Jon Polito


Jon Raymond Polito was an American character actor. In a film and television career spanning 35 years, he amassed over 220 credits. Notable television roles included Detective Steve Crosetti in the first two seasons of and as Phil Bartoli on the first season of Crime Story. He also appeared in several films including The Rocketeer, The Crow and Gangster Squad, as well as his work with the Coen brothers. He appeared in five of their films, including Miller's Crossing, Barton Fink and The Big Lebowski. Polito also portrayed legendary "hungry i" nightclub impresario Enrico Banducci in a large supporting role in Tim Burton's 2014 film Big Eyes starring Amy Adams.

''Homicide: Life on the Street''

Polito was initially reluctant to audition for Homicide as he didn't want to move to Baltimore for the series, having just relocated from New York City to Los Angeles. His agents sent him the script anyway, featuring a dialogue scene between a Polish-American and an Irish-American detective. Polito preferred the Irish detective role, but was told that he could only do the Polish one. After reading for the part Polito added a message on his audition tape saying that if the producers wanted to call him back he would only be interested if he could take the part of the Irish detective. Series co-creators Barry Levinson and Tom Fontana rewrote the character as an Italian named Steve Crosetti and cast him in the role. The Polish detective was also rewritten, becoming Detective Meldrick Lewis, and was played by African-American actor Clark Johnson.
The show was rating poorly and the producers were under pressure from NBC to include a new female character in the hope of gaining broader appeal. As a result, they decided to write out Polito's character at the end of Season 2. Fontana assured him that he would be brought back later in the season, but Polito was unhappy and criticized the producers publicly, an action he later regretted. The outburst caused a rift with Fontana and the Crosetti character was killed off early in Season 3, with the explanation that the detective had committed suicide. This further infuriated Polito, who again complained to the media, triggering a public slagging match between him and Fontana. Interviewed about the situation in 2005, Polito expressed regret for his handling of the matter. He noted that he and Fontana subsequently patched up their differences, and as a result the Crosetti character returned to make a farewell appearance as a spirit in .

Coen brothers collaboration

Polito was a regular in the Coen brothers movies appearing in five of their films. The Coens had seen Polito in the New York stage adaptation of Death of a Salesman in 1986 playing Howard Wagner. They approached him to play the part of The Dane in Miller's Crossing, but after reading the script he turned them down saying he would only play the Italian gangster Johnny Caspar. The Coens auditioned several other actors but eventually used Polito after they made him read his entire role cold.
He was offered the role of Lou Breeze in their next film Barton Fink, in a role which was written especially for him. Again he turned down the Coens offer saying he wanted to play the part of movie producer Jack Lipnick. Actress Frances McDormand persuaded him to take the role saying it would change his career. He later appeared in The Hudsucker Proxy as an eccentric businessman, The Big Lebowski as a private detective and finally in 2001 as a flirtatious salesman in The Man Who Wasn't There.

Awards

Polito won an Obie Award in 1980 for his theater performances off Broadway and for his lifetime of work in film and television he received the Maverick Spirit Event Award at Cinequest Film Festival in 2005. In 2012, he won the award for "Best Actor in a Short Film" at Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival.

Personal life

Polito was born on December 29, 1950 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to John and Delaida "Dee" Polito. He had an older brother and sister, Rosemary Simpson and Jack Polito, an animator. After acting at the West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys, he studied theater at Villanova University. Polito was openly gay. He married fellow actor Darryl Armbruster on October 16, 2015, fifteen years after they first met.
He died from multiple myeloma on September 1, 2016, at the City of Hope Hospital, where he was being treated. Polito was 65 years old.

Filmography

GenreYearTitleRoleNotes
TV miniseries1981'Thomas "Three Finger Brown" Lucchese13 episodes
Film1981Gangster WarsThomas "Three Finger Brown" Lucchese
Film1982The ClairvoyantDetective Sporacoa.k.a. The Killing Hour
TV film1983Running OutJoe Poswalsky
Film1984C.H.U.D.Newscaster
TV film1984A Good SportMan in Taxi
TV film1985Death of a SalesmanHoward
Film1985Compromising PositionsCop #1
Film1985'Zack
Film1986Dream LoverDoctor James
Film1986HighlanderDetective Walter Bedsoe
TV film1986A Deadly BusinessVitola
Film1986Fire with FireBoss
Film1986The Princess and the Call GirlPrivate Detective
TV series1986-1989'David Pfieffer / Gene Carmack / Carmack / Gianni4 episodes
TV series1986–1988Crime StoryPhil Bartoli16 episodes
Film1987Critical ConditionKline
TV series1987OharaCaptain Ross11 episodes
TV film1988Alone in the Neon JungleBrad Stakowski
Film1988HomeboyMoe Fingers
TV series1988Miami ViceEl Gato2 episodes
TV series1988WiseguyEddie Van PlattEpisode: "Player to Be Named Now"
TV series1989'David PfiefferEpisode: "Silent Fury"
TV film1989Livin' LargeSal
TV film1989Memories of ManonCarmack
TV series1989Trying TimesAgent CaponelloEpisode: "Death and Taxes"
Film1990'Chuck Greenwald
Film1990Miller's CrossingJohnny Caspar
Film1991Barton FinkLou Breeze
Film1991'Bigelow
TV series1991Empty NestSlocumEpisode: "Harry's Got a Gun"
TV series1991Tales from the CryptNikos StanoEpisode: "Deadline"
Film1992Leather JacketsFat Jack
Film1992Flodder in Amerika!Larry Rosenbaum
TV series1992Hearts Are WildLeon 'Pepe' Pepperman3 episodes
TV series1992-1994Murder, She WroteLieutenant Peter DiMartini2 episodes
TV series1993DinosaursTy Warner Episode: "Swamp Music"
TV series1993Fallen AngelsAl ReseckEpisode: "I'll Be Waiting"
TV series1993'Tommy PalumboEpisode: "Railroaded"
Film1993The ContendersPedro Perusia
TV series1993-1994'Detective Steve Crosetti13 episodes
Film1994'Mr. Bumstead
Film1994'Gideon
Film1994BlankmanMichael 'The Suit' Minelli
TV film1994Girls in PrisonBoss Johnson
TV film1994'Detective Al
TV series1994ViperCouncilman StrandEpisode: "Pilot"
TV series1995Burke's LawEpisode: "Who Killed Cock-a-Doodle Dooley?"
Film1995FlukeBoss
Film1995BushwhackedAgent Palmer
TV series1995Chicago HopeDetective Bill RanfordEpisode: "Life Support"
TV series1995High SocietyAlvin SpaldingEpisode: "We Ought to Be in Pictures"
Film1995The InvadersWhitley, Metro HQUncredited
TV series1995Mad About YouRalphyEpisode: "My Boyfriend's Back!"
TV series1995NYPD BluePaul BiaggiEpisode: "One Big Happy Family"
TV series1995-1996Dream OnLouie4 episodes
Film1996'Ashcan
Film1996Just Your LuckNick
TV series1996-1998New York UndercoverJohn Dennis2 episodes
TV series1996'Ben HanselEpisode: "A Virus Among Us"
TV series1996RoseanneMr. RussoEpisode: "Millions from Heaven"
TV series1996Swift JusticeTom LuddyEpisode: "Supernote"
Film1997'Mr. Deacon
TV series1997-2000Early EditionCliff Mourning / Louie DeFozio2 episodes
TV series1997Fired UpSam HarrisEpisode: "Domestic Bliss"
Short film1997Inside OutPaparazzi27 minutes; included in the compilation film Boys Life 3
TV film1997InvasionDetective Kemper
Animated TV series1997Life with LouieRed Meat Episode: "Louie's Harrowing Halloween"
TV series1997Night ManAl CaponeEpisode: "That Ol' Gang of Mine"
TV series1997Over the TopMr. HamsteadEpisode: "The Bee Story"
Film1998Nowhere LandFrank
Film1998'Da Fino
Film1998Tale of the MummyParsons
Film1998Music from Another RoomLorenzo Palmieri
Film1998With Friends Like These...Rudy Ptak
TV film1998'D.A. Al Orsini
TV series1998'Marv FishlandEpisode: "Honey, She's Like a Fish Out of Water"
TV series1998JennySid BouchieEpisode: "A Girl's Gotta Get It"
TV series1998MillenniumEddie Scarpino GianniniEpisode: "Omerta"
TV film1998Money Play$Lou Spano
TV series1998New York UndercoverRinaldiEpisode: "Drop Dead Gorgeous"
TV series1998PlayersPappasEpisode: "Mint Condition"
TV series1998SeinfeldSilvioEpisode: "The Reverse Peephole"
TV series1998Veronica's ClosetMr. LehmanEpisode: "Veronica's Dog Day Afternoon"
TV film1999'Dr. Caligari
Film1999Angel's DanceUncle Vinnie
Film1999Road KillJelly
Film1999Stuart LittleDetective Sherman
Film1999Carlo's WakeUncle Gus
TV series1999Good vs. EvilHowardEpisode: "Sunday Night Evil"
Video game1999Lands of Lore IIIDark Army Orc / Elliott the Guard / Viscosa
TV series1999Nash BridgesRoland MargolisEpisode: "Truth and Consequences"
Film1999The Green Mile"D" Block Prison GuardUncredited
Short film1999Surgeon General's WarningThe Other Guy8 minutes
Film2000After SexNaldo
Film2000The Adventures of Rocky and BullwinkleSchoentell
Film2000Boys Life 3Paparazzi
Short TV film2000Nature BoyMort Ruby29 minutes; directed by Kari Skogland
Film2000Flies on CupidGiorgio Gagantano
Animated TV series2000Batman BeyondThe Major Episode: "Betrayal"
TV film2000'Steve Crosetti
TV series2000'Eddie the MammothEpisode: "Pilot"
TV series2000PopularCaesar CroutonsEpisode: "Hard on the Outside, Soft in the Middle"
TV series2000'Constantin FalzoneEpisode: "Cold Dick"
Animated film2000'Virgil Direct-to-video
Short film2001Frank's Last DanceFrank18 minutes
Film2001'Ramón Rudd, the Banker
Film2001'Judge Bob
Film2001'Creighton Tolliver
TV series2001'Rhonda ParksEpisode: "Our Place"
TV series2001-2002'Donald Stern22 episodes
TV series2001'The BabyVoice, 3 episodes
TV series2001Gideon's CrossingLou PedaEpisode: "The Race"
Film2001Mimic 2Morrie Deaver
Animated TV series2002Time SquadAl Capone Episode: "The Clownfather"
TV series2002BeckerLeonard NagleEpisode: "Piece Talks"
Film200229 PalmsThe Security Guard
TV series2002'Stansfield3 episodes
TV series2002Gilmore GirlsPete / 'Father' in Kirk's Film2 episodes
TV series2002Push, NevadaSilas BodnickEpisode: "The Amount"
TV series2002She SpiesEdward MalloyEpisode: "Ice Man"
TV film2002Women vs. MenDesk Sergeant
Film2002'King
Film2003'Second Hood
Film2003View from the TopRoy Roby
Film2003'Michael Dickerson
TV series2003Crossing JordanDickEpisode: "Wild Card"
TV series2003DragnetRichard MaughmEpisode: "The Silver Slayer"
TV film2003Life on ParoleErnie
TV series2003'Mr. CarpeggiEpisode: "Trick or Treat"
Short film2003No Credits, No PeaceThe Network Executive6 minutes
TV series2003-2004Oliver BeeneMr. Rayfield2 episodes
TV series2004'Enzo FontanaEpisode: "Wild and the Innocent"
TV film2004Gone, But Not ForgottenSam Oberhurstbased on the novel by Phillip Margolin
TV series2004It's All RelativeLeonardEpisode: "A Long Day's Journey Into Leonard's"
TV series2004Judging AmyD.A. Gerald Abner2 episodes
TV series2004'Johnny PappasEpisode: "The Boxer"
Film2004Charlie the OxFreddy Boon
Film2004'Wally Kamin
TV series2004ScrubsMr. SummersEpisode: "My Female Trouble"
TV series2004My Wife and KidsMinisterEpisode: "The Wedding"
Animated TV series2005'Chief Arnook 2 episodes
Animated TV series2005'New Aldrin / New Pupert Episode: "Those Pesky Roaches"
Film2005Short Order
TV series2005Desperate HousewivesCharles SkourasEpisode: "Love Is in the Air"
TV film2005Family PlanGold
TV series2005-2008Ghost WhispererJoe Grimaldi2 episodes
Film2005'Kirby
TV series2005ThresholdNicky FrostEpisode: "The Order"
TV series2005Without a TraceJimmy 'The Tooth' FuscoEpisode: "Lone Star"
Film2006'Jimmy the Photographera.k.a. Lies & Alibis
TV series2006Masters of HorrorMontesquinoEpisode: "Haeckel's Tale"
Film2006Cutting RoomSandy
Film2006GrilledLeon Waterman
Animated TV series2006Handy MannyJoe Bolotero Episode: "Supremoguy/Tool Talk"
Film2006Flags of Our FathersBorough President
Film2006Big NothingAgent Hymes
Animated film2006Happily N'Ever AfterWolf 1Voice
Short film2006Cleaners10 minutes
TV series2007MediumVincent DiscalaEpisode: "Better Off Dead"
Film2007Cougar ClubMr. Archibald
Animated TV series2007-2008'Don Bafi 2 episodes
Video game2007Dead Head FredUlysses S. Pitt
Film2007American GangsterRossi
TV series2008Las VegasThe CleanerEpisode: "Guess Who's Coming to Breakfast"
Film2008'Lou Burns
TV film2008Rock MonsterThe Colonel
Animated TV series2008ChowderFunjl / Guy Episode: "The Moldy Touch/The Heavy Sleeper"
Film2008Bart Got a RoomBob
Short film2008Animated AmericanMax Rabbit15 minutes
TV series2008Do Not DisturbR.J.Episode: "Dosing"
TV series2008Chocolate NewsHarvey Silverstein"Episode #1.7"
TV series2008Two and a Half MenMr. SharipaEpisode: "He Smelled the Ham, He Got Excited"
TV series2008-2009Raising the BarJudge Dominick Ventimiglia10 episodes
TV series2009MonkGeorge GionopolisEpisode: "Mr. Monk Fights City Hall"
Film2009Super Capers: The Origins of Ed and the Missing BullionCaptain Sludge
Short film2009Locker 13Don Dillon15 minutes
TV film2009Citizen JaneDetective Romer
Animated TV series2009-2010Glenn Martin, DDSVito Renzuli 2 episodes
Film2010StiffsJohn "The Prince" Monaco
Film2010Burning PalmsNed
Animated short film2010'Police Captain Direct-to-video
TV series2010'DuesterbergEpisode: "Red Herring"
TV series2010Burning PalmsNed
Film2010'HIM
Film2010Venus & VegasFrank
Film2010'Don Bonfante
Short film2010The Talking HeadMr. Opportunity19 minutes
TV series2011Funny or Die PresentsEddy"Episode #2.1"
segment United States Police Department
Film2011Son of MorningMr. Bordasche
Film2011'Orren Boyle
Film2011From the HeadVinnie
Animated TV series2011'DN Alien Mizaru / Mizaru Episode: "Simian Says"
Animated film2011'Commissioner Loeb Direct-to-video
TV series2011It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaGino ReynoldsEpisode: "Frank's Brother"
Animated TV series2011ThunderCatsConquedor Episode: "Berbils"
Short film2011Jonny BoyJonny Boy7 minutes
TV series2012Franklin & BashLucky LouieEpisode: "Jango and Rossi"
Animated TV series2012Robot and MonsterSir Cranklin Episode: "First Impressions"
TV series2012Mike & MollyFrankie MorantoEpisode: "Thanksgiving Is Canceled"
Short film2012Anti-MuseAnti-MuseDirected by John M Goodner
TV series2012-2013BunheadsSal Russano2 episodes
Film2013Gangster SquadJack Dragna
Video game2013'G.C.P.D. Commissioner Gillian B. Loeb
Film2014Locker 13Don Dillan
TV series2014CastleHarold MetzgerEpisode: "That '70s Show"
Film2014Big EyesEnrico Banducci
TV series2014–2016Modern FamilyEarl Chambers3 episodes
Animated TV series2016American Dad!Dr. Kalgary Episode: "Roots"
Video game2016'Carmine Falcone
TV series2016Comedy Bang! Bang!Frank O'BrienEpisode: "Tony Hale Wears a Blue Flannel Shirt and Fuchsia Sneakers"
Animated TV series2016Ultimate Spider-ManHammerhead Episode: "Return to the Spider-Verse", posthumous
Animated TV series2017'Griffin of Pittsford Episode: "Not in the Mood", posthumous
Film2018The MaestroHerbert Englehartfinal film role; posthumous