Jon Polito - Unicycling at the Edge of the Abyss - An Actor's Autobiography

With his signature mustache and gravelly voice, audiences have instantly recognized Jon Polito for nearly four decades. He's appeared in over 200 films and television shows, ranging from mainstream hits (Seinfeld, Modern Family) to cult classics (Highlander, The Crow) while working alongside Hollywood stars both famous (Robert Downey Jr., Sean Penn) and infamous (Marlon Brando, Faye Dunaway). Often typecast as a Mafia gangster, he's best known for his collaborations with the Coen brothers (The Big Lebowski, Barton Fink), who created roles that displayed his true acting range.

 

Off-screen, Polito was suffering the consequences of a self-destructive lifestyle. A compulsive drug habit left him drowning in debt, and as his profile began to rise, so did the whispers and warnings among producers about his erratic behavior. However, every time Jon was on the brink of personal and professional disaster, a person or project - a "unicycle" - would come to his rescue. His greatest battle, though, began in 2010 when he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer.

 

This is the journey of an artist trying to navigate the turbulence of the entertainment industry as well as his own everyday existence.

       

This is Jon Polito as he's Unicycling at the Edge of the Abyss.