Joe Gatto

{{For|other people with the same name|Joe Gatto (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox person

| honorific_prefix = Colonel

| name = Joe Gatto

| image = Joe Gatto 12 7 2024 (2) (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Gatto in December 2024

| birth_name = Joseph Gatto

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age |1976|06|5|mf=yes}}

| birth_place = New York City, U.S.

| alma_mater = LIU Post (BS)

| occupation = {{hlist|Comedian|actor}}

| years_active = 1998–present

| spouse = {{marriage|Bessy Gatto|September 2, 2013}}

| children = 2

}}

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.

Early life

Joseph Gatto{{Cite episode |title=Crash Test Dummies |series=Impractical Jokers |series-link=Impractical Jokers season 8 |date=2015-05-07 |season=8 |number=1 |time=01:03}} was born on June 5, 1976{{Cite tweet |number=1269204117349715969 |user=Joe_Gatto |title=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 |date=2020-06-06 |access-date=2025-04-22}}{{Cite web |date=2025-03-24 |title=Impractical Jokers star Joe Gatto admits 'poor judgment' but denies abuse |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c14jd3pm07jo |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB |quote=The 48-year-old US comedian...}} in Staten Island and is of Italian descent.{{cite web |date=2016-06-01 |title=The untold truth of Impractical Jokers |url=https://www.looper.com/13054/didnt-know-impractical-jokers/ |website=Looper |publisher=}} Gatto attended Monsignor Farrell High School.{{cite web |last=Steussy |first=Lauren |date=2014-10-09 |title='Impractical Jokers' spinoff shot at Staten Island's Monsignor Farrell High School airs tonight |url=https://www.silive.com/entertainment/2014/10/impractical_jokers_film_upcomi.html |access-date=2020-01-04 |website=silive |language=en-US}} Along with Murray, Vulcano, and Quinn, he was a member of his high school's Improvisation Club.{{cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/2018/01/19/impractical-jokers-success-is-rooted-in-a-deeper-vulnerability/|title=Impractical Jokers' success is rooted in a deeper vulnerability|date=2018-01-19|website=The Buffalo News|language=en-us|access-date=2020-01-04}} He studied at LIU Post, where he received a degree in accounting.{{cite web|title=Impractical Joe-kers|url=http://liupostpioneer.com/impractical-joe-kers/|last=Pepe|first=Margaret|date=October 20, 2015|website=The Pioneer|access-date=2020-01-04}} 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".{{cite web|url=http://vectorstaging.com/?page_id=33|title=About|website=The Tenderloins|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-04}}

= ''Impractical Jokers'' and other television shows =

File:The_Tenderloins_in_2017.jpg 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".{{cite web|url=http://www.tbs.com/miseryindex|title=The Misery Index|website=www.tbs.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-04|archive-date=January 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104010153/https://www.tbs.com/miseryindex|url-status=dead}}

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.{{cite web|title=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..."|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CYLBnVXgrmn/|access-date=2022-01-01|publisher=Instagram|language=en-US}}{{cite web|title=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..."|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CYLB0YGMRRd/|access-date=2022-01-01|publisher=Instagram|language=en-US}} 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."{{cite web |last=Haring |first=Bruce |date=January 1, 2022 |title='Impractical Jokers' Star Joe Gatto Announces He's Leaving Troupe After A Long Run |work=Deadline Hollywood |url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/impractical-jokers-joe-gatto-announced-leaving-troupe-trutv-1234903443/}} The couple reconciled in September 2023.

In 2023, Gatto made a guest appearance at an Impractical Jokers performance in Boston, Massachusetts.{{cite AV media |title=Crashing the Impractical Jokers Show in BOSTON |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP4-vIAg0Ek |access-date=2023-05-01 |language=en-US}} 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.{{cite web |title=That's a wrap on the Impractical Jokers tour. |url=https://www.instagram.com/bqquinn/ |access-date=2024-08-26 |language=en-US}}

= ''The Tenderloins Podcast'' =

File:Joe Gatto 2013.png

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.{{cite web |title=Two Cool Moms on Apple Podcasts |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/two-cool-moms/id1612275169 |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-US}} The podcast's name derives from the two describing their mothers as "strong, opinionated mothers who gave great advice". The podcast focuses on the two giving advice to strangers who submit a problem they're facing.{{cite web |title=Two Cool Moms |url=https://podnews.net/podcast/i9z2c |access-date=2023-04-09 |website=podnews.net |language=en-US}}

= 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 fourteen dogs after said food; the dogs he currently has are named Cannoli, Biscotti, Spumoni, Napoleon, Cotta, Struffoli, Tortoni, Fettuccine Alfredo, Gnocchi, Tiramisu, Burrata, Gelato, Calzone, and Nutella.{{cite book |last=Gatto |first=Joseph |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4lvAzQEACAAJ |title=The Dogfather: My Love for Dogs, Dessert and Growing Up Italian |date=2020-08-26 |publisher=Cannoli Productions |isbn=978-0-578-74752-1 |language=en-US}}{{cite web |title=Meet the Pups – Gatto Pups |url=https://gattopups.com/meet-the-pups/ |access-date=2023-04-10 |website=Gatto Pups |language=en-US}} In 2024, he released a picture book for kids titled Where's Bearry?.{{cite web |date=September 5, 2024 |title=Joe Gatto talks new book, 'Where's Bearry?' |url=https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/video/joe-gatto-talks-new-book-wheres-bearry-113410525 |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=Good Morning America |language=en-US}}

Personal life

Gatto and his wife Bessy have two children.{{cite web|url=https://www.lifeandstylemag.com/posts/joe-gatto-dogs-kids-143822/|title='Impractical Jokers' Star Joe Gatto's Kids (and Dogs) Will Instantly Brighten Up Your Instagram Feed|date=2019-06-04|work=Life & Style|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-03}}{{cite web |last=Clarendon |first=Dan |date=December 22, 2017 |title=Impractical Jokers Star Joe Gatto Is Good With Stopping at Two Kids |url=https://www.lifeandstylemag.com/posts/joe-gatto-children-148938/ |access-date=January 1, 2022 |work=Life & Style}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/reality-tv/joe-gatto-impractical-jokers-dogfather-book-1.48639127 |title=LI 'Impractical Joker' Joe Gatto writes book about his love of dogs and Italian desserts |date=August 28, 2020 |work=Newsday}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/snyde/ny-joe-gatto-impractical-jokers-book-8-dogs-quarantine-20200826-vo6j4nx5rvhsheiiiwxrqagofe-story.html|title=Joe Gatto of 'Impractical Jokers' writes book about his 8 dogs, explains how show will shoot amid coronavirus|first=Gina|last=Salamone|date=August 26, 2020|work=New York Daily News}} The couple separated amicably in 2021, but reconciled in 2023.{{cite web |last=Haward |first=Jenny |title=Joe Gatto Reconciles with Wife Bessy Following 2022 Split: 'I'm Happy and Hopeful' |url=https://people.com/impractical-jokers-joe-gatto-reconciles-with-wife-bessy-after-2022-split-7965143 |website=People Magazine |language=en |date=3 September 2023}}

Gatto actively campaigns against bullying, and his content dealing with the issue includes various YouTube segments.{{cite tweet|number=905034906551672832|user=Joe_Gatto|title=Some of my thoughts on bullying|date=September 5, 2017}}

Gatto is a Kentucky Colonel.{{cite web|url=https://www.kycolonels.org/famous-colonels/|title=Famous Colonels|website=The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels|access-date=January 11, 2023}}

Gatto is a teetotaler as well as a vegetarian.{{cite AV media |title=Being Kind & Anti-Bullying {{!}} "10" Topics with Joey G |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iC-gleN6EM |language=en |access-date=2022-07-11}}

= Sexual harassment allegation =

On March 20, 2025, a woman on TikTok posted a number of allegations against Gatto.{{cite magazine |url=https://people.com/tiktoker-alleges-former-impractical-jokers-star-joe-gatto-sexually-assaulted-her-when-she-was-19-11701656 |title=TikToker Alleges Former 'Impractical Jokers' Star Joe Gatto Sexually Assaulted Her When She Was 19 |first=Charna |last=Flam |magazine=People |date=March 22, 2025 |access-date=March 22, 2025}} 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."{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2025/03/26/joe-gatto-treatment-program-cancel-tour-sexual-assault/82677124007/|publisher=USA Today|title=Joe Gatto enters treatment program, cancels tour after sexual assault allegations|access-date=2025-04-29}}{{Cite web |date=2025-03-24 |title=Impractical Jokers star Joe Gatto admits 'poor judgment' but denies abuse |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c14jd3pm07jo |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}} Gatto cancelled the remainder of his tour on March 26, and announced he would be entering an in-patient facility.{{cite web|url=https://people.com/impractical-jokers-joe-gatto-cancels-tour-enters-in-patient-facility-after-sexual-assault-allegations-exclusive-11703732|title=Impractical Jokers' Joe Gatto Cancels Tour and Enters In-Patient Facility in Wake of Sexual Assault Allegations (Exclusive)|website=People|date=March 26, 2025|last=Flam|first=Charna}}{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2025/03/26/joe-gatto-treatment-program-cancel-tour-sexual-assault/82677124007/|publisher=USA Today|title=Joe Gatto enters treatment program, cancels tour after sexual assault allegations|access-date=2025-04-29}}