I’m always fascinated by Joe Mantegna whenever I see him in a movie or television program -- and, in the case of The Simpsons, hearing him as Fat Tony. His dark, dangerous good looks and distinct voice add so much to the roles he chooses. I just finished watching his star turn on The Last Hit Man DVD and am more impressed than ever with his acting range.

With over 100 movies and TV shows to his credit, Mantegna has become one of those actors whose face may be more recognizable than his name. His most recent television appearances include The Starter Wife, for which he received an Emmy nomination, and Criminal Minds, in which he plays the intriguing David Rossi. Mantegna's new film, Elvis & Anabelle, has been selected for screening at this year’s upcoming Sonoma Valley Film Festival. In this gothic love story set in West Texas, Mantegna portrays a brain-damaged mortician. If anyone can pull that off, it’s this versatile actor!

Other Emmy nominations earned by Mantegna are his supporting work in The Rat Pack (playing Dean Martin) and in The Last Don. International acclaim for Mantegna came in 1988 when he was named Best Actor of the Year for Things Change at the Venice Film Festival and in 1992 when he earned the London Critics Circle Actor of the Year Award for Homicide. Mantegna also won a Tony Award for Glengarry Glen Ross in 1984. Some of my favorite Mantegna films are Searching for Bobby Fischer, House of Games, Above Suspicion, Stateside, Bugsy (he played George Raft), Up Close and Personal and The Godfather 3. 

I’m pleased to report that Mantegna has agreed to talk about Elvis & Anabelle on our next “Movie Addict Headquarters” show. On Tuesday, March 11, he will join me and producer Nikki Starr at 4 p.m. Eastern Time for a lively discussion of that film. Of course, we also plan to ask Mantegna about other highlights of his remarkable career.

Listen to Joe Mantegna’s interview by clicking on this BlogTalkRadio link at our scheduled show time. If you miss the live show, remember an archived segment will be available after the broadcast.  

(Photo:  Joe Mantegna)