MovieChat Forums > The Sopranos (1999) Discussion > Did playing Ralphie hurt Joe Pantoliano’...

Did playing Ralphie hurt Joe Pantoliano’s career?

posted 5 years ago by NRC123 (2100)
9 replies | jump to latest

He had a strong film career going as a character actor in the 90s. It seems to have gradually dried up post Sopranos. Is there a correlation?

[–] GotWood84 (384) 5 years ago

None

[–] TexasJack (12515) 5 years ago

I doubt it. It was a good role and he did a good job with it.

[–] Mikeman77 (835) 5 years ago

He won an Emmy so defintely not.

[–] NRC123 (2100) 5 years ago

He was in quality films throughout the 80s and 90s (Risky Business, The Goonies, Empire of the Sun, Midnight Run, The Fugitive, Bound, The Matrix, Memento, etc.). Since his stint on the Sopranos ended in 2002, he hasn’t had a memorable role. Did the ugliness of Ralphie’s character make people hesitant to cast him?

[–] Burk48917 (11117) 5 years ago

Most B actors only have a 5-8 year career peak. They either make it or they don't, and that means they usually end up in a tv series if their lucky.

[–] Kowalski (64078) 5 years ago

NOTICE THE BIG SCREEN ROLES HE HAS DIRECTLY BEFORE,DURING AND AFTER SOPRANOS...READY TO RUMBLE,CATS AND DOGS,ADVENTURES OF PLUTO NASH,DAREDEVIL,BAD BOYS 2,RACING STRIPES,THE LARRY THE CABLE GUY MOVIE...JOEY PANTS WAS ALREADY WANDERING INTO THE INVISIBLE TURD ERA OF HIS CAREER.SOPRANOS WAS A LAST GASP.

[–] Rocky15 (505) 5 years ago

Christopher Nolan has offered him a couple of roles after The Sopranos.

He turned down Batman Begins because he wanted the role Gary Oldman ended up playing instead of the one he was offered, he also turned down the Tom Berenger part in Inception.

[–] Stratego (29560) 5 years ago

Isn't it more likely that Pantoliano took on a tv role because his movie career wasn't really going anywhere?

[–] PaladinNJ (20747) 5 years ago

He's averaging about 5 or 6 movies a year. I would hardly say that's dried up.