Joe Pantoliano

Biography

Joseph Peter Pantoliano is an American actor who has played over 150 roles across film, television, and theater. He is best known for portraying Ralph "Ralphie" Cifaretto on the HBO crime drama The Sopranos (1999–2007), for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, and Cypher in the sci-fi action film The Matrix (1999).

After early roles in the television series M* A * S * H and the comedy film Risky Business, Pantoliano gained recognition for numerous supporting roles in films and television shows such as Hill Street Blues, The Goonies, La Bamba, Empire of the Sun, Midnight Run, NYPD Blue, Memento, and Bad Boys and its sequels. He also appeared in The Fugitive and its spin-off U.S. Marshals. He began working with the Wachowskis in their directorial debut Bound, and later appeared in their film The Matrix and their sci-fi series Sense8.

CritifyHub Reviews Featuring Joe Pantoliano

Riffs of Rebellion: La Bamba’s Timeless Chords

on La Bamba | Aug 23, 2025

Why does Ritchie Valens’ story still hit like a perfectly strummed guitar chord? La Bamba (1987), directed by Luis Valdez, isn’t just a biopic about a rock ‘n’ roll pioneer it’s a raw, soulful snapsho... Read more

Unraveling the Mind-Bending Brilliance of Christopher Nolan’s ’Memento’

on Memento | Jun 06, 2025

In the realm of cinematic storytelling, few films have managed to captivate and confound audiences quite like Christopher Nolan’s ’Memento.’ Released in 2000, this psychological thriller remains a tes... Read more

"What if I told you the world you know is not real?" This mind-bending premise ignites the revolutionary journey of "The Matrix."

on The Matrix | May 29, 2025

The Wachowskis’ The Matrix isn’t just a science fiction action film; it’s a groundbreaking and philosophically rich exploration of reality, free will, and the power of knowledge. In a dystopian future... Read more