Actor Joe Pantoliano to screen documentary at Salve Regina

By Lindsay LaChapelle ’15

Hollywood star Joe Pantoliano may be best known for his on-camera roles in “The Sopranos” and “The Matrix,” but the actor is also using his behind-the-camera talents as a documentary filmmaker to help end the stigma associated with mental illness.

As part of that effort, Pantoliano will visit Salve Regina on Thursday, Dec. 6 for a screening of his 2009 documentary “No Kidding, Me Too!” The screening will be held at 7 p.m. in the Bazarsky Lecture Hall and will be followed by a question-and-answer session with Pantoliano.

“The message of the film is empowerment – empowering those with mental illnesses to admit their illness, seek treatment, become even greater contributing members of society, and obliterate this stigma,” Pantoliano says.

According to Pantoliano, he often played characters that dealt with issues of mental illness. From these roles and from his own personal experience, he became aware of the grave injustice people suffered because of society’s stigma.

“We have found that by infusing humor into a message that the message not only grows faster but is retained longer,” Pantoliano says. “That is our hope.”

One of today’s most recognized actors, Pantoliano has starred in films such as “Risky Business,” “The Goonies,” “Midnight Run,” “The Matrix” and “Memento.” To date, he is credited with more than 100 film, television and stage roles.

The screening is sponsored by the Social Work Club, the Department of Psychology, the Department of English, the Campus Activities Board and the Office of Academic Affairs.