One scene in the 1983 Tom Cruise movieRisky Businessmade his co-star, Joe Pantoliano, decide to get a nose job, after seeing an image of himself next to the lead actor. The'80s teen comedyfollows Joel Goodsen (Cruise) as he hires a sex worker, Lana (Rebecca De Mornay), after being left home alone for a few days. However, his mother’s Steuben glass egg falls into the hands of Lana’s boss, Guido (Pantoliano), with Joel forced to find a way to get the egg back, and pay for damages when his father’s car crashes.
Speaking withEmpire Magazineabout the film, Pantoliano revealed howa particular image of him and Cruise fromRisky Businessmade him decide to get a nose job.The actor explained how much bigger his nose was contrasted with his co-star’s, making him fear he’d be typecast as a villain because of the way it looked. He also joked that, now that he’s gotten it done, he instead portrays “bad guys with smaller noses.” Check out what Pantoliano had to say about his decision below:
You see those two noses? When I saw this movie I was like, I gotta get a nose job, because I’m just going to play bad guys, and I want to be a leading man. Tom Cruise has got a very distinguished nose, but my nose dwarfed his, so I literally had a nose job. And now I just play bad guys with smaller noses! (Laughs) But I just remember Paul Brickman [director] wanted all of the characters, including Guido, to be likeable. Tom was, what, gosh, was he like 21? Or 22? I was the old man on the job!
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What Pantoliano’s Nose Job Meant For His Career After Risky Business
Following his role inRisky Business, Pantoliano began to take on supporting roles in a variety of films.Whilehe was still a villain sometimes, like Francis Fratelli inThe Goonies,he also played a variety of archetypes in films likeEmpire of the Sun,Memento, andThe Fugitive. In 2001, he joined thecast ofThe Sopranosseason 3 as Ralph Cifaretto, acapowho becomes one of Tony’s major enemies as the series progresses. This variety of roles shows that, while he’s still played the bad guy sometimes, it’s not all he’s done since his nose job.
Some of his most recognizable work also includes Cypher inThe Matrix, as well as Captain Conrad Howard in theBad Boysmovies. His more recent work includes a cameo as himself in theChuckyTV series, as well as a major role in the 2021 horror thrillerHide and Seek. While his work has included plenty of villain roles sinceRisky Business, it’s also clear he’s expanded to plenty of other roles, despite his initial worries about being typecast. How much his nose job had to do with his career progression, though, is unclear.
What We Think Of Pantoliano’s Nose Job Story
The Procedure Was His Decision To Make
While there’s no way of knowing how much Pantoliano’s nose job impacted his career afterRisky Business, it seems like his villain roles afterward were because of how well he’s able to portray antagonists. However,his acting abilities were likely the deciding factorfor his stints in movies likeBad Boys, showing the versatility of the kinds of characters he could play. Even if his nose job didn’t play a major role, it’s clear his confidence was boosted by the decision he made.
Pantoliano’s recent credit is a short appearance in 2024’sBad Boys: Ride or Die, reprising his role as Captain Howard.
Risky Business
Cast
Risky Business is a 1983 comedy-drama film starring Tom Cruise as Joel Goodsen, a high school student who experiences a wild adventure while his parents are away. When Joel’s desire for freedom leads him to make some questionable decisions, he finds himself entangled in complications that challenge his morals and future. Directed by Paul Brickman, the film explores themes of adolescence, responsibility, and the pursuit of success.
