WT_2002_02: INTERVIEW: JOE MANTEGNA

JOE MANTEGNAJoe Mantegna is anactor’s actor with a tastefor cigars, skeet shootingand the pleasures of anice wristwatch. When itcomes to aesthetics, heprefers a functionalhandmade object thatisn’t overly decorated.INTERVIEWED BYMATTHEW MORSESwingAxel KoesterVOTEJoe Mantegna entered the world stagethrough his association with DavidMamet’s “Chicago Mafia” during the1970s. In 1984 he won a Tony Award – BroadwayTheater’s highest prize – for his portrayal ofthe foul-mouthed real estate whiz Ricky Romain Mamet’s Pulitzer prize-winning play GlengarryGlen Ross. Over the course of his 32-yearlongcareer, Mantegna (54) has had roles innearly 80 movies, most notably David Mamet’sHouse of Games (1987), Francis Ford Coppola’sThe Godfather: Part III (1990), Woody Allen’sCelebrity (1998) and Barry Levinson’s Bugsy(1991). In addition to doing the voice-over forcartoon character Fat Tony in The Simpson’s,he’s narrated over 30 audio-books and hasbeen successful as a writer (Bleacher Bums,1978) and movie director (Lakeboat, 2000).With the recent premiere on TV of First Monday(CBS Friday 9:00 pm) Mantegna is poisedto become one of television’s leading men. Fornow, he’s keeping his fingers crossed.WatchTime: Let’s start with your newTV series: What’s the basic premise ofthe show and why is it called FirstMonday?Mantegna: It’s a drama that portrays ninefictional Supreme Court justices as they tacklea wide range of challenging issues. The char-32 WatchTime April 2002

Joe Mantegnaacter that I play – Justice Joseph Novelli – is anew judge who can provide the swing votefor either the liberal or the conservative sidesof the bench. The first Monday in October istraditionally when the Supreme Court starts.WatchTime: Like most actors I’m surethat the most important things foryou in a project are the character andthe story. What attracted you to FirstMonday?Mantegna: Well, it’s a combination of a lot ofthings. I’ve been acting professionally forover 30 years, and for the last 10 years or soit’s involved an immense amount of travel.I’ve had a lot of fun doing the gypsy life, butI have two daughters (Mia Marie, 14 andGina, 11) that I’d like to spend more timewith... so lately I’ve been more open to doinga TV series...then this came along. The factthat James Garner (The Rockford Files) hadalready signed up for First Monday did a lotto convince me.WatchTime: Is this your first TV series?Mantegna: I’ve made a lot of guest appearancesin the past, but Justice Novelli is myfirst major television role.WatchTime: Of course you have astrong link with one of the most respectedplaywrights working in theEnglish language – David Mamet.Does the director of First Monday allowyour input concerning the languagethat Justice Novelli uses?Mantegna: Absolutely. In fact, Joe Novelli ismy invention. Everything from his age to thefact that he’s an Italian American who grewup in Cicero, Illinois...even his name comesfrom me. My maternal grandfather wasnamed Joe Novelli.WatchTime: Was your grandfather alawyer?Mantegna: No, no...he was an electrician forthe Chicago Transit Authority.WatchTime: Is this the first time thatyou’ve ever played a judge?Mantegna: Yes. I’ve played prosecutors...I’veplayed lawyers and defense attorneys, butI’ve never played a judge.WatchTime: Do you feel comfortableportraying the gravitas of a judge?Mantegna: Well, you know, you do your research.It was no different when I played DeanMartin or Fidel Castro. I find playing aSupreme Court judge easier than playing alower court judge because I don’t have todeal with opposing lawyers or a jury. As aSupreme Court justice it’s all about the appeal:You either support what’s out there oryou overturn it.WatchTime: Did you ever consider goingto law school when you wereyounger?Mantegna: No, never. I mean, God kill me...Inever even thought about it. But, I do findcertain aspects of the law and politics fascinating.Joe Novelli is a shadow of myself, andI’ve devoted more screen time to developingthis one character than I have to any role I’veplayed outside of theater. I’m really enjoyingit and I hope that it’s successful.WatchTime: Shifting the focus fromwork to pleasure, I read somewherethat you were into cigars long beforethey became fashionable.Mantegna: I actually started smoking cigarsin High School, but I didn’t smoke good cigarsuntil I was older.WatchTime: Is it a social thing for you,or do you prefer to smoke whenyou’re alone?Mantegna: Sometimes I’ll smoke in private,but usually it’s a social thing. I smoke in a localcigar store near my home and I’m also amember of the Grand Havana Rooms in LosAngeles and New York.WatchTime: I’ve heard that the LAGrand Havana Room is a bit of an actor’shangout.Mantegna: Well, it’s in Los Angeles, so you’llrun into guys like Arnold Schwarzenegger,Bruce Willis, Andy Garcia, Mel Gibson or myfriend Dennis Franz.WatchTime: Is there a link betweenliking cigars and an interest in wristwatches?Mantegna: I think the link is an appreciationfor something that’s unique and handmade.As you get older your tastes get a little morerefined, and if you’ve had some success in lifethen you can afford nicer things than youwere used to when you were in your twenties.If you have some money you eventuallylearn to appreciate the difference between acan of coke and a fine wine, or a filtered cigaretteand a nice cigar. The former is aboutquenching your thirst and the latter is awhole ‘nother thing.WatchTime: How did you become interestedin watches?Mantegna: My father passed way when I wasabout 24 and he left only a few things...hewas not a wealthy man. The only two thingsI can ever remember him having of any valuewere a ring and his watch. My brother got hisApril 2002 WatchTime 33

INTERVIEW: JOE MANTEGNAring, and I got his old Waltham wristwatch.That’s probably what hooked me.WatchTime: Wristwatches are extremelysentimental objects. Whatwas your relationship to timepiecesprior to that?Mantegna: Let’s see...when I was about 14 Ihad a watch with a broken strap that my Unclehad given to me. Because it had a brokenstrap I had to keep it in my pocket when Irode my bicycle to the zoo one day. When Igot back home in the evening I realized thatI’d somehow lost it...I traced the route I’dtaken – back and forth – but I never found it.WatchTime: What kind of watch didyou get after that:Mantegna: I didn’t wear one for a few years.When I was 16 I was the lead singer and bassguitarist in a Rock & Roll cover band calledthe Apocryphals. I was the designated leaderof the band and I had to know when we’dfinished a 40-minute set so that we could alltake a break. That’s when I started wearing awatch that I’d received as a confirmation presentwhen I was 13. Anyway, I somehow lostmy confirmation watch, and the next day aguy asked me if I wanted to buy a watch for10 bucks. It was a Waltham like my Dad’s. Iwore that Waltham when I was on the stageof Hair in the late 60s up to about 1979, andat one point I even had it gold plated. Theguy who did the plating looked at me like Iwas a joke, but I was emotionally attached toit. After that I got into wearing inexpensivequartz watches or prop pieces that I’d pick upon the job. Probably the first nice watch thatI wore was an Ebel that I won in the FrankSinatra Golf Tournament in 1994.WatchTime: Would you say that the$10.00 Waltham changed yourlife?Mantegna: It was the first watch thatI wore full time and absolutely reliedon. And I think that does change yourpsyche a bit – I mean, in a good way.To this day I’m a fairly prompt personwhen it comes to social obligations.WatchTime: How do you feelabout people who are perpetuallylate?Mantegna: I’m 54, so I’ve learned tobe tolerant. I travel quite a bit in Europe,so I’m comfortable with the fact that,say, Germans and Italians have a very differentapproach to time. Personally, I like to beon time, but I am who I am and that’s that.WatchTime: Would you call yourself awatch collector?Mantegna: A few years ago I developed a relationshipwith the president of Maurice Lacroix[Bob Siragusa], but I’m not a collector oranything. But, I have met people like the ItalianChef Nick Stellino who know everythingthere is to know about the intricacies of amovement. I have nothing but respect forthat kind of enthusiasm.WatchTime: Which Maurice Lacroixwatches do you own?Mantegna: I have a steel Fiaba and a handwoundMasterpiece Jour & Nuit. But to behonest I don’t really go for the more frou froucomplicated watches...as an everyday watch Igo for a simpler kind of elegance. I’m happywith the Tiago, which is the watch that I wearin both my private life and on First Monday. Idon’t know if they even make it anymore.WatchTime: People may not know it,but for the last six years you’ve beenthe voice of Mercedes in all of theirtelevision ads...which is kind of ironicsince you’re known in the actingworld for your Chicago workingman’svoice and language.Mantegna: Well, David Mamet is still amusedthat I’m the voice of Mercedes Benz. But Mercedesalso make some pretty affordable cars.WatchTime: Do you drive a Mercedes?Mantegna: Oh, sure. Every year they provideme with a new one.WatchTime: And do you prefer an automaticor a manual transmission?Mantegna: Forget the manual transmission,I’m over 50 now. Though I do have a 1970Opal GT with a stick that I’ve totally restored.WatchTime: Do you collect vintagecars?Mantegna: Not really. But I still have the firstcar that I ever owned – a 1947 Buick that Ibought in 1967. I’ve stored it in a friend’sgarage for the last 25 years (I’m afraid to give itup). And similar to a nice cigar or a nice watch,I appreciate the workmanship that went intomaking that Buick or into making the MercedesBenz that I represent.WatchTime: I read somewhere thatyou’re also an avid skeet shooter.What kind of shotgun do you use?Mantegna: I own two Berettas.WatchTime: Are they customized witha lot of scrollwork?Mantegna: No, they’re not. I’m still – you cantake a kid out of Cicero, but you can’t takethe Cicero out of him. In a lot of ways I stillhave a workingman’s taste and attitudeabout things. I can appreciate the intricatetop of the line stuff, but I have pretty muchthe same feeling for shotguns that I do forwatches. My shotguns aren’t made with aspecial wood or anything; they’re just nicefunctional Berettas.WatchTime: How did you pick upskeet shooting?Mantegna: I got exposed to it in Chicagowhen I was in my early 20s. There used to bea very established skeet-shooting club righton Lake Michigan where they used to shootright over the lake. One day I was sitting onmy motorcycle watching these guys shootshotguns, and one of them said, “Have youever done this?” It turns out that he wasa very successful man who wasone of the senior members ofthe club. Anyway, he opened upthe trunk of his new Cadillac andpulled out a $30,000 Perazzi. Helet me use it and I’m hookedto this day. I don’t think he’sstill alive, but I’d like to just trackhim down and say, “Thankyou. You gave me a lifelonghobby.”On the set of First Monday.34 WatchTime April 2002