Criminal Minds’ Star Joe Mantegna’s Career Helped Him To Care For His Daughter With Autism

Mar 25, 2022 by apost team

Joe Mantegna is an actor best known for his roles in the TV series "Criminal Minds" and the film "The Godfather Part III." He has been working as an actor since the late 1960s and also has great talents as a producer and director. On top of that, Mantegna is also a devoted husband and father of two.

Mantegna was born on Nov. 13, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois. He comes from an Italian-American family and takes pride in his family's history. He went on to attend the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago, now known as DePaul University and graduated in 1969. The aspiring star first found a small bout of success in the music industry and is even friends with the original members of the band Chicago. 

Mantegna later on worked as a photographer in the film industry before finally showing off his acting skills. He has starred in theater productions, films and television shows, with one of his most famous roles being as FBI Supervisory Special Agent David Rossi in "Criminal Minds." Although Mantegna was not part of the show's original line-up, he quickly became a fan favorite with his charming and honest personality both behind the scenes and in front of the camera and was a main character from 2007 to 2020.

More importantly, Mantegna is an amazing father and has dedicated much of his life to his two daughters, especially to his daughter Mia, who has autism. Mantegna has worked at raising awareness about autism and sharing his daughter's inspiring story.

Mantegna has been a successful actor since the late 1960s. His career started off with a bang, as he won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his part in the Chicago production of "Hair." He continued to find great success in the world of theater before eventually shifting his career direction toward film and television.

While Mantegna has shown off his skills as a director and producer from time to time, many people recognize him for his work in front of the camera as a leading man in many films and TV shows. Some of his biggest box office hits include "Three Amigos," "The Godfather Part III" and "Up Close and Personal."

The actor further skyrocketed to fame and truly cemented himself as a household name when he took on the role of David Rossi in the TV series "Criminal Minds." The show has been a fan favorite among the police procedural crime dramas for several years, airing from 2005 to 2020, with a revival in the works.

In his personal life, Mantegna has proven to be a stand-up man. He has been married to his wife Arlene Wrhel since October 1975. The couple has two daughters together named Mia and Gia. Gia is an actress, best known for her role as Devin Levin on the sitcom "The Middle." She has also acted alongside her father in "Uncle Nino." Mantegna's oldest daughter Mia was born in 1987 and has autism – something that the actor has worked to spread awareness about during much of his career.

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Speaking with Ability Magazine, Mantegna talked about how Mia is high functioning and aware of her condition and how show business has also played a helpful role in her development. "Show business is such a public profession, and there are not many shrinking violets," he explained. "So you're talking about people with a lot of personality and energy and putting that energy out there. It's probably a positive thing for my daughter Mia because it's a dynamic environment where there's a lot of stimulus and interaction."

Mantegna has always been sure to put his family first and even told producers that if he needed to fly to another country for work, then his entire family would be coming with him. He has also used his platform to help others with autism. According to Ability Magazine, Mantegna hosted Autism Care and Treatment Today's Annual Charity Golf Classic Tournament to help raise funds for military children with autism.

The actor explained how he's aware that he and his family have the means to make sure Mia gets the best education and resources possible. "I've been lucky in many respects," Mantegna said. He added, "I think in some ways you're strengthened by these kinds of challenges in life. If you can't totally overcome them, just make the best of the situation."

Mia has gone on to find work in both creative and financial fields. According to Ability Magazine, she has worked as a bookkeeper at her family's restaurant, Taste of Chicago, prior to its closing in 2019. She also has experience working as a makeup artist for the production company Inclusion Films, which offers workshops for adults with developmental disabilities.

What do you think about Joe Mantegna's work as an actor and as a father? Let us know, and be sure to send this to your loved ones, too.