Biography for
Jon Polito More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

29 December 1950, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Birth Name

John Polito

Height

5' 9" (1.75 m)

Mini Biography

A heavy set, bald character player who often sports a distinctive, pencil-thin mustache and is frequently cast as gangsters or cops, Polito appeared on Broadway in "American Buffalo" (1977), "Curse of the Aching Heart" (1982) and the 1984 revival of "Death of a Salesman" (which was broadcast on CBS in 1985) and starred in the original Hartford Stage Company production of "Other People's Money". He made his film debut in The Clairvoyant (1982) and played Tommy Lucchese in the TV series "The Gangster Chronicles" (1981). Polito is best known for his roles in the films by the Coen Brothers: as obsequious yet vicious crime lord Johnny Caspar in Miller's Crossing (1990) as the toadying Lou Breeze in _Barton Fink (1991)_ and as the pansy dry cleaning investor Creighton Tolliver in The Man Who Wasn't There (2001).

IMDb Mini Biography By: VidMan

Mini Biography

A veteran of over 100 films, Jon Polito is most recognized for his work with The Coen brothers, as well as his many television appearances as a series regular and guest star. Notable Motion Picture roles are in Millers Crossing, Barton Fink, The Man Who Wasn't There, The Crow, Blankman, and The Freshman with Marlon Brando. On Television he starred as a series regular on Crime Story, Ohara, Hearts are Wild, The Chronical, and the critically acclaimed Homicide, Life on the Street. Notable guest star roles include the befuddled landlord Sylvio on Seinfeld, and his only role as a woman, Rhonda, on The Chris Isaak Show. He starred on Broadway with Faye Dunaway in The Curse Of An Aching Heart and with Dustin Hoffman in the 1985 Tony award winning revival of Death Of A Salesman, which he also filmed for CBS. He received the Best Actor OBIE award for Off Broadway theater in 1980. Other awards include the 2001 TELLY for animation voice over in The Dancing Pumpkin which was directed by his brother Jack Polito, The New York Independent Festival Award for Excellence in Acting, and the 2005 Cinequest Maverick Award for his body of work in Film and Television. He credits his success to three people, his mentor Dominic Garvey, his only acting teacher Irene Baird, and a great director and friend, Paul Bettis.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Darryl Armbruster

Trade Mark

Raspy voice

Trivia

Appears in five of the Coen Brothers movies, more than by any other actor except Steve Buscemi.

Was not re-hired for season 2 of "Homicide: Life on the Street" (1993) by producer Tom Fontana due to a disagreement.

Is of Italian descent.

He attended Villanova University on a drama scholarship. From there, he began a lengthy run on the New York stage.

Was considered for the role of Captain Spaulding in House of 1000 Corpses (2003).

Originated roles in the plays The Transfiguation Of Benno Blimpie, Gemini, and Other Peoples Money.

Won the Best actor OBIE award for five different performances in the 1979/80 off-Broadway season.

Personal Quotes

You can't act alone. Use the props, the setting, the crew around you, and of course your fellow actors. Acting is like a sporting match; a tennis game, but no one should win or lose. The game's the thing!

Art is the familiar through new eyes...

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