Joe Mantegna Way Dedication Ceremony

On Wednesday, May 3, 2017, Alderman Michele Smith and the City of Chicago dedicated an honorary sign to the actor and Chicago native, Joe Mantegna.  

Joe Mantegna Way sign dedication ceremony, May 3, 2017. Photo: Linda Zabors/Honorary Chicago

Joe Mantegna unveiled his honorary sign on the corner of Armitage and Hudson while accompanied by his wife and one of his daughters.

 

Currently, Joe stars on the television series "Criminal Minds."  A die-hard Cubs fan, he managed to place a "W," Chicago Cubs Win flag, in the final shot of an episode.  

Cubs Win Flag
By JayCoop - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

While a cast member at the Organic Theater in Chicago he helped originate the hit "Bleacher Bums," which later succeeded as an Off-Broadway production.

Cubs tickets were the prize for the charity raffle following the dedication ceremony.  Proceeds from the raffle and drinks at River Shannon supported Joe's charity of choice, Easter Seals.

Eli's Cheesecake - Honorary Joe Mantegna Way

His acting career started in Chicago while he was attending the Goodman School of Drama (now the DePaul University Theater School) and living an apartment above the bar the River Shannon.  His career breakthrough was starring in the original cast of David Mamet's play, "Glengarry Glen Ross," for which he Joe won a Tony Award and Mamet won a Pulitzer Prize.

He married Arlene Vrhel, his co-star in the musical "Hair."  Joe and Arlene live in Los Angeles and have two daughters. Joe Mantegna was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in April 2011.

Joe and his family opened a restaurant in 2003 in the Los Angeles area called "Taste Chicago" which serves Chicago style pizza, hotdogs, and Italian beef sandwiches.

Chicago Tribune Article by Rick Kogan  
Joe Mantegna — life has been lucky for him, and us by association