Joseph Pilato

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Joseph Pilato
Pilato in 2008
Born
Josef Francis Anthony Pilato Jr.

(1949-03-16)March 16, 1949
DiedMarch 24, 2019(2019-03-24) (aged 70)
Other names
  • Joe Palato
  • Josef Piato
  • Joe Pilato
  • Josef Pilato
  • Joseph F. Pilato
  • Joe Pilot
  • Joseph Rhodes
  • Joey Pal
OccupationActor
Years active1978–2019

Joseph Pilato (March 16, 1949 – March 24, 2019) was an American film and voice actor. He was perhaps best known for his performance as Captain Rhodes in the 1985 film Day of the Dead.

Early life[edit]

He was born in Fitchburg in 1949 to an Italian-American family. His father was a professional trombonist with the Les Brown Orchestra. Joseph was enrolled into Catholic school and became an altar boy, where his talent for acting was developed.[1]

Career[edit]

Day of the Dead and success[edit]

In 1984, six years after the release of Dawn of the Dead, director George A. Romero was planning a new zombie film called Day of the Dead. Pilato had appeared as a cameo in Dawn of the Dead as a police officer, which had been his first feature film role. Pilato was selected to play United States Army Captain Rhodes. His best known for this performance, and the film, along with its predecessors, have become classics.[2]

Later career and other projects[edit]

Pilato later voiced Vexor in Big Bad Beetleborgs under the alias of "Joey Pal"[3] and worked in the English dub of Digimon Adventure and Digimon Adventure 02 voicing MetalGreymon.[4] He would later land minor roles in such films as Wishmaster, Pulp Fiction, Digimon: The Movie, and Night of the Living Dead: Origins 3D.[5]

Death[edit]

Joe Pilato died in his sleep on March 24, 2019, eight days after his 70th birthday.[6]

Personal life[edit]

Joe Pilato had one daughter, Gianna Pilato, who was born in 1994.

Filmography[edit]

Television and film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1978 Dawn of the Dead Officer At Police Dock
1980 Effects Dominic
1981 Knightriders Disgruntled Fair Worker
1985 Day of the Dead Captain Henry Rhodes
1986 Gung Ho Union Member
1989 Shooters Sergeant Plato
1990 Alienator Tech #2
Empire of the Dark Guy Zupan
1993 The Evil Inside Me Fulvio
1994 Pulp Fiction Dean Martin Impersonator Credited as "Josef Pilato"
Married People, Single Sex Artie
Witch Hunt Uncredited role
1995 The Demolitionist "Boxer" Credited as "Josef Pilato"
1996 Visions NSA Agent
Neon Signs Boto
Big Bad Beetleborgs Vexor (voice) Credited as "Joey Pal"
1997 Wishmaster Mickey Torreli
1998 Music from Another Room Carlo
1999 The Last Seduction II Marvin Dishman
Digimon Adventure MetalGreymon (voice: English dub) Recurring role
2000 Digimon: The Movie MetalGreymon (voice: English dub)
Digimon Adventure 02 MetalGreymon (voice: English dub) Recurring role
2003 The Ghouls Uncredited role
2009 Someone's Knocking at the Door Dr. Ottie
2010 Underground Entertainment: The Movie Himself
2014 9am Bernie Short
2014 Shhhh "Red" Harling
2015 Night of the Living Dead: Origins 3D Harry Cooper (voice)
2016 Ilhailed
2016 Parasites Wilde
2016 The Chair Security Guard
2018 Attack in LA Wilde Final film role

Video games[edit]

Year Title Role
1995 WarHawk: The Red Mercury Missions Kreel
1996 Angel Devoid: Face of the Enemy Dr. Garnett / Mayor Waterford
1997 Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Emdervoss / Klingon Spokesman
2002 Might and Magic IX Additional voices
2003 Lords of EverQuest Additional voices

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Joseph Pilato Biography". Imdb. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  2. ^ Collis, Clark. "Day of the Dead actor Joseph Pilato dies at 70". Entertainment. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Joseph Pilato Biography". Imdb. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Joseph Pilato Biography". Imdb. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  5. ^ "A Friendly Fucking Chat With Horror Icon Joseph Pilato". 21 May 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  6. ^ R.I.P. ‘Day of the Dead’ Scene-Stealer Joseph Pilato Has Died at 70 Bloody Disgusting, March 25, 2019

External links[edit]