# Joe Grifasi

Joseph G. Grifasi (born June 14, 1944) is an American character actor of film, stage and television.

## Early life and education

Grifasi was born in Buffalo, New York, the son of Patricia (née Gaglione) and Joseph J. Grifasi, a skilled laborer. Grifasi graduated from Bishop Fallon High School, a now-defunct Roman Catholic high school in Buffalo, when he made the decision that he wanted to be, not just any old actor, but a character actor.

## Career

Grifasi has more than a hundred-thirty film and television credits to his name, including two New York Yankees elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame: Phil Rizzuto in 61*, set in 1961; and Yogi Berra in The Bronx Is Burning, set in 1977.
From 2005 and 2021, Grifasi has portrayed Defense Attorney Hashi Horowitz, who goes on to become a Superior Court Judge on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1978 | On the Yard | Morris | |
| 1978 | The Deer Hunter | Bandleader | |
| 1979 | Something Short of Paradise | Barney Collins | |
| 1980 | Hide in Plain Sight | Matty Stanek | |
| 1981 | Honky Tonk Freeway | Osvaldo | |
| 1982 | Still of the Night | Joseph Vitucci | |
| 1984 | The Flamingo Kid | Mario Minetta | |
| 1984 | The Pope of Greenwich Village | Jimmy the Cheese Man | |
| 1984 | Splash | Manny | |
| 1985 | Bad Medicine | Gómez | |
| 1985 | Brewster's Millions | J.B. Donaldo | |
| 1986 | F/X | Mickey | |
| 1987 | Ironweed | Jack | |
| 1987 | Matewan | Fausto | |
| 1987 | Moonstruck | Shy Waiter | |
| 1988 | The Appointments of Dennis Jennings | Bartender | Short |
| 1988 | Beaches | Otto Titsling | |
| 1988 | Big Business | Desk Clerk | |
| 1989 | Chances Are | Omar | |
| 1988 | The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! | Foreman | |
| 1989 | The Feud | Bud Bullard | |
| 1990 | Presumed Innocent | Tommy Molto | |
| 1991 | City of Hope | Pauly | |
| 1992 | Primary Motive | Paul Melton | |
| 1993 | Benny & Joon | Mike | |
| 1993 | Household Saints | Frank Manzone | |
| 1994 | The Hudsucker Proxy | Lou | |
| 1994 | Naked Gun 33+1⁄3: The Final Insult | Director | |
| 1994 | Natural Born Killers | Deputy Sheriff Duncan Homolka | |
| 1995 | Batman Forever | Bank Guard | |
| 1995 | Heavy | Leo | |
| 1995 | Money Train | Riley | |
| 1995 | Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventure | Man in Top Hat | |
| 1995 | Two Bits | Uncle Joe | |
| 1996 | One Fine Day | Manny Feldstein | |
| 1997 | Sunday | Scottie Elster | |
| 1998 | The Naked Man | Koski | |
| 1999 | The Out-of-Towners | Arresting Cop | |
| 2000 | Looking for an Echo | Vic | |
| 2001 | Queenie in Love | Berthold | |
| 2002 | Auto Focus | Strip Club M.C. | |
| 2002 | Changing Lanes | Judge Cosell | |
| 2003 | Bought & Sold | Alphonso 'Chunks' Colon | |
| 2004 | 13 Going on 30 | Mr. Flamhaff | |
| 2005 | Slow Burn | Desk Sgt. Drown | |
| 2006 | A Crime | BIll | |
| 2006 | Creating Karma | Prighorn | |
| 2007 | Dark Matter | Professor Colby | |
| 2007 | The Last New Yorker | Jerry | |
| 2009 | Under New Management | Msgr. Tranni | |
| 2012 | Othello | Brabantio | |
| 2014 | Julie Taymor's A Midsummer Night's Dream | Peter Quince | |
| 2016 | The American Side | The Serb | |
| 2016 | Baked in Brooklyn | David's Dad | |
| 2016 | No Pay, Nudity | Mr. Davenport | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1974–1975 | Police Surgeon | Jerry Shields / Sam Sitko | 2 episodes |
| 1986 | The Equalizer | Lt. Vocek | Episode: "The Line" |
| 1992 | Citizen Cohn | Gerald Walpin | TV movie |
| 1992 | Sinatra | George Evans | TV movie |
| 1993–1994 | L.A. Law | Dominic Nuzzi | 5 episodes |
| 1993 | Taking the Heat | Lou Valentine | TV movie |
| 1999 | Switching Goals | Dave | TV movie |
| 2000 | The Other Me | Conrad | TV movie |
| 2001 | 61* | Phil Rizzuto | TV movie |
| 2005–2013 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Defense Attorney Hashi Horowitz | 9 episodes |
| 2015–2021 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Judge Hashi Horowitz | 5 episodes |