by Hal Erickson
biography
Stage actor Joe Grifasi was 33 when he made his inaugural movie appearance during the lengthy opening wedding sequence in 1978's The Deer Hunter as the bandleader. The actor has since been seen in such films as Still of the Night (1982) and Presumed Innocent (1990), appearing in the latter as Tommy Molto. In 1990, Joe Grifasi was cast in the regular role of TV-station public relations man Tony Pro on the brief TV series WIOU. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, Grifasi first gained professional experience on the New York stage. In addition to his acting credits, Grifasi frequently appears in television commercials.
