Chicago Actor Joe Mantegna Honored with a Star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame

Big congrats to my good buddy, and Chicago native, Joe Mantegna who will be forever immortalized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this Friday April 29th!  I’ve not only had the pleasure of interviewing Joe about his deep love for Chicago in this Olympic video above, but through dinner with him & his wife, visits to his set, time with his fam, phone calls, tweets (haha)… I have not only come to understand that he is an outstanding actor, producer, and writer… But I have found him to be one of the most interesting, honorable, sweet, smart, passionate, cool… human beings I’ve ever met.. And I mean that.

Newer fans may know Joe Mantegna from starring in the hit TV show Criminal Minds, but Joe has had roles in over 100 films and tv shows in his 40 years of show business, notably Godfather III, The Rat Pack, the voice of Fat Tony in the Simpsons, Three Amigos, Up Close & Personal, and Forget Paris.  Mantegna received Emmy Award nominations in The Last Don, The Rat Pack, and The Starter Wife.

My fav stories are when Joe tells me about his theater background.  He made his Broadway debut in Stephen Schwartz’s Working.  He was awarded a Tony and Joseph Jefferson for his performance as a cynical real-estate agent in David Mamet’s (who will be doing Joe’s induction during the ceremony) play Glengarry Glen Ross.  He went on to star in many more productions including A Life in the Theater, The Disappearance of the Jews, and Speed the Plow.  Mantegna also co-wrote the Emmy Award Winning Bleacher Bums, which was inspired from his countless days spent at Wrigley Field watching the Cubs play which was then turned into a made-for-TV- movie in 2002. Joe , you are truly a Chicago Thing… And we appreciate you!!!!!!!!!