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United States Joe Mantello is an acclaimed American actor, director, and producer, recognized for his significant contributions to both Broadway and television, garnering multiple Tony and Drama Desk Awards.
Joe Mantello gifted $1 million to the School of Drama at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where he is an alumnus.
Mantello has a creative partnership with television and film producer and director Ryan Murphy, collaborating on projects including 'The Normal Heart' (film adaptation), 'The Boys in the Band' (Broadway and film), 'Hollywood', 'The Watcher', 'American Horror Story: NYC', and 'Feud: Capote vs. The Swans'.
Mantello was given the opportunity to audition for the Circle Rep LAB, the developmental extension of the then-defunct Circle Repertory Company. Once he had a home with the LAB, it greatly changed his career.
Mantello co-founded The Edge Theater with fellow alumni, which went on to produce several of Peter Hedges’ plays.
Born Joseph Mantello on December 27, 1962, in Rockford, Illinois, Mantello’s early life saw him develop an interest in theater, despite societal expectations. His parents are Judy and Richard Mantello; his mother is of half-Italian descent, and his father, an accountant, is of Italian descent. He pursued formal training at the North Carolina School of the Arts, graduating in 1984, before moving to New York City to launch his career. Initially, he delved into acting, appearing in plays such as “Walking the Dead” and “The Baltimore Waltz.” A significant early acting role was that of Louis in Tony Kushner’s “Angels in America” in 1993, which earned him Tony and Drama Desk award nominations.
Mantello transitioned from acting to directing, a move that would define much of his career. He quickly gained recognition for his directorial work, securing a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play in 2003 for Richard Greenberg’s “Take Me Out.” The following year, he received another Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for Stephen Sondheim’s “Assassins.” His diverse directing portfolio includes the musical “Wicked,” which premiered in 2003 and remains one of Broadway’s longest-running shows, as well as the critically acclaimed play “The Boys in the Band,” which he later directed for a 2020 film adaptation. His work spans various genres and mediums, from intimate two-handers to large-scale musical productions and television series.
Throughout his career, Mantello has demonstrated a commitment to both established and new works. He has returned to acting occasionally, with notable roles in Broadway revivals like “The Normal Heart” (as Ned in 2011) and “The Glass Menagerie” (as Tom in 2017). His television acting credits include “The Normal Heart” (2014) and “Hollywood” (2020), both directed by his frequent collaborator Ryan Murphy. In 2018, Mantello was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame, a testament to his enduring impact on the performing arts. He continues to engage in diverse projects, including recent roles in “American Horror Story: NYC” (2022) and “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans” (2024), maintaining an active presence across various entertainment platforms.
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