Joseph Pilato was an American actor who is best known for his roles in Day of the Dead, Dawn of the Dead, and Pulp Fiction.
Personal and Family Life
Joseph Pilato was born Josef Francis Anthony Pilato Jr. on March 16, 1949, in Boston, Massachusetts. He grew up in a hardworking Italian family, and his father was a professional trombonist. Initially, his performance skills were discovered when he worked as an altar boy, leading him to pursue acting during his college years. Pilato attended Emerson College and Suffolk University, where he took acting classes and began his theater career, joining various theater troupes in Boston.
Career
Pilato’s acting career took off when he moved to New York City, where he became a member of the Working Theatre and collaborated with the Polish Laboratory Theatre. He later relocated to Pittsburgh, where he became a resident actor with the Pittsburgh Public Theatre. His breakout role came in George A. Romero’s Day of the Dead, where his portrayal of Captain Rhodes made him a cult favorite. Over the years, he appeared in many films and was recognized for his distinctive contributions to cinema.
Death and Legacy
Joseph Pilato passed away on March 24, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. His legacy lives on through his memorable performances, particularly as Captain Rhodes, which continues to resonate with fans. Pilato was a familiar face at conventions, where he joyfully interacted with fans and shared stories about his experiences in film and theater.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Pulp Fiction | 1994-09-10 | Dean Martin |
| Dawn of the Dead | 1978-09-02 | Officer at Police Dock |
| Wishmaster | 1997-09-19 | Mickey Torelli |
| Empire of the Dark | 1990-01-01 | Guy Zupan |
| Day of the Dead | 1985-07-03 | Captain Rhodes |
| Effects | 1979-04-01 | Dominic |
| The Last Seduction II | 1999-06-08 | Marvin Dishman |
| The Many Days of Day of the Dead | 2003-08-19 | Himself |
| The World’s End: The Legacy of ‘Day of the Dead’ | 2013-09-17 | Self |
| The Shooters | 1989-01-01 | Sgt. Plato |
| Alienator | 1990-02-08 | Tech #2 |
| The Chair | 2016-04-22 | Security Guard |
| Night of the Living Dead: Darkest Dawn | 2015-10-05 | Harry Cooper |
| Knightriders | 1981-04-10 | Disgruntled Fair Worker |
| The Demolitionist | 1995-03-09 | Boxer |
| Married People, Single Sex | 1994-01-01 | Artie |
| The Ghouls | 2003-11-06 | Lewis |
| Parasites | 2016-07-30 | Wilde |
| Someone’s Knocking at the Door | 2009-08-21 | Dr. Ottie |
| Gung Ho | 1986-03-14 | Union Member |
| Neon Signs | 1996-01-01 | Boto |
| デジモンアドベンチャー | 2000-03-04 | MetalGreymon (voice) |
| Bloodbath | 1999-01-01 | Chief McBain |
| Music from Another Room | 1998-04-24 | Carlo |
| Shhhh | 2014-10-02 | Red Harling |
| Snake Skin Jacket | 1997-01-01 | Gazzari |
| Cause of Death | 1991-01-01 | Harold McBain |
| Visions | 1998-01-30 | NSA Agent #1 |
| Blackout | 1996-01-01 | Security Guard #1 |
| Underground Entertainment: The Movie | 2011-06-06 | Rainbow Joe |
| Attack in LA | 2018-09-01 | Wilde |
| Terminal Force | 1989-08-01 | Detective |
| The Evil Inside Me | 1993-01-01 | Fulvio |
| This Way Out of Brooklyn | 2002-01-01 | Tony |
| Portrait in Red | 1995-01-01 | |
| After Effects: Memories of Pittsburgh Filmmaking | 2005-10-25 | Self |
| Sinema | 2014-07-26 | Captain Rhodes |
| The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. | 1993-08-27 | Big Ed |
| Spenser: For Hire | 1985-09-20 |