Joe Pantoliano

Joseph Peter Pantoliano, also known as Joe Pantoliano or Joey Pants, is an acclaimed American actor who has worked prolifically across film, television and theater. Born on September 12, 1951, Pantoliano's career spans multiple decades, starting from 1974 and continuing into the present. He has portrayed over 150 roles, including memorable characters like Ralph 'Ralphie' Cifaretto on the HBO crime drama The Sopranos, a role that won him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, and Cypher in the celebrated sci-fi action film, The Matrix. His early roles include appearances in the television series MAS*H and the comedy film Risky Business.

Pantoliano furthered his recognition in supporting roles in films and television shows like Hill Street Blues, The Goonies, La Bamba, Empire of the Sun, Midnight Run, NYPD Blue, Memento, and Bad Boys and its sequels, among others. He also participated in The Fugitive and its spin-off U.S. Marshals and collaborated with the Wachowskis in their directorial debut Bound, and in their sci-fi series Sense8. Besides acting, Pantoliano has published two memoirs and actively advocates for mental health. He candidly shares his experiences with his own and his mother's mental health issues. He founded the nonprofit No Kidding, Me Too!, aiming to de-stigmatize mental illness.