Many people have wondered if Joe D’Onofrio, the actor who played young Tommy DeVito in Goodfellas (1990), is related to Vincent D’Onofrio, the actor who played Private Pyle in Full Metal Jacket (1987) and Wilson Fisk in Daredevil (2015). The two actors share the same last name and have similar facial features, but are they really family?
Who is Vincent D’Onofrio?
Vincent Philip D’Onofrio is a well-known American actor, producer and director. He was born on June 30, 1959, in Brooklyn, New York, to Gennaro and Phyllis D’Onofrio, who were both of Italian descent. He has two older sisters, Antoinette and Elizabeth, who is also an actress and drama coach
Vincent started his acting career on stage and later moved to film and television. He is known for his versatile and intense performances, often playing complex and unconventional characters. He has been nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and a Saturn Award for his work. Some of his most notable roles include:
- Private Leonard “Gomer Pyle” Lawrence in Full Metal Jacket (1987), a mentally unstable marine recruit who undergoes a brutal training by a sadistic drill sergeant.
- Edgar the Bug in Men in Black (1997) and Men in Black: The Series (1997-2001), a giant alien insect who disguises himself as a human farmer and tries to steal a powerful device from Earth.
- Carl Stargher in The Cell (2000), a serial killer who traps his victims in a device that slowly drowns them while he watches their dreams through a machine.
- Detective Robert Goren in Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001-2011), an eccentric and brilliant investigator who uses his intuition and psychological insight to solve crimes.
- Victor “Vic” Hoskins in Jurassic World (2015), a security expert who wants to use the genetically engineered dinosaurs as weapons for military purposes.
- Wilson Fisk / Kingpin in Daredevil (2015-2018), Jessica Jones (2015), Luke Cage (2016) and The Defenders (2017), a powerful and ruthless crime lord who controls most of the criminal activities in New York City.
Vincent has also directed and produced several films, such as The Whole Wide World (1996), Steal This Movie! (2000) and Don’t Go in the Woods (2010). He is also a singer and has released two songs, “I’m a Hamster” and “Slim Bone Head Volt”.
Vincent was married to actress Greta Scacchi from 1989 to 1993, with whom he has a daughter, Leila George D’Onofrio, who is also an actress. He later married Carin van der Donk, a Dutch model, in 1997, but they divorced in 2023. They have two sons, Elias Gene D’Onofrio and Luka D’Onofrio
Who is Joe D’Onofrio?
Joseph R. D’Onofrio is an American actor and comedian. He was born on September 4, 1971, in Brooklyn, New York. He started his acting career as a child, appearing in commercials and films. He is best known for his roles as:
- Young Tommy DeVito in Goodfellas (1990), the younger version of the violent and impulsive gangster played by Joe Pesci.
- Slick in A Bronx Tale (1993), one of the friends of Calogero Anello, the main character played by Lillo Brancato Jr.
- Nicky Zero in Blue Moon (2000), a loyal but dim-witted friend of Frank Sinatra Jr., played by Zachary Throne.
- Joey Clams in The Deli (1997), one of the employees of a struggling deli owned by Johnny Amico, played by Mike Starr.
Joe has also appeared in many other films and TV shows, such as Jungle Fever (1991), Malcolm X (1992), Law & Order (1994), Analyze That (2002), Are We There Yet? (2005), The Sopranos (2006) and Jersey Shore Shark Attack (2012). He is also a stand-up comedian and has performed at various venues across the country.
Are They Related?
The short answer is no. Vincent D’Onofrio and Joe D’Onofrio are not related by blood or marriage. They just happen to share the same last name, which is a common Italian surname derived from the Latin name Donatus, meaning “given” or “gifted”.
However, the two actors have met each other and are friends. They have also worked together in a few projects, such as The Whole Wide World (1996), which was directed by Vincent and featured Joe in a small role, and The Deli (1997), which starred both of them. They have also expressed their admiration and respect for each other’s work on social media.
So, while they are not family, they are certainly friendly. And they are both talented and successful actors who have made their mark in the entertainment industry.
