From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia Joseph G Joe Grifasi born June 14 1944 is an American character actor of film stage and television Grifasi was born in Buffalo New York the son of Patricia née Gaglione and Joseph J Grifasi a skilled laborer Grifasi graduated from Bishop Fallon High School a now defunct Catholic high school in Buffalo He played football and acted in many of the schools plays Grifasi briefly attended Canisius College in Buffalo before joining the United States Army He went on to study at the Yale School of Drama While at the Yale School of Drama he met his future wife the jazz soprano saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom Grifasi has played two separate members of the Baseball Hall of Fame who played for the New York Yankees In 61 set in 1961 he played Phil Rizzuto in The Bronx Is Burning set in 1977 he played Yogi Berra Paul Borghese played Berra in 61 while actual 1977 broadcast recordings of Rizzuto were used in The Bronx Is Burning
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