Michael Badalucco

Michael Badalucco Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: December 20, 1954

Age: 69 years old

Birth Place: Brooklyn, New York

After graduating from the State University of New York at New Paltz (where he met and acted with John Turturro), former altar boy Michael Badalucco joined Local 52, his father's union, and began working in the movies as a prop man. His first big break came when Robert De Niro saw him (and Turturro) in an off-Broadway production of a Sam Shepard play, leading to a small speaking role in "Raging Bull" (1980). His acting career was slow to take off, however, and over the next decade and a half he continued to work behind-the-scenes, often doing double duty by playing bit roles for directors like John Badham and Nora Ephron.

Dark-haired and slightly pudgy, Badalucco had the perfect "look" for the character bits as policemen, drivers, food workers and other assorted blue collar personnel in which he was cast. College buddy Turturro, however, came to the rescue by casting him as the garrulous middle brother in an Italian family of construction workers in Turturro's directorial debut, "Mac" (1992). Badalucco shone in the role, particularly in a humorous monologue about the importance of a man's charisma and size in his appeal to women. He brought the same gifts to the thankless role as the oldest virgin in his neighborhood in the uneven comedy "The Search for One-Eyed Jimmy" (lensed in 1993; released in 1996). While playing yet another cop in "One Fine Day" (also 1996), Badalucco caught the attention of star Michelle Pfeiffer who in turn recommended him to her husband, writer-producer David E Kelley. Badalucco had auditioned for a small role in "The Practice" (ABC, 1997-2004), one of Kelley's proposed legal dramas. But after Pfeiffer's intervention, Kelley tailored the part of Jimmy Berluti to the actor's unique gifts. Introduced as a slightly shifty, scrappy lawyer with questionable morals and little courtroom experience, the character has gradually shifted to one of the moral centers of the staff in part because of Badalucco's natural charm. He went on to portray the notorious 'Son of Sam' killer David Berkowitz in Spike Lee's "Summer of Sam" (1999) and offered a fine cameo as George ("don't call me Baby Face") Nelson in the Coen brothers' "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" (2000). The following year, he reteamed with the Coens to play a barber in the noirish drama "The Man Who Wasn't There."

Credits

Eagle and the Albatross

Actor
Merle
Movie
2020

The Jesus Rolls

Actor
Security Officer Barley
Movie
2019

I Wrote This for You

Actor
Man on the Phone
Movie
2018

DoubtStream

Guest Star
Judge Jeff Mallard
Series
2017
55%

Heart, Baby!

Actor
Sgt. Colby
Movie
2017

Dancer and the Dame

Actor
Harrier
Movie
2015

Zarra's Law

Actor
Arthur Pascano
Movie
2014

Heebie Jeebies

Actor
Billy Butler
Movie
2013

The Confession

Actor
Arty
Show
2011

CHAOS

Guest Star
Show
2011

The Confession

Actor
Movie
2011

Blue BloodsStream

Guest Star
Ronnie Russo
Series
2010

Finding Hope Now

Actor
Roger Minassian
Movie
2010

Nowhere to Hide

Actor
Paulo Farina
Movie
2009

In My Sleep

Actor
Derek
Movie
2009

In Plain SightStream

Guest Star
Benny Cusato
Series
2008

Private PracticeStream

Guest Star
Nick
Series
2007

Christmas Story

Voice
Emil
Movie
2007

Justice

Guest Star
Series
2006
63%

BonesStream

Guest Star
Scott Starret
Series
2005
90%

Pizza My Heart

Actor
Lou Prestolani
Movie
2005

Gourmet Club

Actor
Chef Orsino Mangiacavallo
Movie
2004

2B Perfectly Honest

Actor
Eugene
Movie
2004

Cold CaseStream

Guest Star
Series
2003

Joan of Arcadia

Guest Star
Series
2003
96%

MonkStream

Guest Star
Owen McCloskey
Series
2002
91%

13 Moons

Actor
Producer
Movie
2002

Naked Movie

Actor
Joe Head
Movie
2002

The Man Who Wasn't ThereStream

Actor
Frank
Movie
2001
81%

Heaven Touches Brooklyn in July

Narrator
Show
2000

Boston Public

Guest Star
Series
2000

Gideon's Crossing

Guest Star
Show
2000

O Brother, Where Art Thou?Stream

Actor
George "Babyface" Nelson
Movie
2000
78%

Summer of SamStream

Actor
Son of Sam
Movie
1999
50%

Lesser Prophets

Actor
Charlie
Movie
1998

The PracticeStream

Actor
Jimmy Berluti
Series
1997

Ni el Tiro del Final

Actor
Movie
1997

Y Llegó el Amor

Actor
Movie
1997

The Bitter End

Actor
Eddie Bianco
Movie
1997

The Deli

Actor
Eric The Soda Man
Movie
1997

Two if by Sea

Actor
Quinn
Movie
1996

Men Lie

Actor
Movie
1994

Léon: The ProfessionalStream

Actor
Mathilda's Father
Movie
1994
74%

Mac

Actor
Vico Vitelli
Movie
1992

Law & OrderStream

Guest Star
Series
1990

The Young and the RestlessStream

Guest Star
Series
1973