Famous for his Emmy Award winning role as mobster Ralph Cifaretto on HBO’s “The Sopranos”, actor, author and mental health activist Joe Pantoliano takes us behind the scenes of shooting his new film “From The Vine”, the story of a downtrodden CEO who travels back to his Nonno’s vineyard in Italy. The prolific character actor dishes on his roles in iconic films like “Risky Business”, “Midnight Run”, “The Matrix” and “Momento”, and opens up about his family and his own journey from mental illness, to wellness, to running his own charity “No Kidding, Me Too!”. Joe reveals what he thinks a post-Covid-19 theatre and film world will look like and laments the loss of value of his American passport during the pandemic.

On this week’s The Richard Crouse Show we meet:

Joe Pantoliano, a working actor for over forty years. From doing plays in empty basement theatres in New York City to Broadway to guest roles on the biggest television shows of several decades like “M*A*S*H” and “The Sopranos” and juicy supporting parts in films like “Risky Business,” “The Goonies,” “The Fugitive,” “Memento,” “Bad Boys” and “The Matrix” he says “There aren’t any small parts, only small paychecks.”

He jokes that he has a twenty-minute face, perfect for character work but his new film, “From the Vine” offers him the chance to show off his ninety-minute face. His first starring role in recent memory sees him playing a man who gives up a high-flying career as an executive to return to Italy, where he was born, to search for find his centre and regain his moral compass. In this interview we talk about the parallels between his life and that of his “From the Vine” character, Jimmy Stewart’s wig and how “On the Waterfront” made him want to be an actor… and here’s a surprise. It had nothing to do with Marlon Brando.

Let’s get to know Joe Pantoliano.

Then we meet hip hop musician, former elementary school teacher and author Humble the Poet. He stopped by the “Pop Life” bar to discuss his new book “Things No One Else Can Teach Us,” what he learned from his failures, including a bad record deal, how even after he crawled out of crippling debt, the satisfaction was short lived and much more.

Finally we close with legendary rock photographer Mick Rock who talks about his collaboration with David Bowie.

Joe Pantoliano is widely known for playing bad guys, lowlifes and disreputable characters. He even has his own pseudo-Mafioso nickname: Joey Pants. But Joe tells Marc the reason he got so good at playing bad guys is because he was always bullied when he was younger. Tapping into that helped him with his acting, but he had to wait until later in life to tap into the cause of his depression, which was tied up in his complicated parentage and inescapable genetics. They also talk about some of his best known roles from The Sopranos, The Fugitive, Midnight Run and more. This episode is sponsored by Tournament of Laughs on TBS, HBO Max, and Ben & Jerry's.

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Steve Cooper talks with actor Joe Pantoliano. Joe has amassed an impressive catalog of classic American film, theater and television titles, collaborating with some of Hollywood’s most prestigious filmmakers including Christopher Nolan (Memento), Steven Spielberg (The Goonies, Empire of the Sun), The Wachowskis’ (The Matrix), Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, Steal Big Steal Little), Michael Bay (Bad Boys), and Martin Brest (Midnight Run). His theater credits include John Patrick Shanley’s Italian American Reconciliation, Lyle Kessler’s Orphans, and Terrence McNally’s Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune. His television appearances have included the hit TV series The Sopranos, for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. He can also be seen in the recently released Bad Boys for Life alongside Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.

Acclaimed actor Joe Pantolaino founded “No Kidding? Me Too!” which is dedicated to removing the stigma associated with mental illness and brain disease (BD) through education and the breaking down of societal barriers.   The organization’s goal is to empower those with BD to admit their illness, seek treatment, and become even greater members of society.

One of Gilbert and Frank's favorite actors, Emmy-winner Joe Pantoliano drops by the studio for a revealing and entertaining conversation about Italian-American stereotypes, underappreciated film directors, dysfunctional families, onscreen immortality and the secret to playing convincing bad guys. Also, Joe meets Gregory Peck, remembers James Gandolfini, takes advice from Robert Stack and takes the fall for Harrison Ford. PLUS: Eli Wallach! "Midnight Run"! Joe befriends Natalie Wood! Gilbert Gottfried: Teen Idol! And Frank Sinatra welshes on a debt!

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