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Joe Mantell was an American actor of Austrian-Jewish heritage. Originally, his surname was "Mantel," but he later added an extra "l." He received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Born in 1915 in Brooklyn, New York City, Mantell's parents were immigrants from Galicia in Eastern Europe. At the time they emigrated, Galicia was part of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria (1772-1918), a crown land of the Austrian Empire.
Mantell began his film career around 1949 as an uncredited extra. His first credited role was Dexter Freeman in the adventure film "Barbary Pirate" (1949), which depicted the Barbary Wars (1801-1805, 1815).
He gained critical acclaim for his role as Angie in the romantic drama "Marty" (1955). Angie, the best friend of protagonist Marty Piletti (Ernest Borgnine), discourages Marty from marrying his love interest Clara (Betsy Blair). For this performance as a love obstacle, Mantell earned his sole Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, though the award went to Jack Lemmon.
Mantell continued to appear in minor and supporting film roles, including the film noir "Storm Center" (1956), political drama "Beau James" (1957), military comedy "The Sad Sack" (1957), and World War II comedy-drama "Onionhead."
He frequently guest-starred on television, notably as gangster Jackie Rhoades in "Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room" (1960) and as Pole, co-owner of robot fighter Battling Maxo, in "Steel" (1963), both episodes of "The Twilight Zone." He portrayed failed assassin Giuseppe Zangara in the two-part "The Unhired Assassin" (1960) episodes of "The Untouchables."
Mantell’s first recurring TV role was Ernie Briggs in six episodes of the sitcom "Pete and Gladys" (1960-1962). He later played private detective Albie Loos in four episodes of "Mannix" (1967-1975).
In 1974, Mantell had one of his most notable roles as Lawrence Walsh in the neo-noir "Chinatown," portraying an associate of private investigator J.J. "Jake" Gittes (Jack Nicholson) with a key part in the film’s ending. He reprised this role in the sequel "The Two Jakes" (1990), which was his final film appearance.
Mantell retired from acting in 1990 at age 75. He lived quietly until his passing in September 2010 in Tarzana, California, at age 94, making him one of the oldest living actors at the time.
