Jon Polito
Renowned for portraying figures on both sides of the law, prolific character actor Jon Polito racked up over 220 screen credits, most notably five Coen brothers pictures and a recurring role on "Homicide: Life on the Street" (NBC, 1993-99). Born in Philadelphia, PA in 1950, Polito studied Theater at Villanova University before moving to New York to further his stage career, going on to win an OBIE Award for his off-Broadway work in 1980. Polito made his on-screen debut as real-life mafia co-founder Thomas Lucchese in miniseries "The Gangster Chronicles" (NBC, 1981), and a year later played Det. Sporaco in murder mystery "The Clairvoyant" (1982), two roles which ultimately laid the groundwork for much of his TV and film career. After portraying Willy's boss Harold in an award-winning TV movie adaptation of "Death of a Salesman" (1985) starring Dustin Hoffman, Polito played authority figures in fantasy epic "Highlander" (1986), romantic drama "Fire with Fire" (1986) and martial arts police procedural "Ohara" (ABC, 1987-88), and villains in TV movie "A Deadly Business" (1986) and the critically-acclaimed "Crime Story" (NBC, 1986-88), the latter as Chicago crime lord Phil Bartoli. After appearing alongside Marlon Brando in "The Freshman" (1990), Polito forged a fruitful working relationship with the Coen brothers when he was cast as highly-strung Prohibition era mobster Johnny Caspar in "Miller's Crossing" (1990). Polito would go on to appear in a further four Coen movies, playing Hollywood lackey Lou Breeze in "Barton Fink" (1991), eccentric businessman Mr. Bumstead in "The Hudsucker Proxy" (1994), private investigator Da Fino in "The Big Lebowski" (1998) and dry-cleaning salesman Creighton Tolliver in "The Man Who Wasn't There" (2001). During this period, Polito also enjoyed supporting roles in superhero pictures "The Rocketeer" (1991) and "Blankman" (1994), behind bars dramas "Girls in Prison" (1994) and "The Green Mile" (1999) and family movies "Fluke" (1995) and "Stuart Little" (1999). Polito also made several guest appearances on "Seinfeld" (NBC, 1989-1998), "Dream On" (HBO, 1990-96) and "Early Edition" (CBS, 1996-2000), and played veteran Det. Steve Crosetti in "Homicide: Life on the Street" (NBC, 1993-99) for two seasons before being permanently written out following a dispute with the show's producers. Polito remained just as prolific throughout the following decade, landing the recurring roles of newspaper editor Donald Stern in short-lived "The Chronicle" (Sci-Fi Channel, 2001-02) and Judge Dominick Ventimiglia in legal drama "Raising the Bar" (TNT, 2008-09), enjoying supporting parts in "The Singing Detective" (2003), "Flags of Our Fathers" (2006) and "American Gangster" (2007) and showing up in over a dozen popular series including "Gilmore Girls" (The CW, 2000-07), "Desperate Housewives" (ABC, 2004-2012) and "Two and a Half Men" (CBS, 2003-2015). Polito then returned to familiar territory as Mafia member Jack Dragna in "Gangster Squad" (2013) before playing another real life figure, impresario Enrico Banducci, in "Big Eyes" (2014), guesting as Jay's rival Earl Chambers in "Modern Family" (ABC, 2009-) and making his final on-screen appearance in "Comedy Bang! Bang!" (IFC, 2012-16). In 2016 Polito died of complications from cancer in Duarte, CA aged 65.
Photos
Jon Polito
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
80% |
|
The Maestro | Herbert Englehart (Character) | - | 2018 |
72% |
|
Big Eyes | Enrico Banducci (Character) | $14.5M | 2014 |
13% |
|
Locker 13 | Don Dillon (Character) | - | 2014 |
30% |
|
Gangster Squad | Dragna (Character) | $46.0M | 2013 |
80% |
|
From the Head | Vinnie (Character) | - | 2012 |
89% |
|
Batman Year One | Commissioner Loeb (Voice) | - | 2011 |
12% |
|
Atlas Shrugged: Part 1 | Orren Boyle (Character) | $4.6M | 2011 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Last Godfather | Don Bonfante (Character) | $163.6K | 2010 |
No Score Yet |
|
Venus and Vegas | Frank (Character) | - | 2010 |
No Score Yet |
|
DC Showcase: The Spectre | Police Captain (Voice) | - | 2010 |
No Score Yet |
|
Citizen Jane | Detective Romer (Character) | - | 2009 |
6% |
|
Super Capers | Captain Sludge (Character) | $31.0K | 2009 |
No Score Yet |
|
Rock Monster | The Colonel (Character) | - | 2008 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Marconi Bros. | Lou Burns (Character) | - | 2008 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Animated American | Max Rabbit (Character) | - | 2008 |
No Score Yet |
|
Cougar Club | Mr. Archibald (Character) | - | 2007 |
6% |
|
Happily N'Ever After | Wolf No. 1 (Voice) | - | 2007 |
No Score Yet |
|
Cutting Room | Sandy (Character) | - | 2006 |
No Score Yet |
|
Stiffs | John "The Prince" Monaco (Character) | - | 2006 |
38% |
|
Big Nothing | Agent Hymes (Character) | - | 2006 |
No Score Yet |
|
Family Plan | Gold (Character) | - | 2005 |
13% |
|
The Honeymooners | Kirby (Character) | $12.8M | 2005 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Charlie the Ox | Unknown (Character) | - | 2004 |
39% |
|
The Singing Detective | Second Hood (Character) | $336.5K | 2003 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Box | Michael Dickerson (Character) | - | 2003 |
No Score Yet |
|
Women vs. Men | Desk Sgt. (Character) | - | 2002 |
0% |
|
29 Palms | The Security Guard (Character) | - | 2002 |
No Score Yet |
|
Black Mask 2: City of Masks | King (Character) | - | 2002 |
81% |
|
The Man Who Wasn't There | Creighton Tolliver (Character) | $7.5M | 2001 |
8% |
|
Mimic 2 | Morrie Deaver (Character) | - | 2001 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Shrink Is In | Judge Bob (Character) | - | 2000 |
42% |
|
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle | Schoentell (Character) | $26.0M | 2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Nature Boy | Unknown (Character) | - | 2000 |
83% |
|
Homicide: The Movie | Steve Crosetti (Character) | - | 2000 |
57% |
|
Boys Life 3 | Paparazzi (Character) | - | 2000 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Apartment Complex | Dr. Caligari (Character) | - | 1999 |
No Score Yet |
|
Road Kill | Jelly (Character) | - | 1999 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Money Plays | Lou Spano (Character) | - | 1998 |
50% |
|
With Friends Like These... | Rudy Ptak (Character) | - | 1998 |
17% |
|
Tale of the Mummy | Parsons (Character) | - | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Nowhere Land | Frank (Character) | - | 1998 |
No Score Yet |
|
Angel's Dance | Uncle Vinnie (Character) | - | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Defenders: Choice of Evils | D.A. Al Orsini (Character) | - | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Corporate Ladder | Mr. Deacon (Character) | - | 1997 |
56% |
|
Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco | Ashcan (Voice) | $32.8M | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Just Your Luck | Nick (Character) | - | 1996 |
31% |
|
Fluke | Boss (Character) | $3.3M | 1995 |
18% |
|
Bushwhacked | Agent Palmer (Character) | $6.9M | 1995 |
No Score Yet |
|
Girls in Prison | Boss Johnson (Character) | - | 1994 |
12% |
|
Blankman | Michael "The Suit" Minelli (Character) | $7.4M | 1994 |
87% |
|
The Crow | Gideon, Pawn Shop Owner (Character) | $47.3M | 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Shaggy Dog | Detective Al (Character) | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Contenders | Pedro Perusia (Character) | - | 1993 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Flodder 2 | Larry Rosenbaum (Character) | - | 1992 |
No Score Yet |
|
Leather Jackets | Fat Jack (Character) | - | 1991 |
89% |
|
Barton Fink | Lou Breeze (Character) | $5.7M | 1991 |
93% |
|
Miller's Crossing | Johnny Caspar (Character) | $4.7M | 1990 |
94% |
|
The Freshman | Agent Chuck Greenwald, Dept. of Justice Fish & Game Division (Character) | $20.7M | 1990 |
No Score Yet |
|
Homeboy | Moe Fingers (Character) | - | 1988 |
No Score Yet |
|
Alone in the Neon Jungle | Brad Stakowski (Character) | - | 1988 |
No Score Yet |
|
Fire With Fire | Boss (Character) | $3.3M | 1986 |
No Score Yet |
|
Dream Lover | Doctor James (Character) | $210.7K | 1986 |
69% |
|
Highlander | Det. Walter Bedsoe (Character) | $5.7M | 1986 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Deadly Business | Vitola (Character) | - | 1986 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Good Sport | Man in Taxi (Character) | - | 1984 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Clairvoyant | Detective Sporaco (Character) | - | 1982 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Crime Story | Phil Bartoli (Character) | 1986-1988 2019 2023-2024 |
No Score Yet | 91% | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Guest | 2016 |
85% | 90% | Modern Family | Earl Chambers (Guest Star) | 2014-2016 |
No Score Yet | 90% | American Dad! | Freddy (Guest Voice) | 2016 |
82% | 87% | Castle | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2014 |
100% | 94% | Bunheads |
Sal Russano (Character), Unknown (Guest Star) |
2012-2013 |
No Score Yet | 63% | Mike & Molly | Frankie (Guest Star) | 2012 |
61% | 84% | Franklin & Bash | "Lucky" Louie Gianelli (Guest Star) | 2012 |
94% | 91% | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Gino (Guest Star) | 2011 |
No Score Yet | 90% | The Mentalist | Bertram Duesterberg (Guest Star) | 2010 |
22% | No Score Yet | Raising the Bar | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2008-2009 |
89% | 88% | Monk | George Gionopolis (Guest Star) | 2009 |
65% | 66% | Two and a Half Men | Mr. Sharipa (Guest Star) | 2008 |
9% | No Score Yet | Do Not Disturb | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2008 |
No Score Yet | 87% | Ghost Whisperer | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2005 2008 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Handy Manny | Joe Bolotero (Guest Voice) | 2006 |
63% | 80% | Masters of Horror | Montesquino (Character) | 2006 |
44% | No Score Yet | Threshold | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2005 |
No Score Yet | 75% | Without a Trace | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2005 |
72% | 89% | Desperate Housewives | Charles Skouras (Guest Star) | 2005 |
No Score Yet | 72% | My Wife and Kids | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2004 |
83% | 86% | Scrubs | Mr. Summers (Guest Star) | 2004 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Judging Amy | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2004 |
14% | No Score Yet | It's All Relative | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2004 |
No Score Yet | 88% | Gilmore Girls | Pete (Guest Star) | 2002-2003 |
18% | No Score Yet | Oliver Beene | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2003 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Dragnet | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2003 |
50% | No Score Yet | Push, Nevada | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2002 |
No Score Yet | 96% | Becker | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2002 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Chronicle | Unknown (Character) | 2001-2002 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Drew Carey Show | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2002 |
50% | No Score Yet | Gideon's Crossing | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Early Edition | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1997 2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Nash Bridges | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1999 |
89% | 92% | Seinfeld | Silvio (Guest Star) | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Players | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | NightMan | Al Capone (Guest Star) | 1997 |
76% | 78% | Roseanne | Mr. Russo (Guest Star) | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Swift Justice | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | High Incident | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1996 |
40% | No Score Yet | High Society | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1995 |
83% | 95% | NYPD Blue | Paul Biaggi (Guest Star) | 1995 |
43% | No Score Yet | Burke's Law | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1995 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Mad About You | Ralphy (Guest Star) | 1995 |
91% | 90% | Homicide: Life on the Street | Unknown (Character) | 1993-1994 |
No Score Yet | 89% | Murder, She Wrote | Lieutenant Peter DiMartini (Guest Star) | 1992 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Fallen Angels | Al Reseck (Character) | 1993 |
91% | 80% | Dinosaurs | Ty Warner (Guest Voice) | 1993 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hearts Are Wild | Leon "Pepe" Pepperman (Character) | 1992 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Equalizer | Gene Carmack (Guest Star) | 1986-1987 1989 |
71% | 89% | Miami Vice | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1988 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Wiseguy | Eddie Van Platt (Guest Star) | 1988 |