1963-1966 Served in US Army as specialist fourth class.
2001 Directed the stage play "Heaven Can Wait", performed at the Westport Country Playhouse.
A graduate of the Yale School of Drama
In addition to his acting credits, Grifasi frequently appears in television commercials.
Joe Grifasi has played two different New York Yankees ballplayers: Phil Rizzuto in "61*" and Yogi Berra in "The Bronx Is Burning". Ironically, on both occasions, he did not portray them during their playing careers. In "61*", he plays Rizzuto when he was the TV "color man" for the Yankee games. In "The Bronx Is Burning", he plays Berra when he was the bench coach for the Yankees.
Works in off-Broadway plays.