# Jon Polito

Jon Raymond Polito (December 29, 1950 – September 1, 2016) was an American actor. In a film and television career spanning 35 years, he amassed over 220 credits. 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

Polito was born on December 29, 1950, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to John and Delaida "Dee" (née Pompei) Polito. He had an older brother and sister, Rosemary Simpson and Jack Polito, an animator. After acting at the West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys, he studied theater at Villanova University.

## Homicide: Life on the Street

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.
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. The outburst caused a rift with Fontana, 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.

## Coen brothers collaboration

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.
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. 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.

## Awards

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 Award at Cinequest Film Festival in 2005. In 2012, he won the award for "Best Actor in a Short Film" at Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival.

## Personal life

Polito was gay and married fellow actor Darryl Armbruster on October 16, 2015, fifteen years after they first met.

## Death

Polito died from multiple myeloma on September 1, 2016, at the City of Hope National Medical Center, where he was being treated. He was 65 years old.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1981 | The Gangster Chronicles | Tommy "Three Finger Brown" Lucchese | |
| 1982 | The Clairvoyant | Detective Sporaco | Also known as The Killing Hour |
| 1984 | The Princess and the Call Girl | Private Detective | |
| 1984 | C.H.U.D. | Newscaster | |
| 1985 | Compromising Positions | 1st Cop | Credited as John Polito |
| 1985 | Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins | Zack | |
| 1986 | Highlander | Detective Walter Bedsoe | |
| 1986 | Dream Lover | Dr. James | |
| 1986 | Fire with Fire | Boss | |
| 1987 | Critical Condition | Kline | |
| 1988 | Homeboy | Moe "Fingers" | |
| 1990 | The Freshman | Chuck Greenwald | |
| 1990 | Miller's Crossing | Giovanni Gasparo / Johnny Caspar | |
| 1991 | Barton Fink | Lou Breeze | |
| 1991 | The Rocketeer | Bigelow | |
| 1992 | Leather Jackets | Jack "Fat Jack" | |
| 1992 | Flodders in America | Larry Rosenbaum | Flodder in Amerika! in Dutch |
| 1993 | The Contenders | Pedro Perusia | |
| 1994 | The Hudsucker Proxy | Mr. Bumstead | |
| 1994 | The Crow | Gideon | |
| 1994 | Blankman | Michael "The Suit" Minelli | |
| 1995 | Fluke | Boss | |
| 1995 | Bushwhacked | FBI Agent Palmer | |
| 1996 | Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco | Ashcan | Voice |
| 1996 | Just Your Luck | Nick | Direct-to-video |
| 1996 | Inside Out | Paparazzi | Short film Included in Boys Life 3 |
| 1997 | The Corporate Ladder | Mr. Deacon | |
| 1998 | The Big Lebowski | Private Investigator Da Fino | |
| 1998 | With Friends Like These... | Rudy Ptak | |
| 1998 | Tale of the Mummy | Parsons | |
| 1998 | Music from Another Room | Lorenzo Palmieri | |
| 1998 | Nowhere Land | Frank | |
| 1999 | Angel's Dance | Vinnie "Uncle Vinnie" | |
| 1999 | Road Kill | "Jelly" | |
| 1999 | The Green Mile | D Block Prison Guard | Uncredited |
| 1999 | Stuart Little | Detective Sherman | |
| 1999 | Carlo's Wake | Uncle Gus | |
| 1999 | Surgeon General's Warning | The Other Guy | Short film |
| 2000 | The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle | Schoentell | |
| 2000 | The Dancing Pumpkin | | Animated short Credited as John Polito |
| 2000 | The Tangerine Bear: Home in Time for Christmas! | Virgil | Voice |
| 2000 | Boys Life 3 | Paparazzi | Segment: Inside Out |
| 2000 | Flies on Cupid | Giorgio Gagantano | |
| 2001 | The Tailor of Panama | Ramón Rudd, The Banker | |
| 2001 | Frank's Last Dance | Frank | Short film |
| 2001 | Mimic 2 | Morrie Deaver | Direct-to-video |
| 2001 | The Shrink Is In | Judge Bob | |
| 2001 | The Man Who Wasn't There | Creighton Tolliver | |
| 2001 | After Sex | Naldo | Credited as John Polito |
| 2002 | Black Mask 2: City of Masks | King | |
| 2002 | 29 Palms | The Security Guard | |
| 2003 | The Singing Detective | Second Hood | |
| 2003 | View from the Top | Roy Roby | |
| 2003 | No Credits, No Peace | The Network Executive | Short film |
| 2003 | The Box | Michael Dickerson | |
| 2004 | Charlie the Ox | Freddy Boon | |
| 2004 | The Last Shot | Wally Kamin | |
| 2005 | Short Order | Tony | |
| 2005 | The Honeymooners | Kirby | |
| 2006 | The Alibi | Jimmy, The Photographer | Released on DVD as Lies & Alibis |
| 2006 | Cutting Room | Sandy | |
| 2006 | Grilled | Leon Waterman | |
| 2006 | Flags of Our Fathers | Borough President | |
| 2006 | Big Nothing | FBI Agent Hymes | |
| 2006 | Happily N'Ever After | Wolf 1 | Voice Credited as John Polito |
| 2006 | Cleaners | | Short film |
| 2007 | Cougar Club | Mr. Archibald | |
| 2007 | American Gangster | Rossi | |
| 2008 | The Marconi Bros. | Lou Burns | |
| 2008 | Bart Got a Room | Bob | |
| 2008 | Animated American | Max Rabbit | Short film |
| 2009 | Super Capers: The Origins of Ed and the Missing Bullion | Captain Sludge | |
| 2009 | Locker 13 | Don Dillon | Short film Also known as Locker 13: Down and Out |
| 2010 | DC Showcase: The Spectre | Police Captain | Voice, short film |
| 2010 | Burning Palms | Ned | |
| 2010 | The Grind | HIM | |
| 2010 | Venus & Vegas | Frank | |
| 2010 | The Last Godfather | Don Bonfante | |
| 2010 | Stiffs | John "The Prince" Monaco | |
| 2010 | The Talking Head | Mr. Opportunity | Short film |
| 2011 | Son of Morning | Mr. Bordasche | |
| 2011 | Atlas Shrugged: Part I | Orren Boyle | |
| 2011 | From the Head | Vinnie | |
| 2011 | Batman: Year One | Commissioner Loeb | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2012 | Jonny Boy | Jonny Boy | Short film |
| 2012 | Anti-Muse | Anti-Muse | Short film |
| 2013 | Gangster Squad | Jack Dragna | |
| 2014 | Big Eyes | Enrico Banducci | |
| 2018 | The Maestro | Herbert Englehart | Final film role; posthumous |

### Television

| 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 | Howard | Television film |
| 1986 | A Deadly Business | Vitola | Television film |
| 1986–1988 | Crime Story | Phil Bartoli | 16 episodes |
| 1986–1989 | The Equalizer | David Pfieffer / Gene Carmack / Carmack / Gianni | 4 episodes |
| 1987 | Ohara | Captain Ross | 11 episodes |
| 1988 | Alone in the Neon Jungle | Brad Stakowski | Television film |
| 1988 | Wiseguy | Eddie Van Platt | Episode: "Player to Be Named Now" |
| 1988 | Miami Vice | El Gato | 2 episodes |
| 1989 | Livin' Large | Sal | Television film |
| 1989 | Trying Times | Agent Caponello | Episode: "Death and Taxes" |
| 1991 | Tales from the Crypt | Nikos Stano | Episode: "Deadline" |
| 1991 | Empty Nest | Slocum | Episode: "Harry's Got a Gun" |
| 1992 | Hearts Are Wild | Leon "Pepe" Pepperman | 4 episodes |
| 1992–1994 | Murder, She Wrote | Lieutenant Peter DiMartini | 2 episodes |
| 1993 | Dinosaurs | Ty Warner | Voice Episode: "Swamp Music" |
| 1993 | Fallen Angels | Al Reseck | Episode: "I'll Be Waiting" |
| 1993 | The Untouchables | Tommy Palumbo | 2 episodes |
| 1993–1994 | Homicide: Life on the Street | Detective Steve Crosetti | 13 episodes |
| 1994 | Viper | Councilman Strand | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1994 | Girls in Prison | Boss Johnson | Television film |
| 1994 | The Shaggy Dog | Detective Al | Television film |
| 1995 | Chicago Hope | Detective Bill Ranford | Episode: "Life Support" |
| 1995 | Mad About You | Ralphy | Episode: "My Boyfriend's Back!" |
| 1995 | Burke's Law | Tony Renaldo | Episode: "Who Killed Cock-a-Doodle Dooley?" |
| 1995 | NYPD Blue | Paul Biaggi | Episode: "One Big Happy Family" |
| 1995 | The Invaders | Whitley, Metro HQ | Miniseries Uncredited |
| 1995 | 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" |
| 1996 | Swift Justice | Tom Luddy | Episode: "Supernote" |
| 1996 | The Pretender | Ben Hansel | Episode: "A Virus Among Us" |
| 1996 | 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 |
| 1997 | Over the Top | Mr. Hampstead | Episode: "The Bee Story" |
| 1997 | Life with Louie | Red Meat | Voice Episode: "Louie's Harrowing Halloween" |
| 1997 | Night Man | Al Capone | Episode: "That Ol' Gang of Mine" |
| 1997 | Invasion | Detective Kemper | Miniseries |
| 1997–2000 | Early Edition | Cliff Mourning / Louie DeFozio | 2 episodes |
| 1998 | Players | Pappas | Episode: "Mint Condition" |
| 1998 | Jenny | Sid Bouchie | Episode: "A Girl's Gotta Get It" |
| 1998 | Seinfeld | Silvio | Episode: The Reverse Peephole" |
| 1998 | New York Undercover | Rinaldi / John Dennis | 2 episodes |
| 1998 | The Defenders: Choice of Evils | District Attorney Al Orsini | Television film |
| 1998 | Money Play$ | Lou Spano | Television film |
| 1998 | Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show | Marvin 'Marv' Fishland | Episode: "Honey, She's Like a Fish Out of Water" |
| 1998 | Veronica's Closet | Mr. Lehman | Episode: "Veronica's Dog Day Afternoon" |
| 1998 | Millennium | Eddie Scarpino Giannini | Episode: "Omerta" |
| 1999 | Nash Bridges | Roland Margolis | Episode: "Truth and Consequences" |
| 1999 | Good vs. Evil | Howard | Episode: "Sunday Night Evil" |
| 1999 | The Apartment Complex | Dr. Caligari | Television film |
| 2000 | Homicide: The Movie | Steve Crosetti | Television film |
| 2000 | Popular | Caesar Croutons | Episode: "Hard on the Outside, Soft in the Middle" |
| 2000 | The Invisible Man | Eddie The Mammoth | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2000 | Gideon's Crossing | Lou Peda | Episode: "The Race" |
| 2000 | Batman Beyond | Major | Voice, episode: "Betrayal" |
| 2000 | Oh Yeah! Cartoons | Fisherman | Voice, episode: "Tales from the Goose Lady: The Fisherman, the Fisherman's Wife, and the Fish" |
| 2000 | 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 |
| 2001–2002 | The Chronicle | Donald Stern | 22 episodes |
| 2002 | Becker | Leonard Nagle | Episode: "Piece Talks" |
| 2002 | Time Squad | Al Capone | Voice, episode: "The Clownfather" |
| 2002 | Women vs. Men | Desk Sgt. | Television film |
| 2002 | Push, Nevada | Silas Bodnick | Episode: "The Amount" |
| 2002 | She Spies | Edward Malloy | Episode: "Ice Man" |
| 2002–2003 | Gilmore Girls | Pete / Father in Kirk's Film | 2 episodes |
| 2003 | Dragnet | Richard Maughm | Episode: "The Silver Slayer" |
| 2003 | Crossing Jordan | Dick | Episode: "Wild Card" |
| 2003 | The Lyon's Den | Mr. Carpeggi | Episode: "Trick or Treat" |
| 2003 | 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" |
| 2004 | It's All Relative | Leonard | Episode: "A Long Day's Journey Into Leonard's" |
| 2004 | Judging Amy | District Attorney Gerald Abner | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | The Jury | Johnny Pappas | Episode: "The Boxer" |
| 2004 | Scrubs | Mr. Summers | Episode: "My Female Trouble" |
| 2004 | My Wife and Kids | Minister | Episode: "The Wedding" |
| 2005 | Family Plan | Gold | Television film |
| 2005 | Desperate Housewives | Charles Skouras | Episode: "Love Is in the Air" |
| 2005 | Without a Trace | Jimmy 'The Tooth' Fusco | Episode: "Lone Star" |
| 2005 | American Dad: The New CIA | Petruchio | Animated TV short |
| 2005 | Gone, But Not Forgotten | Sam Oberhurst | Miniseries |
| 2005 | Threshold | Nicky Frost | Episode: "The Order" |
| 2005 | Avatar: The Last Airbender | Chief Arnook | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2005 | 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" |
| 2006 | 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 |
| 2008 | Las Vegas | The Cleaner | Episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Breakfast" |
| 2008 | Rock Monster | The Colonel | Television film |
| 2008 | Chowder | Funjl / Guy | Voice, episode: "The Moldy Touch/The Heavy Sleeper" |
| 2008 | Do Not Disturb | R.J. | Episode: "Dosing" |
| 2008 | Chocolate News | Harvey Silverstein | "Episode 7" |
| 2008 | 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" |
| 2009 | 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" |
| 2011 | Ben 10: Ultimate Alien | Mizaru | Voice, episode: "Simian Says" |
| 2011 | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Gino Reynolds | Episode: "Frank's Brother" |
| 2011 | ThunderCats | Conquedor | Voice, episode: "Berbils" |
| 2012 | Franklin & Bash | "Lucky" Louie Gianelli | Season 2 episode 3: "Jango and Rossi" |
| 2012 | Robot and Monster | Sir Cranklin | Voice, episode: "First Impressions" |
| 2012 | Mike & Molly | Frankie Moranto | Episode: "Thanksgiving Is Canceled" |
| 2012–2013 | Bunheads | Sal Russano | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Castle | Harold Metzger | Episode: "That '70s Show" |
| 2014 | Murder in the First | Judge Greer / Judge Emerson Greer | 3 episodes |
| 2014 | 39 to Go | Mathis | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | 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" |
| 2016 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Frank O'Brien | Episode: "Tony Hale Wears a Blue Flannel Shirt and Fuchsia Sneakers" |
| 2016 | Major Crimes | Dino Kotero | Episode: "Cashed Out" |
| 2016 | Ultimate Spider-Man | Hammerhead | Voice, episode: "Return to the Spider-Verse: Part 3" Posthumous release; dedicated in memory |
| 2017 | The Super Man | Floyd | Episode: "Dumpster Diving" Posthumous release |
| 2017 | Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure | Griffon of Pittsford | Voice, episode: "Not in the Mood" Final TV role; posthumous release |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1999 | Lands of Lore III | Dark Army Orc / Elliott The Guard / Viscosa | Voice |
| 2007 | Dead Head Fred | Ulysses S. Pitt | Voice |
| 2013 | Batman: Arkham Origins | G.C.P.D. Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb | Voice |
| 2016 | Batman: Arkham Underworld | Carmine Falcone | Voice |