After enjoying his time in the play, he hired private acting instructor Bob Patterson. Joe then headed out to Los Angeles in the early 1990's, where he landed his first movie role in Money for Nothing. Coming back to N.Y. in 1995, he opened up restaurants in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and continued to dabble in acting.

His acting career got a boost from Benecio Del Toro, whom he met on the set for Money for Nothing. Benecio cast him in his directorial debut in the short Submission as the lead with Matthew McConaughney and Valeria Golino. Benicio also introduced him to Sheila Jaffe and Georgianne Walken, both who cast for the Sopranos. Through that connection, Joe was casted in Basquiat, Two Family House and finally, the first season in The Sopranos. In the eigth episode, playing a character named Gino, he appeared in the famous bakery scene in which Michael Imperioli shoots the baker in the foot. (Joe's famous line was "What about my bread?"). In the second season, Joe was renamed Vito Spatafore. He is the nephew of the character Richie Aprile, played by David Proval. Although Richie is now 6 feet under, Joe lives on.

For the third season, his role on the show has been greatly expanded. Joe appeared appeared in episodes 2, 5, 6, 8 and 13. Jackie Jr's assassin will not be forgotten.