Tony-Winning Director Joe Mantello Stars in Hollywood: 7 Facts About His Net Worth & Relationship with Jon Robin Baitz

American actor Joseph Mantello is well-known for his work in numerous stage production as Wicked, Take Me Out, Assassins, and Love! Valour! Compassion!

Mantello has been a recipient of various awards in his three-decade-long career. Besides his involvement in stage works, Mantello is also a director and has appeared in films and television shows, most recently being Netflix's Hollywood. Here are seven fun facts to know about Mantello. 

7. He is of Italian Descent

Mantello's father, Richard Mantello, is of Italian ancestry. He worked as an accountant. Meanwhile, Mantello's mother, Judy Mantello, is of half Italian descent. The couple has three sons, with Joe being the eldest. 

6. He is Not Active on Social Media

Joe Mantello doesn't have an official Instagram and Twitter account. Mantello was raised Catholic in Rockford, Illinois, and attended Roman Catholic schools. 

He started Edge Theater in New York City with playwright Peter Hedges, and Emmy awarded actress Mary-Louise Parker. Mantello is also a member of Naked Angels and an associate artist at the Roundabout Theatre Company.

5. Was Inducted in the Theater Hall of Fame

In 2018, Joe Mantello became the Theater Hall of Fame inductee along with seven other longtime contributors to the New York theater. The list included Cicely Tyson, David Henry Hwang, Christine Baranski, Rene Auberjonois, Maria Irene Fornes, Adrienne Kennedy, and James Houghton, along with Mantello.

He was honored at The 48th Annual Theater Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which took place at the Gershwin Theatre. The Hall of Fame induction is given to the theatre professionals who have had a career in the American theater for more than 25 years. 

4. He has Received Broadway's Tony Award Twice

The 57 years old actor has been awarded the prestigious Tony Award twice in succession. In 2003. Mantello won the Tony Award as Best Director for the play, Take Me Out. 

Following year, he won yet another Tony as Best Director for the revival of the musical, Assassins.

Moreover, Mantello was nominated for Tony in 1995 as Best Director for the play, Love! Valour! Compassion! He also received a nomination for the musical, Wicked, at Jeff Award for Director of a Musical. 

3. Matello Was in a Relationship With Jon Robin Baitz

Mantello was in a live-in relationship with playwright, screenwriter, and television producer Jon Robin Baitz for more than a decade. They first came to know each other in 1989, when Baitz saw the play, Imagining Brad, directed by Mantello, according to NY Times. Baitz and Mantello separated in 2002. 

Nevertheless, the ex-couple have remained a good friend throughout and are among the co-founding member of the Naked Angels theater company.

In his first year in college, Mantello was in a relationship with a man named Kevin. With the NY Times, he stated, 

"I went to an art school in North Carolina. And in my first week there, I went from being heterosexual to ‘Maybe I’m bisexual’ and by Sunday, I was gay. I didn’t really know any gay people from my hometown. But then I walked onto that campus and there were all these beautiful young men and I thought, ‘Oh my, wow.’” 

His parents, on the other hand, weren't forthcoming about the LGBTQ community at the time. Nevertheless, 'they ultimately had no issues with it.'

2. Net Worth of Joseph Mantello

Mantello's net worth is estimated to be around $1 million. He has mostly worked on Broadway productions, both as a stage actor and director. 

Mantello's movie credits include the 1989 comedy film Cookie, Sisters, and The Normal Heart. For The Normal Heart, he received a nomination at Emmy and Critics Choice award for outstanding supporting actor. The 57 years old actor has also appeared on television shows like Law & Order and Hollywood. His work as a stage and big-screen actor can be credited to his net worth of $1 million. 

1. He is part of the Ensemble Cast of Hollywood

Joe Mantello plays as Richard "Dick" Samuels in the drama web television miniseries Hollywood. Dick is introduced in the show as a studio executive at ACE Pictures. 

Mantello also had appeared in Murphy's  2014 drama film The Normal Heart. Moreover, Murphy is one of the producers of the upcoming Netflix film The Boys in the Band, which is being directed by Mantello. 

Besides Mantello, Hollywood's ensemble cast includes David Corenswet, Darren Criss, Laura Harrier, Dylan McDermott, Jake Picking, Jeremy Pope, Holland Taylor, Samara Weaving, Jim Parsons, and Patti LuPone.