Joe Mantegna Celebrates 46-Year Friendship With Patti LuPone On National Patti LuPone Day
The veteran actor reminisces about their 1978 musical collaboration that sparked a lifelong bond
Poulami is an associate editor. She did her MA in English from Miranda House, University of Delhi and has qualified UGC-NET. She also holds a PG diploma in Editing and Publishing from Jadavpur University. Her journey as a content writer began in 2017 and since then, Poulami has garnered diverse interests along the way.
Read full bio of Poulami Nag
Image: Instagram
Veteran actor Joe Mantegna took to Instagram to celebrate National Patti LuPone Day with a heartfelt tribute to his longtime friend and Broadway legend. The post featured a photo of Mantegna smiling alongside LuPone and her husband Matt Johnston, capturing their enduring friendship that has spanned over four decades.
In his caption, Mantegna revealed the origins of their close bond: “Yesterday was National Patti LuPone Day! 🎂 We first met doing a little musical called ‘Working’ back in 1978, and we’ve been dear friends ever since.”
From Musical Collaborators To Lifelong Friends
The friendship between these two acclaimed performers began 46 years ago during their collaboration on the Broadway musical “Working,” which opened at the 46th Street Theatre in May 1978. Based on Studs Terkel’s book of interviews with American workers, the production featured music by several composers, including James Taylor.
Mantegna highlighted Taylor’s contribution to the production, noting: “James Taylor even lent his magic to my songs on the show, which you can still find on Spotify.” He included a reference to a link in his bio where fans could presumably access these musical numbers.
The actor concluded his post by expressing gratitude “for the gift of long friendships with treasures like Patti and her wonderful Matt,” accompanied by a wine glass emoji, suggesting the celebratory nature of their enduring connection.
Decades Of Parallel Success
Since their initial collaboration in 1978, both Mantegna and LuPone have enjoyed illustrious careers across stage and screen. According to Mantegna’s Wikipedia page, after gaining recognition for his role in David Mamet’s play “Glengarry Glen Ross” (winning a Tony Award in 1984), he established himself as a versatile actor in film and television.
Mantegna is perhaps best known to television audiences for his long-running role as FBI Supervisory Special Agent David Rossi on the hit series “Criminal Minds” and its revival “Criminal Minds: Evolution.” His film credits include roles in “The Godfather Part III,” “Searching for Bobby Fischer,” and “Airheads.”
Meanwhile, Patti LuPone has cemented her legacy as one of Broadway’s most powerful performers, winning Tony Awards for her roles in “Evita,” “Gypsy,” and “Company.” She has also maintained a successful screen career with appearances in shows like “American Horror Story,” “Penny Dreadful,” and “Bookie.”
Criminal Minds Return On The Horizon
While celebrating this personal milestone with LuPone, Mantegna is also preparing for his return to television. Just days before his tribute post, he shared promotional materials for the upcoming season of “Criminal Minds: Evolution,” which premieres May 8 on Paramount+.
In one recent post, he reminded fans: “Happy Friday. Oh, and in case you forgot, #CriminalMindsEvolution is almost back,” while another promotional post declared: “These roots run deep. A new season of #CriminalMindsEvolution premieres May 8 on @paramountplus.”
The actor has portrayed FBI profiler David Rossi since 2007 when he joined the original “Criminal Minds” series in its third season, replacing departing star Mandy Patinkin. The show concluded its initial 15-season run in 2020 before being revived as “Criminal Minds: Evolution” in 2022.
Diverse Creative Pursuits
Beyond his acting work, Mantegna has been sharing various other creative endeavors with his social media followers. Recently, he posted a cocktail recipe video for a “Juan One Tequila Cocktail,” showcasing his mixology skills with a detailed recipe featuring Señor Rio Reposado Tequila.
He also shared a poignant tribute to radio personality Jed the Fish (real name Jed Gould) of KROQ, who recently passed away. Mantegna revealed that his character’s name in the 1994 film “Airheads,” where he played a disc jockey named Ian the Shark, was inspired by the radio personality: “I chose the name because my technical advisor on the film was Jed the Fish from KROQ radio. It was my homage to one of the best.”
Mantegna’s celebration of his friendship with Patti LuPone reflects his appreciation for the relationships formed throughout his extensive career in entertainment, which continues to flourish as he balances new projects with honoring these longstanding connections.
Trivia
Read full bio of Poulami Nag
