Joe Mantegna Biography: Movies, TV Shows, Age, Net Worth, Parents, Siblings, Wife, Children, Height

Joe Mantegna is an American actor, producer, writer, and director, renowned for his extensive contributions to film, television, and theater.

He gained significant recognition for his portrayal of Joey Zasa in “The Godfather Part III” (1990), where he starred alongside Al Pacino and Andy Garcia.

Mantegna‘s career encompasses over 200 film and television appearances, including his role as FBI Supervisory Special Agent David Rossi in the CBS series “Criminal Minds,” which he joined in 2007.

Additionally, he is known for voicing mob boss Fat Tony on the animated series “The Simpsons” since 1991.

Profile

• Full name: Joseph Anthony Mantegna
• Date of birth: November 13, 1947
• Age: 78 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Chicago, Illinois, USA
• State of origin: Illinois
• Nationality: American
• Profession: Actor, producer, writer, director
• Height: 1.82 m
• Parents: Mary Ann (Novelli) and Joseph Henry Mantegna
• Siblings: Ronald Mantegna (brother)
• Spouse: Arlene Vrhel (married since 1975)
• Children: Mia Mantegna and Gia Mantegna
• Relationship status: Married
• Religion: Raised Catholic
• Ethnicity: Italian-American
• Net worth: $25 million

Early Life and Education

At 78 years old in 2025, Joseph Anthony Mantegna was born on November 13, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois. He is the son of Mary Ann (Novelli), a shipping clerk from Acquaviva delle Fonti, Apulia, Italy, and Joseph Henry Mantegna, an insurance salesman from Calascibetta, Sicily, who passed away in 1971.

Raised in a Catholic household, Mantegna attended J. Sterling Morton High School East in Cicero, Illinois.

He furthered his education at Morton College and the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago, leaving just before graduation in 1969. During his youth in Chicago, Mantegna played bass in a band called The Apocryphals, which later performed with another local group, The Missing Links, who went on to form the band Chicago.

Personal Life

Joe Mantegna has been married to Arlene Vrhel since 1975. The couple has two daughters: Mia and Gia. Mia, the elder daughter, was born in 1987 and has autism; she is a makeup artist and owner of a bakery.

Gia, born in 1990, is an actress who has appeared in various film and television roles. The Mantegna family has been actively involved in autism awareness and support initiatives, reflecting their commitment to advocacy and community engagement.

Career

Joe Mantegna‘s career began on stage in 1969 with the Chicago production of the musical “Hair.” He earned a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his role as Richard Roma in the first American production of David Mamet‘s Pulitzer Prize–winning play “Glengarry Glen Ross.”

This marked the beginning of a long-standing collaboration with Mamet, including premieres of “A Life in the Theatre,” “The Disappearance of the Jews,” and “Speed-the-Plow” on Broadway.

Mantegna also directed a highly lauded production of Mamet‘s “Lakeboat,” which enjoyed a successful theatrical run in Los Angeles, and he later directed the film version. In addition to theatrical appearances directed by Mamet, Mantegna appeared in Mamet‘s films “House of Games” (1987), “Things Change” (1988), “Homicide” (1991), and “Redbelt” (2008).

In film and television, Mantegna is best known for roles in box office hits such as “Three Amigos” (1986), “The Godfather Part III” (1990), “Forget Paris” (1995), and “Up Close and Personal” (1996). He starred in the television series “First Monday” (2002) and “Joan of Arcadia” (2003–2005).

He has earned Emmy Award nominations for his roles in three different miniseries: “The Last Don” (1997), “The Rat Pack” (1998), and “The Starter Wife” (2007).

He has also served as executive producer for various movies and television movies, including “Corduroy” (1984), “Hoods” (1998), and “Lakeboat” (2000), which he also directed. Additionally, he played Robert B. Parker‘s fictional detective Spenser in three made-for-TV movies between 1999 and 2001 and has narrated a number of audiobook readings of the Spenser novels.

Awards

Throughout his career, Joe Mantegna has received several accolades:

• Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for “Glengarry Glen Ross” (1984–1985)
• Joseph Jefferson Award for “Glengarry Glen Ross”
• Emmy Award nominations for “The Last Don” (1997), “The Rat Pack” (1998), and “The Starter Wife” (2007)
• Hollywood Walk of Fame Star (April 29, 2011)
• Italian Walk of Fame Star in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (September 2011)
• Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce (2014)
• Induction into the American Theatre Hall of Fame (2015)

Net Worth

Joe Mantegna‘s net worth is estimated to be approximately $25 million. This wealth has been accumulated through his extensive work in film, television, and theater, as well as his roles as a producer and director.

Controversy

Joe Mantegna has been associated with a few controversies during his career. One notable instance involves his defense of the Second Amendment and gun rights.

In a 2014 interview with Fox News, Mantegna expressed his support for firearm ownership, stating that while it was easier to purchase guns in the 1950s, societal changes, not gun laws, have led to increased gun violence.

He emphasized the importance of preserving Second Amendment rights, suggesting that issues like school shootings are more reflective of changes in society and upbringing rather than firearm accessibility.

Another controversy involves the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon from “The Simpsons,” a show where Mantegna voices the character Fat Tony. The character of Apu has been criticized for perpetuating racial stereotypes.

In response to this criticism, Mantegna described the controversy as “political correctness gone too far,” suggesting that times have changed, but in some ways, society may be overreacting.

Additionally, the television series “Criminal Minds,” in which Mantegna starred as David Rossi, was involved in a significant controversy. In December 2022, ABC Signature agreed to pay $3 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the California Civil Rights Department.

The lawsuit alleged that Gregory St. Johns, the director of photography for “Criminal Minds,” subjected crew members to sexual harassment over 14 years.

Social Media

• Instagram: @joemantegna
• Twitter: @JoeMantegna
• Facebook: @joemantegna

Filmography

• “The Godfather Part III” (1990)
• “Three Amigos” (1986)
• “House of Games” (1987)
• “Things Change” (1988)
• “Homicide” (1991)
• “Forget Paris” (1995)
• “Up Close and Personal” (1996)
• “The Rat Pack” (1998)
• “The Last Don” (1997)
• “Redbelt” (2008)
• “Criminal Minds” (2007–2020)
• “The Simpsons” (1991–present)