Joe Spano Biography

Fast Facts

• Co-founded the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 1968
• Strongly considered a career in medicine before discovering his love of acting
• Quote: "The real hopeful thing about theater and the arts in general is you take these painful experiences and you shape them, give them form -- and people can experience them together․ You come out of an experience like this not devastated, not demolished by it, but hopefully healed or having experienced catharsis․"
• Came to be well-known following his seven-year run on the series, "Hill Street Blues"
• Stayed with the Berkeley Repertory Theatre for more than 10 years before making his Hollywood debut
• Often referred to as the first role model for actor Tom Hanks