American actor (1950?2016)
Jon Polito
|
---|
Polito in 1989
|
Born
| Jon Raymond Polito
(
1950-12-29
)
December 29, 1950
|
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Died
| September 1, 2016
(2016-09-01)
(aged 65)
|
---|
Occupation
| Actor
|
---|
Years active
| 1981?2016
|
---|
Spouse
|
Darryl Armbruster
(
m.
2015)
|
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Relatives
| Jack Polito
(brother)
Rosemary Simpson (sister)
|
---|
Awards
| Cinequest Film Festival:
Maverick Spirit Event Award
(2005)
HRIFF:
Best Actor in a Short Film (2012)
|
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Jon Raymond Polito
(December 29, 1950 ? September 1, 2016) was an American
actor
.
[1]
In a film and television career spanning 35 years, he amassed over 220 credits.
[2]
His television roles included
Detective Steve Crosetti
in the first two seasons of
Homicide: Life on the Street
and Phil Bartoli on the first season of
Crime Story
. He also appeared in several films including
The Rocketeer
,
The Crow
and
Gangster Squad
, as well as his work with the
Coen brothers
. He appeared in five of their films, including
Miller's Crossing
,
Barton Fink
and
The Big Lebowski
. Polito also portrayed "
hungry i
" nightclub impresario
Enrico Banducci
in a large supporting role in
Tim Burton
's 2014 film
Big Eyes
starring
Amy Adams
and
Christoph Waltz
.
Early life
[
edit
]
Polito was born on December 29, 1950, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to John and Delaida "Dee" (nee Pompei) Polito. He had an older brother and sister, Rosemary Simpson and
Jack Polito
, an
animator
.
[3]
After acting at the West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys, he studied theater at
Villanova University
.
[3]
Homicide: Life on the Street
[
edit
]
Polito was initially reluctant to audition for
Homicide
as he had just relocated from New York City to Los Angeles, and did not want to move to Baltimore for the series. He was initially offered a role as a Polish-American detective, but series co-creators
Barry Levinson
and
Tom Fontana
rewrote the character as an Italian named
Steve Crosetti
and cast him in the role. The Polish detective was also rewritten, becoming Detective
Meldrick Lewis
, and was played by African-American actor
Clark Johnson
.
[4]
The show was rating poorly and the producers were under pressure from
NBC
to include a new female character (
Megan Russert
) in the hope of gaining broader appeal. As a result, they decided to write out Polito's character at the end of Season 2. Fontana assured him that he would be brought back later in the season, but Polito was unhappy and criticized the producers publicly, an action he later said that he regretted.
[4]
The outburst caused a rift with Fontana,
[1]
and the Crosetti character was killed off early in Season 3, with the explanation that the detective had committed suicide. This further infuriated Polito, who again complained to the media, triggering a public dispute with Fontana. Interviewed about the situation in 2005, Polito expressed regret for his handling of the matter. He said that he and Fontana had subsequently reconciled, and as a result the Crosetti character returned to make a farewell appearance as a spirit in
Homicide: The Movie
.
[4]
[5]
Coen brothers collaboration
[
edit
]
Polito was a regular in the films of the
Coen brothers
, appearing in five of their films. The Coens had seen Polito in the New York stage adaptation of
Death of a Salesman
in 1986 playing Howard Wagner. They approached him to play the part of The Dane in
Miller's Crossing
(1990), but after reading the script he turned them down saying he would only play the Italian gangster Johnny Caspar. The Coens auditioned several other actors but eventually used Polito after they made him read his entire role cold.
[6]
He was offered the role of Lou Breeze in their next film
Barton Fink
(1991), in a role which was written especially for him. Again he turned down the Coens offer saying he wanted to play the part of film producer Jack Lipnick. Actress
Frances McDormand
persuaded him to take the role, saying it would change his career.
[6]
He later appeared in
The Hudsucker Proxy
(1994) as an eccentric businessman,
The Big Lebowski
(1998) as a private detective and finally in 2001 as a flirtatious salesman in
The Man Who Wasn't There
.
[6]
Awards
[
edit
]
Polito won an
Obie Award
in 1980 for his theater performances off Broadway, and for his lifetime of work in film and television, he received the Maverick Spirit Event Award at
Cinequest Film Festival
in 2005.
[7]
In 2012, he won the award for "Best Actor in a Short Film" at Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival.
[8]
Personal life
[
edit
]
Polito was gay.
[9]
[10]
He married fellow actor Darryl Armbruster on October 16, 2015, fifteen years after they first met.
[3]
Death
[
edit
]
Polito died from
multiple myeloma
on September 1, 2016,
[11]
at the
City of Hope National Medical Center
, where he was being treated. He was 65 years old.
Filmography
[
edit
]
Film
[
edit
]
Television
[
edit
]
Year
|
Title
|
Role
|
Notes
|
1981
|
The Gangster Chronicles
|
Tommy "Three Finger Brown" Lucchese
|
Television miniseries
|
1983
|
Running Out
|
Joe Poswalsky
|
Television film
|
1984
|
A Good Sport
|
Man in Taxi
|
Television film
|
1985
|
Death of a Salesman
[12]
|
Howard
|
Television film
|
1986
|
A Deadly Business
[12]
|
Vitola
|
Television film
|
1986?1988
|
Crime Story
[12]
|
Phil Bartoli
|
16 episodes
|
1986-1989
|
The Equalizer
[12]
|
David Pfieffer / Gene Carmack / Carmack / Gianni
|
4 episodes
|
1987
|
Ohara
|
Captain Ross
|
11 episodes
|
1988
|
Alone in the Neon Jungle
[12]
|
Brad Stakowski
|
Television film
|
Wiseguy
|
Eddie Van Platt
|
Episode: "Player to Be Named Now"
|
Miami Vice
[6]
|
El Gato
|
2 episodes
|
1989
|
Livin' Large
|
Sal
|
Television film
|
Trying Times
|
Agent Caponello
|
Episode: "Death and Taxes"
|
1991
|
Tales from the Crypt
[12]
|
Nikos Stano
|
Episode: "Deadline"
|
Empty Nest
|
Slocum
|
Episode: "Harry's Got a Gun"
|
1992
|
Hearts Are Wild
[12]
|
Leon "Pepe" Pepperman
|
4 episodes
|
1992-1994
|
Murder, She Wrote
[13]
|
Lieutenant Peter DiMartini
|
2 episodes
|
1993
|
Dinosaurs
|
Ty Warner
|
Voice
Episode: "Swamp Music"
|
Fallen Angels
[13]
|
Al Reseck
|
Episode: "I'll Be Waiting"
|
The Untouchables
|
Tommy Palumbo
|
2 episodes
|
1993-1994
|
Homicide: Life on the Street
[12]
|
Detective Steve Crosetti
|
13 episodes
|
1994
|
Viper
|
Councilman Strand
|
Episode: "Pilot"
|
Girls in Prison
[12]
|
Boss Johnson
|
Television film
|
The Shaggy Dog
[12]
|
Detective Al
|
Television film
|
1995
|
Chicago Hope
|
Detective Bill Ranford
|
Episode: "Life Support"
|
Mad About You
[13]
|
Ralphy
|
Episode: "My Boyfriend's Back!"
|
Burke's Law
|
Tony Renaldo
|
Episode: "Who Killed Cock-a-Doodle Dooley?"
|
NYPD Blue
[13]
|
Paul Biaggi
|
Episode: "One Big Happy Family"
|
The Invaders
|
Whitley, Metro HQ
|
Miniseries
Uncredited
|
High Society
|
Alvin Spalding
|
Episode: "We Ought to Be in Pictures"
|
1995-1996
|
Dream On
|
Louie
|
4 episodes
|
1996-1998
|
New York Undercover
|
John Dennis
|
2 episodes
|
1996
|
High Incident
|
Victor the Clown
|
Episode: "Women & Children First"
|
Swift Justice
|
Tom Luddy
|
Episode: "Supernote"
|
The Pretender
|
Ben Hansel
|
Episode: "A Virus Among Us"
|
Roseanne
|
Mr. Russo
|
Episode: "Millions from Heaven"
|
1996-2000
|
The Pretender
|
Constantin Falzone / Ben Hansel
|
2 episodes
|
1997
|
Fired Up
|
Sam Harris
|
Episode: "Domestic Bliss"
Unaired
|
Over the Top
|
Mr. Hampstead
|
Episode: "The Bee Story"
|
Life with Louie
|
Red Meat
|
Voice
Episode: "Louie's Harrowing Halloween"
|
Night Man
|
Al Capone
|
Episode: "That Ol' Gang of Mine"
|
Invasion
[12]
|
Detective Kemper
|
Miniseries
|
1997-2000
|
Early Edition
|
Cliff Mourning / Louie DeFozio
|
2 episodes
|
1998
|
Players
|
Pappas
|
Episode: "Mint Condition"
|
Jenny
|
Sid Bouchie
|
Episode: "A Girl's Gotta Get It"
|
Seinfeld
[13]
|
Silvio
|
Episode:
The Reverse Peephole
"
|
New York Undercover
|
Rinaldi / John Dennis
|
2 episodes
|
The Defenders: Choice of Evils
[12]
|
District Attorney Al Orsini
|
Television film
|
Money Play$
|
Lou Spano
|
Television film
|
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show
|
Marvin 'Marv' Fishland
|
Episode: "Honey, She's Like a Fish Out of Water"
|
Veronica's Closet
|
Mr. Lehman
|
Episode: "Veronica's Dog Day Afternoon"
|
Millennium
|
Eddie Scarpino Giannini
|
Episode: "Omerta"
|
1999
|
Nash Bridges
|
Roland Margolis
|
Episode: "Truth and Consequences"
|
Good vs. Evil
|
Howard
|
Episode: "Sunday Night Evil"
|
The Apartment Complex
[12]
|
Dr. Caligari
|
Television film
|
2000
|
Homicide: The Movie
[12]
|
Steve Crosetti
|
Television film
|
Popular
|
Caesar Croutons
|
Episode: "Hard on the Outside, Soft in the Middle"
|
The Invisible Man
|
Eddie The Mammoth
|
Episode: "Pilot"
|
Gideon's Crossing
|
Lou Peda
|
Episode: "The Race"
|
Batman Beyond
|
Major
|
Voice, episode: "Betrayal"
[14]
|
Oh Yeah! Cartoons
|
Fisherman
|
Voice, episode: "Tales from the Goose Lady: The Fisherman, the Fisherman's Wife, and the Fish"
[14]
|
Nature Boy
|
Mort Ruby
|
Television film
|
2001
|
The Chris Isaak Show
|
Rhonda Parks
|
Episode: "Our Place"
|
2001-2002
|
The Drew Carey Show
|
Stansfield
|
3 episodes
|
The Chronicle
|
Donald Stern
|
22 episodes
|
2002
|
Becker
|
Leonard Nagle
|
Episode: "Piece Talks"
|
Time Squad
|
Al Capone
|
Voice, episode: "The Clownfather"
|
Women vs. Men
|
Desk Sgt.
|
Television film
|
Push, Nevada
[12]
|
Silas Bodnick
|
Episode: "The Amount"
|
She Spies
|
Edward Malloy
|
Episode: "Ice Man"
|
2002-2003
|
Gilmore Girls
|
Pete / Father in Kirk's Film
|
2 episodes
|
2003
|
Dragnet
[12]
|
Richard Maughm
|
Episode: "The Silver Slayer"
|
Crossing Jordan
|
Dick
|
Episode: "Wild Card"
|
The Lyon's Den
|
Mr. Carpeggi
|
Episode: "Trick or Treat"
|
Life on Parole
|
Ernie
|
Television film
|
2003-2004
|
Oliver Beene
|
Mr. Rayfield
|
2 episodes
|
2004
|
10-8: Officers on Duty
|
Enzo Fontana
|
Episode: "Wild and the Innocent"
|
It's All Relative
|
Leonard
|
Episode: "A Long Day's Journey Into Leonard's"
|
Judging Amy
|
District Attorney Gerald Abner
|
2 episodes
|
The Jury
|
Johnny Pappas
|
Episode: "The Boxer"
|
Scrubs
|
Mr. Summers
|
Episode: "My Female Trouble"
|
My Wife and Kids
|
Minister
|
Episode: "The Wedding"
|
2005
|
Family Plan
[12]
|
Gold
|
Television film
|
Desperate Housewives
[12]
|
Charles Skouras
|
Episode: "
Love Is in the Air
"
|
Without a Trace
|
Jimmy 'The Tooth' Fusco
|
Episode: "Lone Star"
|
American Dad: The New CIA
|
Petruchio
|
Animated TV short
|
Gone, But Not Forgotten
|
Sam Oberhurst
|
Miniseries
|
Threshold
|
Nicky Frost
|
Episode: "The Order"
|
Avatar: The Last Airbender
|
Chief Arnook
|
Voice, 3 episodes
[14]
|
The Buzz on Maggie
|
New Aldrin / New Pupert
|
Voice, episode: "Those Pesky Roaches"
|
2005-2008
|
Ghost Whisperer
|
Joe Grimaldi
|
2 episodes
|
2006
|
Masters of Horror
|
Montesquino
|
Episode: "
Haeckel's Tale
"
|
Handy Manny
|
Joe Bolotero
|
Voice, episode: "Supremoguy/Tool Talk"
|
2007
|
Medium
|
Vincent DiScala
|
Episode: "Better Off Dead"
|
2007-2008
|
El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera
|
Don Bafi
Big Man
|
Voice, 3 episodes
[14]
|
2008
|
Las Vegas
|
The Cleaner
|
Episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Breakfast"
|
Rock Monster
|
The Colonel
|
Television film
|
Chowder
|
Funjl / Guy
|
Voice, episode: "The Moldy Touch/The Heavy Sleeper"
[14]
|
Do Not Disturb
|
R.J.
|
Episode: "Dosing"
|
Chocolate News
|
Harvey Silverstein
|
"Episode 7"
|
Two and a Half Men
|
Mr. Sharipa
|
Episode: "He Smelled the Ham, He Got Excited"
|
2008-2009
|
Raising the Bar
|
Judge Dominick Ventimiglia
|
10 episodes
|
2009
|
Monk
|
George Gionopolis
|
Episode: "Mr. Monk Fights City Hall"
|
Citizen Jane
|
Detective Romer
|
Television film
|
2009-2010
|
Glenn Martin DDS
|
Vito Renzuli
|
2 episodes
|
2010
|
The Mentalist
|
Duesterberg
|
Episode: "Red Herring"
|
2011
|
Funny or Die Presents...
|
Eddy
|
Episode #2.1 - Segment: "United States Police Department"
|
Ben 10: Ultimate Alien
|
Mizaru
|
Voice, episode: "Simian Says"
|
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
|
Gino Reynolds
|
Episode: "Frank's Brother"
|
ThunderCats
|
Conquedor
|
Voice, episode: "Berbils"
[14]
|
2012
|
Franklin & Bash
|
"Lucky" Louie Gianelli
|
Season 2 episode 3: "Jango and Rossi"
|
Robot and Monster
|
Sir Cranklin
|
Voice, episode: "First Impressions"
[14]
|
Mike & Molly
|
Frankie Moranto
|
Episode: "Thanksgiving Is Canceled"
|
2012-2013
|
Bunheads
|
Sal Russano
|
2 episodes
|
2014
|
Castle
|
Harold Metzger
|
Episode: "That '70s Show"
|
Murder in the First
|
Judge Greer / Judge Emerson Greer
|
3 episodes
|
39 to Go
|
Mathis
|
2 episodes
|
Saint Francis
|
Cupcake
|
Television film
|
2014?2016
|
Modern Family
|
Earl Chambers
|
3 episodes
|
2015
|
Broker
|
Ignacio Ronconi
|
TV short
|
2016
|
American Dad!
|
Dr. Kalgary
|
Voice, episode: "Roots"
|
Comedy Bang! Bang!
|
Frank O'Brien
|
Episode: "Tony Hale Wears a Blue Flannel Shirt and Fuchsia Sneakers"
|
Major Crimes
|
Dino Kotero
|
Episode: "Cashed Out"
|
Ultimate Spider-Man
|
Hammerhead
|
Voice, episode: "Return to the Spider-Verse: Part 3"
[14]
Posthumous release; dedicated in memory
|
2017
|
The Super Man
|
Floyd
|
Episode: "Dumpster Diving"
Posthumous release
|
Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure
|
Griffon of Pittsford
|
Voice, episode: "Not in the Mood"
[14]
Final TV role; posthumous release
|
Video games
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
"R.I.P. Jon Polito, a favorite of the Coen Brothers"
.
The A.V. Club
. September 2, 2016
. Retrieved
September 2,
2016
.
- ^
"Jon Polito, Actor in Coen Brothers Films, Dies at 65"
. Variety. September 2, 2016
. Retrieved
September 2,
2016
.
- ^
a
b
c
Slotnik, Daniel E. (September 2, 2016).
"Jon Polito, a Favorite in Coen Brothers Films, Dies at 65"
.
The New York Times
.
ISSN
0362-4331
. Retrieved
September 5,
2016
.
- ^
a
b
c
"Jon Polito interview"
.
The Groucho Reviews
. March 5, 2005
. Retrieved
March 22,
2013
.
- ^
Philadelphia Inquirer
(December 2, 1994).
"Character's Suicide Has Actor Steaming"
.
Orlando Sentinel
. Retrieved
March 22,
2013
.
- ^
a
b
c
d
"Jon Polito - Random Roles"
. A.V. Club. August 11, 2011
. Retrieved
September 2,
2016
.
- ^
Crane, Pete (2005).
"Maverick Spirit Event: Jon Polito: American Dynamo"
.
Cinequest
.
- ^
"Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival - List of awards 2012"
. Retrieved
August 29,
2014
.
- ^
"Name Dropping with Jason Stuart... Jon Polito"
. Newnownext.com. September 29, 2010.
- ^
"Jon Polito Interview Pt 3"
. Youtube.com. July 8, 2015.
Archived
from the original on December 22, 2021.
- ^
Nicole Bitette (September 2, 2016).
"Jon Polito, known for roles in Coen brothers films, dead at 65"
. nydailynews.com
. Retrieved
September 1,
2016
.
- ^
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"Jon Polito"
. British Film Institute. Archived from
the original
on September 27, 2016
. Retrieved
September 3,
2016
.
- ^
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"Jon Polito Filmography"
. Allmovie.com
. Retrieved
September 4,
2016
.
- ^
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"Jon Polito (visual voices guide)"
. Behind The Voice Actors
. Retrieved
November 2,
2023
.
A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
External links
[
edit
]
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International
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National
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