Trivia

Tom Hanks credits Joe Spano as his first serious role model and source of inspiration as an actor.

He and his wife adopted two daughters.

Original voice of Pasqually the Chief for the Chuck E Cheese's animatronic show from 1977 to 1983.

Was considered for the role of Capt. Donald Cragen on La ley y el orden (1990).

Returned to Berkeley Repertory Theatre after 25 years to co-star in "The Guys" opposite "NYPD Blue" star Sharon Lawrence, in 2003.

In the early 1970s he appeared nude in a San Francisco production of "Oh, Calcutta!"

Attended Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco.

As of 2022, he has appeared in three films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Locura de verano (1973), Apolo 13 (1995) and Frost/Nixon - La entrevista del escándalo (2008).