Joe Gatto

Last updated

Colonel
Joe Gatto
Joe Gatto 12 7 2024 (2) (cropped).jpg
Gatto in December 2024
Born
Joseph Gatto

(1976-06-05) June 5, 1976 (age 49)
New York City, U.S.
Alma mater LIU Post (BS)
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • actor
Years active1998–present
Spouse
Bessy Gatto
​
(m. 2013)​
Children2
Joe Gatto's voice
Gatto explains Impractical Jokers during an interview in 2013.
Signature
Joe Gatto Signature.svg

Joseph Gatto (born June 5, 1976) is an American improvisational comedian, actor, and producer from the New York City borough of Staten Island. He is a former member of the Tenderloins, a comedy troupe consisting of Sal Vulcano, James Murray, and Brian Quinn. Along with the other members of the Tenderloins, he starred in the television series Impractical Jokers , which first aired in 2011, on TruTV.

Contents

Early life

Joseph Gatto [1] was born on June 5, 1976 [2] [3] in Staten Island and is of Italian descent. [4] Gatto attended Monsignor Farrell High School. [5] Along with Murray, Vulcano, and Quinn, he was a member of his high school's Improvisation Club. [6] He studied at LIU Post, where he received a degree in accounting. [7] Gatto's father died in September 1995 from pancreatic cancer.

Career

Early career

After being apart for four years, Murray, Gatto, and Vulcano reunited after graduating from college and began practicing improvisation at Gatto's house, going on to tour as an improv and sketch comedy troupe in 1998, calling themselves the Tenderloins.

The Tenderloins began producing comedy sketches together, posting them on YouTube, Myspace, and Metacafe, accumulating millions of views online. In 2007, the troupe won the $100,000 grand prize in the NBC It's Your Show competition for the sketch "Time Thugs". [8]

Impractical Jokers and other television shows

The Tenderloins performing in New Orleans in November 2017. From left to right: James Murray, Gatto, Brian Quinn, and Sal Vulcano The Tenderloins in 2017.jpg
The Tenderloins performing in New Orleans in November 2017. From left to right: James Murray, Gatto, Brian Quinn, and Sal Vulcano

Impractical Jokers premiered on December 15, 2011, on TruTV. The first season was watched by over 32 million viewers. The series quickly became the most popular program on TruTV and boosted Gatto into the public eye.

In October 2019, Gatto, along with the other members of the Tenderloins, starred in The Misery Index , which is hosted by Jameela Jamil and is based on Andy Breckman's card game "Shit Happens". [9]

In 2020, Impractical Jokers: The Movie was released on February 21.

On December 31, 2021, Gatto announced he was stepping away from Impractical Jokers and the Tenderloins on good terms to focus more on co-parenting his children, after a then-split with his wife. [10] [11] He stated: "However, due to some issues in my personal life, I have to step away. Bessy and I have decided to amicably part ways, so now I need to focus on being the best father and co-parent to our two incredible kids." [12] The couple reconciled in September 2023. [13]

In 2023, Gatto made a guest appearance at an Impractical Jokers performance in Boston, Massachusetts. [14] On August 25, 2024, the Impractical Jokers wrapped up a two-year long tour in Hanover, Maryland at Live! Casino & Hotel while Gatto made a surprise appearance towards the end of the show. [15]

The Tenderloins Podcast

Gatto in an interview in 2013 Joe Gatto 2013.png
Gatto in an interview in 2013

The Tenderloins hosted a podcast from April 2012 to 2013. It is available on their official website and on iTunes.

Two Cool Moms

Since March 1, 2022, Gatto has been co-hosting the weekly Two Cool Moms podcast, along with comedian Steve Byrne. [16] The podcast's name derives from the two describing their mothers as "strong, opinionated mothers who gave great advice". [16] The podcast focuses on the two giving advice to strangers who submit a problem they're facing. [16] [17]

Books

On August 26, 2020, Gatto published a book titled The Dogfather: My Love for Dogs, Dessert and Growing Up Italian. The book mainly focuses on stories about Gatto's dogs, him growing up in an Italian American household, and his love for Italian food. This gave him inspiration to name his past fourteen dogs after said food: Cannoli, Biscotti, Spumoni, Napoleon, Cotta, Struffoli, Tortoni, Fettuccine Alfredo, Gnocchi, Tiramisu, Burrata, Gelato, Calzone, and Nutella. [18] [19] In 2024, he released a picture book for kids titled Where's Bearry?. [20]

Stand up career

After leaving the Impractical Jokers, Gatto ventured into solo stand-up comedy, it initially served as a way for Gatto to keep performing and earning, however it quickly turned into a passion-driven endeavor. [21] On September 17, 2024 Gatto released his first comedy special Messing with people. [22]

Personal life

Gatto and his wife Bessy have two children. [23] [24] Gatto is an advocate for the "Adopt, Don't Shop" movement, encouraging people to adopt pets from shelters rather than purchase them from breeders. They have had fourteen dogs. [25] [26] The couple separated amicably in 2021, but reconciled in 2023. [13]

Gatto actively campaigns against bullying, and his content dealing with the issue includes various YouTube segments. [27]

Gatto has been a Kentucky Colonel since June 15, 2016. [28] [29]

Gatto is a teetotaler as well as a vegetarian. [30]

In 2017 Gatto received the Champion of Hope Award, by Daniel Music foundation for using his status to help promote programs and benefits for people that suffer from disabilities. [31]

Sexual assault allegation

On March 20, 2025, a woman on TikTok posted a number of allegations against Gatto, including that he sexually assaulted her when she was 19. [32] Gatto denied the allegations, saying: "I have used poor judgment and, as a result, have violated the trust of the people I love most. But anyone who knows me at all knows full well that I wouldn't assault anyone." [33] [34] Gatto cancelled the remainder of his tour on March 26, and announced he would be entering an in-patient facility. [35] [33] On May 1, 2025, a spokesperson announced that he had completed the treatment and is no longer at the treatment center. [36] On August 15, Gatto returned to social media, announcing his return in an Instagram story after five months of being offline. [37]

Filmography

Year(s)TitleRoleNotes
2011–2021 Impractical Jokers HimselfMain cast (239 episodes)
2017 12 Monkeys Officer LarryEpisode: "Causality"
2017–2021Impractical Jokers: After PartyHimselfMain cast (29 episodes)
2019–2021 The Misery Index HimselfMain cast (50 episodes)
2020–2021Impractical Jokers: Dinner PartyHimselfMain cast (18 episodes)
2020 Impractical Jokers: The Movie Himself
MacGyver LarryEpisode: "Mac + Desi + Riley + Aubrey"
Loafy HimselfVoice role, 2 episodes
2022 Clerks III Auditioner
2024Messing with PeopleHimselfTelevision special
Adam Ray Is Dr. Phil UnleashedHimselfTelevision special

Bibliography

YearTitle
2020The Dogfather: My Love for Dogs, Dessert and Growing Up Italian
2024Where's Bearry?

References

  1. ↑ "Crash Test Dummies". Impractical Jokers. Season 8. Episode 1. May 7, 2015. Event occurs at 01:03.
  2. ↑ @Joe_Gatto (June 6, 2020). "Thanks for all the birthday love yesterday friends. I appreciate all your nice words. My fans are the best. Also this one made me laugh Daniel. https://t.co/6aY3hbSuuO" (Tweet). Retrieved April 22, 2025– via Twitter.
  3. ↑ "Impractical Jokers star Joe Gatto admits 'poor judgment' but denies abuse". BBC News . March 24, 2025. Retrieved April 22, 2025. The 48-year-old US comedian...
  4. ↑ "The untold truth of Impractical Jokers". Looper. June 1, 2016.
  5. ↑ Steussy, Lauren (October 9, 2014). "'Impractical Jokers' spinoff shot at Staten Island's Monsignor Farrell High School airs tonight". silive. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Impractical Jokers' success is rooted in a deeper vulnerability". The Buffalo News. January 19, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  7. ↑ Pepe, Margaret (October 20, 2015). "Impractical Joe-kers". The Pioneer. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  8. ↑ "About". The Tenderloins. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  9. ↑ "The Misery Index". www.tbs.com. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Joe Gatto's Instagram post: "Hey, Everyone. Sorry in advance for the long and more-serious-than-usual note below, I just wanted to let you all know that I will no..."". Instagram . Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Bessy Gatto on Instagram: "Hi everyone. With love and respect, we have decided to separate. Although we will no longer be a couple, we will always be a family to our..."". Instagram . Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  12. ↑ Haring, Bruce (January 1, 2022). "'Impractical Jokers' Star Joe Gatto Announces He's Leaving Troupe After A Long Run". Deadline Hollywood .
  13. 1 2 Haward, Jenny (September 3, 2023). "Joe Gatto Reconciles with Wife Bessy Following 2022 Split: 'I'm Happy and Hopeful'". People Magazine .
  14. ↑ Crashing the Impractical Jokers Show in BOSTON . Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  15. ↑ "That's a wrap on the Impractical Jokers tour" . Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  16. 1 2 3 "Two Cool Moms on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Two Cool Moms". podnews.net. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  18. ↑ Gatto, Joseph (August 26, 2020). The Dogfather: My Love for Dogs, Dessert and Growing Up Italian. Cannoli Productions. ISBN   978-0-578-74752-1.
  19. ↑ "Meet the Pups – Gatto Pups". Gatto Pups. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Joe Gatto talks new book, 'Where's Bearry?'". Good Morning America. September 5, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  21. ↑ Cole, Morgan (October 17, 2023). "Joking Around the Nation: Behind the Scenes with Joe Gatto". Ballinger Publishing. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
  22. ↑ Fanelle, Tom (September 17, 2024), Joe Gatto: Messing with People (Comedy), Joe Gatto, retrieved August 27, 2025
  23. ↑ "'Impractical Jokers' Star Joe Gatto's Kids (and Dogs) Will Instantly Brighten Up Your Instagram Feed". Life & Style. June 4, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  24. ↑ Clarendon, Dan (December 22, 2017). "Impractical Jokers Star Joe Gatto Is Good With Stopping at Two Kids". Life & Style. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  25. ↑ "LI 'Impractical Joker' Joe Gatto writes book about his love of dogs and Italian desserts". Newsday . August 28, 2020.
  26. ↑ Salamone, Gina (August 26, 2020). "Joe Gatto of 'Impractical Jokers' writes book about his 8 dogs, explains how show will shoot amid coronavirus". New York Daily News .
  27. ↑ @Joe_Gatto (September 5, 2017). "Some of my thoughts on bullying" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  28. ↑ "Famous Colonels". The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Find a Colonel". The Kentucky Colonels. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  30. ↑ Being Kind & Anti-Bullying | "10" Topics with Joey G . Retrieved July 11, 2022.
  31. ↑ Daniel's Music Foundation (May 12, 2017). Joe Gatto 2017 Champion of Hope Award Acceptance Speech . Retrieved August 27, 2025– via YouTube.
  32. ↑ Flam, Charna (March 22, 2025). "TikToker Alleges Former 'Impractical Jokers' Star Joe Gatto Sexually Assaulted Her When She Was 19". People . Retrieved March 22, 2025.
  33. 1 2 "Joe Gatto enters treatment program, cancels tour after sexual assault allegations". USA Today. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  34. ↑ "Impractical Jokers star Joe Gatto admits 'poor judgment' but denies abuse". www.bbc.com. March 24, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  35. ↑ Flam, Charna (March 26, 2025). "Impractical Jokers' Joe Gatto Cancels Tour and Enters In-Patient Facility in Wake of Sexual Assault Allegations (Exclusive)". People.
  36. ↑ benanti@siadvance.com, Carol Ann Benanti | (May 29, 2025). "Former Impractical Jokers star shares 'treatment' update: Report". silive. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  37. ↑ https://www.silive.com/entertainment/2025/08/impractical-jokers-alum-joe-gatto-shares-first-update-on-social-media-since-sexual-assault-allegations-i-needed-to-step-away.html?outputType=amp
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