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Jon Polito

Highest Rated: 94% The Freshman (1990)

Lowest Rated: 0% 29 Palms (2002)

Birthday: Dec 29, 1950

Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

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.

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Highest rated movies

94% 61% The Freshman
Watchlist
93% 90% Miller's Crossing
Watchlist
90% 89% Barton Fink
Watchlist
89% 79% Batman Year One
Watchlist
87% 90% The Crow Watchlist
83% 74% Homicide: The Movie
Watchlist
81% 85% The Man Who Wasn't There
Watchlist
80% 83% From the Head
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80% 91% The Maestro Watchlist
72% 68% Big Eyes
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
80% 91% The Maestro Herbert Englehart (Character) - 2018
72% 68% Big Eyes Enrico Banducci (Character) $14.5M 2014
13% 52% Locker 13 Don Dillon (Character) - 2014
30% 57% Gangster Squad Dragna (Character) $46.0M 2013
80% 83% From the Head Vinnie (Character) - 2012
89% 79% Batman Year One Commissioner Loeb (Voice) - 2011
12% 69% Atlas Shrugged: Part 1 Orren Boyle (Character) $4.6M 2011
No Score Yet 30% The Last Godfather Don Bonfante (Character) $163.6K 2010
No Score Yet 7% Venus and Vegas Frank (Character) - 2010
No Score Yet 67% DC Showcase: The Spectre Police Captain (Voice) - 2010
No Score Yet 45% Citizen Jane Detective Romer (Character) - 2009
6% 14% Super Capers Captain Sludge (Character) $31.0K 2009
No Score Yet 24% Rock Monster The Colonel (Character) - 2008
No Score Yet 6% The Marconi Bros. Lou Burns (Character) - 2008
No Score Yet No Score Yet Animated American Max Rabbit (Character) - 2008
No Score Yet 18% Cougar Club Mr. Archibald (Character) - 2007
6% 34% Happily N'Ever After Wolf No. 1 (Voice) - 2007
No Score Yet 12% Cutting Room Sandy (Character) - 2006
No Score Yet 20% Stiffs John "The Prince" Monaco (Character) - 2006
38% 61% Big Nothing Agent Hymes (Character) - 2006
No Score Yet 55% Family Plan Gold (Character) - 2005
13% 30% The Honeymooners Kirby (Character) $12.8M 2005
No Score Yet No Score Yet Charlie the Ox Unknown (Character) - 2004
39% 40% The Singing Detective Second Hood (Character) $336.5K 2003
No Score Yet 33% The Box Michael Dickerson (Character) - 2003
No Score Yet 67% Women vs. Men Desk Sgt. (Character) - 2002
0% 36% 29 Palms The Security Guard (Character) - 2002
No Score Yet 17% Black Mask 2: City of Masks King (Character) - 2002
81% 85% The Man Who Wasn't There Creighton Tolliver (Character) $7.5M 2001
8% 13% Mimic 2 Morrie Deaver (Character) - 2001
No Score Yet 46% The Shrink Is In Judge Bob (Character) - 2000
42% 21% The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle Schoentell (Character) $26.0M 2000
83% 74% Homicide: The Movie Steve Crosetti (Character) - 2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet Nature Boy Unknown (Character) - 2000
57% 62% Boys Life 3 Paparazzi (Character) - 2000
No Score Yet 0% The Apartment Complex Dr. Caligari (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet 68% Road Kill Jelly (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Money Plays Lou Spano (Character) - 1998
50% 42% With Friends Like These... Rudy Ptak (Character) - 1998
17% 18% Tale of the Mummy Parsons (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet 52% Angel's Dance Uncle Vinnie (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet Nowhere Land Frank (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% 44% 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% 69% Fluke Boss (Character) $3.3M 1995
18% 38% Bushwhacked Agent Palmer (Character) $6.9M 1995
No Score Yet 12% Girls in Prison Boss Johnson (Character) - 1994
12% 41% Blankman Michael "The Suit" Minelli (Character) $7.4M 1994
87% 90% 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 20% Leather Jackets Fat Jack (Character) - 1991
90% 89% Barton Fink Lou Breeze (Character) $5.7M 1991
93% 90% Miller's Crossing Johnny Caspar (Character) $4.7M 1990
94% 61% The Freshman Agent Chuck Greenwald, Dept. of Justice Fish & Game Division (Character) $20.7M 1990
No Score Yet 50% Homeboy Moe Fingers (Character) - 1988
No Score Yet 40% Alone in the Neon Jungle Brad Stakowski (Character) - 1988
No Score Yet 83% Fire With Fire Boss (Character) $3.3M 1986
No Score Yet 21% Dream Lover Doctor James (Character) $210.7K 1986
69% 79% 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 22% 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% 79% 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