Joe Regalbuto


Joe Regalbuto is an American actor and director. He is known for his role as Frank Fontana on the CBS television sitcom Murphy Brown, which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 1989.

Early life

Regalbuto graduated from New Milford High School in New Milford, New Jersey, in 1967.

Career

In 1982 Joe Regalbuto played a supporting role in the critically acclaimed film Missing. Also in 1982, Regalbuto played Darius, in the cult sci-fi/fantasy The Sword and the Sorcerer and on television he played Kalnik, an evil alien, in three episodes of Mork & Mindy.
He starred in the CBS series Knots Landing in the 1984-1985 and 1985-1986 season as a character called Harry Fisher who had taken possession of the Ewing twins illegally which centered on the Black Market storyline.
In 1984 he appeared in the TV movie Invitation to Hell, directed by Wes Craven.
In 1985 Regalbuto increased his household recognition when he guest starred as cab driver and high school friend, Don Eddie Rice, in the television series “Magnum P.I.” episode Going Home.
In 1986 Regalbuto starred in the TV movie Fuzz Bucket and the short-lived series Street Hawk.
In 1988, he played the part of Rebecca Devereaux's verbally abusive boyfriend, Jeremy in the TV series The Golden Girls.
Joe starred in Murphy Brown for the entire first run of the acclaimed series from November 14, 1988 to May 18, 1998.
He appeared on a uncredited role in the 1992 movie the babe.
Late in the series, Regalbuto directed more than 20 episodes of Murphy Brown. He also has directed episodes of Titus, George Lopez, Wizards of Waverly Place and other television programs. Regalbuto also was an early spokesman for DirecTV when it first came out.
In 2002, he appeared on the final season of the Ally McBeal TV series, episode 10, "One Hundred Tears", as Harvey Hall, a man who believed he could fly, using wings of his own making.
In 2008, he had a small role in the movie Bottle Shock.
In 2008, he also had guest roles in the TV series Ghost Whisperer and Criminal Minds.
In 2009, Regalbuto had a guest appearance on NCIS.
In 2012, he played the critically acclaimed part of Mr Rogers in the TV Series Southland: "his character feigned grief in what Det. Lydia Adams called 'an Academy Award-winning performance.' He's not eligible for an Oscar, but Regalbuto might just get an Emmy".
He has also directed episodes of Hot in Cleveland - Season 3, Episode 5 in 2011 and Season 4, Episodes 6 and 7 in 2013.
In 2015, he had a guest role as Stuart "Stu" Sloan in episode 4, "Turn Down", of season 4 in the TV series Major Crimes.
On February 26, 2018, it was announced that Regalbuto would return to a revival series of Murphy Brown along with former co-stars Candice Bergen, Faith Ford and Grant Shaud.