los Angeles Italian Film Festival.
On August 11, 2007, Mantegna signed on to replace departing star Mandy Patinkin on the CBS crime drama Criminal Minds. Starting with season 9, he also directed several episodes.
Mantegna is very close with all his co-stars on Criminal Minds, but is especially close with Shemar Moore. He is said to act like a father figure for Moore.
Since 2006, he has co-narrated the National Memorial Day Concert on the Mall in Washington, DC, with Gary Sinise.
In 2010, he won Scripps Howard's Super Sage Award for predicting that the Saints would beat the Colts, 28-17 -- just three points off the actual final score of 31-17. Mantegna's guess was the closest out of the 103 celebrities who participated in Scripps Howard's 21st annual Celebrity Super Bowl Poll.
In 2016, he took part in an event at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art reading some of Gabriele Tinti's poems about Hercules.
Mantegna is said to have helped Verne Troyer get into the industry and presented him with the Media Access Award before his death.
On April 4, 2015, Mantegna received a Lifetime Achievement Award for Film and Television from the Riverside International Film Festival. On May 22, 2015, Mantegna received the Saint Pio Award from the Saint Pio Foundation, in recognition of his outstanding contribution in being an extraordinary individual in "providing relief from suffering to those in need".
An avid firearms enthusiast, he is the host of MidwayUSA's Gun Stories on the cable television Outdoor Channel.
They have two daughters: Mia and Gia Mantegna. Arlene owned a Chicago-themed restaurant in Burbank, California, named Taste Chicago, which closed on March 22, 2019, for personal reasons. Mia, born 1987, is Autism and works as a make-up artist. She has also appeared with her father on KCAL-TV in support of Autism Awareness Month (April). Gia was born Gina in 1990 and changed her name at age 18.
Mantegna is a Chicago Cubs fan and has led the singing of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the 7th inning stretch multiple times. This was referenced in the show Criminal Minds, where his character David Rossi's office is decked with Cubs gear.
In 1988, during the play Speed the Plow, Mantegna was stricken with Bell's palsy. Although considered temporary, Bell's Palsey. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved 2018-07-02 Mantegna still has persistent facial characteristics of the disease.
Filmography
Film
1977 Medusa Challenger Joe 1978 Towing Chris A Steady Rain 1979 To Be Announced 1980 Xanadu The Muses Scenes deleted 1983 Second Thoughts Orderly 1985 Compromising Positions Bruce Fleckstein 1986 The Money Pit Art Shirk Off Beat Pete Peterson Three Amigos Harry Flugleman 1987 Critical Condition Arthur Chambers House of Games Mike Weeds Carmine Suspect Charlie Stella 1988 Things Change Jerry 1989 Wait Until Spring, Bandini Bandini 1990 The Godfather Part III Joey Zasa Alice Joe 1991 Queens Logic Al Homicide Bobby Gold Bugsy George Raft 1993 Body of Evidence Robert Garrett Family Prayers Martin Jacobs Searching for Bobby Fischer Fred Waitzkin 1994 Baby's Day Out Eddie Airheads Ian 1995 Captain Nuke and the Bomber Boys Joey Franelli For Better or Worse Stone Forget Paris Andy Above Suspicion Alan Rhinehart 1996 Eye for an Eye Det. Sgt. Denillo Up Close & Personal Bucky Terranova Underworld Frank Gavilan / Frank Cassady / Richard Essex Albino Alligator A.T.F. Agent G.D. Browning Thinner Richie Ginelli Also narrates audiobook version of original novel. Persons Unknown Jim Holland 1998 Jerry and Tom Tom The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit Gomez For Hire Alan Webber Hoods Angelo Martinelli Celebrity Tony Gardella Boy Meets Girl Il Magnifico 1999 Airspeed Raymond Stone Error in Judgment Eric The Runner Rocco Liberty Heights Nate Kurtzman 2000 Lakeboat Guy at Gate Uncredited also director Body and Soul Alex Dumas More Dogs Than Bones Desalvo The Last Producer 2001 Fall: The Price of Silence Agent Jim Danaher The Trumpet of the Swan Monty Voice role Laguna Nicola Pianon Off Key Ricardo Palacios Frank Garner 2002 Mother Ghost Jerry 2003 Uncle Nino Robert Micelli 2004 First Flight Robert Sloan Voice role Stateside Gil Deloach Pontormo: A Heretical Love Pontormo A Very Married Christmas Frank Griffin 2005 Nine Lives Richard Edmond Man in Bar The Kid & I Davis Roman 2007 Elvis and Anabelle Charlie Naked Fear Sheriff Tom Benike Cougar Club Mr. Stack Stories USA Mike (segment "Club Soda") The Simpsons Movie Fat Tony Voice role 2008 Hank and Mike Mr. Pan West of Brooklyn Gaetano D'Amico Witless Protection Dr. Rondog 'Doc' Savage Redbelt Jerry Weiss Childless Richard Who's Wagging Who? Rudy Voice role Crooner Voice role The Last Hit Man Harry Tremayne 2009 Lonely Street Jerry Finkelman Archie's Final Project Indian Psychiatrist The Assistants Gary Greene The House That Jack Built Jack Sr. 2010 Pop Shock Billy Valentine's Day Angry Driver Hoods Angelo 'Ange' Martinelli 2011 Cars 2 Grem Voice role Sacks West Short film Tim O'Neill 2013 Compulsion Detective Reynolds 2014 10 Cent Pistol Punchy MM-Ci Voice role 2015 Kill Me, Deadly Bugsy Siegel 2016 The Bronx Bull Rick Rosselli 2020 Rolling Thunder Joe
Television
1979 Elvis Joe Esposito Television film Bleacher Bums Decker Television film 1980–1981 Soap Juan One Recurring role, 7 episodes 1981 It's a Living Louis Allen Episode: "Of Mace and Men" Bosom Buddies The Shiek Episode: "The Road To Monte Carlo" 1981–1982 Open All Night Change / Arab Episodes: "Night Moves", "Centerfold", "A Visit from the Folks" 1982 The Greatest American Hero Juan Episode: "Now You See It" Archie Bunker's Place Joe Garver Episode: "Of Mice and Bunker" Simon & Simon Henry Episode: "Emeralds Are Not a Girl's Best Friend" 1984 Comedy Zone Various 2 episodes The Outlaws Yuri Television film 1985 Big Shots in America Jovan Joey Shagula Television film 1987 The Twilight Zone Harry Dobbs Episode: "Shelter Skelter" 1991 Saturday Night Live Host Episode: "Joe Mantegna/Vanilla Ice" 1991–present The Simpsons Fat Tony, Fit Tony / Fit-Fat Tony / Fat Tony's Father Recurring voice role; 46 episodes 1992 The Comrades of Summer "Sparky" Smith Television film The Water Engine Lawrence Oberman Television film 1993 Fallen Angels Carl Streeter Episode: "The Quiet Room" Frasier Derek Mann Voice role; episode: "I Hate Frasier Crane" 1994 State of Emergency Dr. John Novelli Television film 1995 Favorite Deadly Sins Frank Musso Television film 1997 Duckman Rube Richter Voice role; episode: "A Star is Abhorred", "Love! Anger! Kvetching!" Rugrats Jack Montello Voice role; episode: "Looking for Jack" A Call to Remember Davis Tobias Television film Face Down Bob Signorelli Television film Merry Christmas, George Bailey Joseph/Nick Television film The Last Don Pippi De Lena Miniseries 1998 The Great Empire: Rome Narrator Television film The Rat Pack Dean Martin Television film 1999 Spenser Television film My Little Assassin Fidel Castro Television film 2000 Thin Air Spenser Television film 2001 The Sopranos Mercedes ad voiceover Episode: "He Is Risen"; uncredited Walking Shadow Spenser Television film 2002 First Monday Justice Joseph Novelli Main role Women vs. Men Michael Television film And Thou Shalt Honor Host/Narrator Television film Inside NYPD Blue : A Decade On The Job Host/Narrator Television documentary 2003–2005 Joan of Arcadia Will Girardi Main role 2006 Let Go Jack Rossati Unsold television pilot Kim Possible Jimmy Blamhammer Voice role; episode: "And the Mole Rat Will Be CGI" 2007–2008 The Starter Wife Lou Manahan Recurring role, 8 episodes 2007–2020; 2022–present Criminal Minds David Rossi Main role 2011 The War of 1812 Narrator PBS Documentary 2011–2016 Gun Stories Himself Host 2016–2017 David Rossi Special guest; episodes: "The Harmful One", "II Mostro" 2017 Himself Episode: "Raising the Bar" 2022 As We See It Lou Hoffman Main role Barry Himself Episodes: "all the sauces", "crazytimesh*tshow"
As a director
2000 Lakeboat Drama 2011 QuickBites Episodes: "Faceless", "Sack Lunch" 2014–2024 Criminal Minds 11 Episodes: "The Road Home", "Anonymous", "Til Death Do Us Part", "The Sandman", "Mirror Image", "True North", "False Flag", "The Dance of Love", "Luke", "Moose", "Kingdom of the Blind"
Theater
He was also in the Chicago production of Godspell prior to 1973. He played Judas.
1969 Hair Performer 1978 Working Emilio Hernandez / Dave McCormick 1984–1985 Glengarry Glen Ross Richard Roma 1988 Speed-the-Plow Bobby Gould
See also
External links
Categories: Official Website, 1947 Births, Living People, 20th-century American Male Actors, 21st-century American Male Actors, American Male Film Actors, American Male Stage Actors, American Male Television Actors, American Male Voice Actors, American People Of Italian Descent, American Roman Catholics, Autism Activists, Depaul University Alumni, Male Actors From Chicago, People From Cicero, Illinois, Tony Award Winners, Volpi Cup For Best Actor Winners
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