Joseph Ralph Napolitano is an American film and television director who has worked in the film and television industries since the mid-1970s directing both TV films and multiple episodic series.
Napolitano's television credits include directing 12 episodes of Quantum Leap, 2 episodes of The X-Files, 2 episodes of Picket Fences, 3 episodes of The Pretenders, 2 episodes of L.A. Doctors, 2 episodes of Dawson's Creek, 4 episodes of Boston Public, and 14 episodes of Strong Medicine, as well as the 1991 film Earth Angel, and the 1997 film Virus. The film Contagious earned an American Latino Media Arts Award for actress Elizabeth Pena for 'Outstanding Actress in a Made-for-Television Movie or Mini-Series'.
In the 1980s, Napolitano's work included acting as assistant director on feature film projects, working on films with directors Brian Hutton, Danny DeVito, Stuart Rosenberg, Donald P. Bellisario, Ron Howard, Howard Zieff, Terry Gilliam, Antoine Fuqua, and on multiple projects directed by Brian De Palma.
As director
The Big Blue Marble (1974)
Earth Angel (1991) (film)
Reasonable Doubts (1 episode, 1991)
I'll Fly Away (1 episode, 1992)
Quantum Leap (12 episodes, 1990–1992)
Covington Cross (1 episode, 1992)
Going to Extremes (1 episode, 1992)
Northern Exposure (1 episode, 1993)
Class of '96 (1 episode, 1993)
SeaQuest 2032 (1 episode, 1993)
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (1 episode, 1993)
The X-Files (2 episodes, 1993–1994)
M.A.N.T.I.S. (1 episode, 1994)
Medicine Ball (1995)
Earth 2 (3 episodes, 1994–1995)
Chicago Hope (1 episode, 1995)
Picket Fences (2 episodes, 1995–1996)
Murder One (1 episode, 1996)
Viper (1 episode, 1996)
Contagious (1997) (film)
The Practice (1 episode, 1997)
JAG (4 episodes, 1995–1997)
Ally McBeal (1 episode, 1997)
Hotel del Sol (1998)
The Pretender (3 episodes, 1997–1998)
Mercy Point (1998)
Wasteland (1 episode, 1999)
L.A. Doctors (2 episodes, 1999)
Cold Feet (1999)
Martial Law (1 episode, 1999)
Snoops (1 episode, 1999)
Dawson's Creek (2 episodes, 1998–2000)
The Huntress (2000)
FreakyLinks (1 episode, 2001)
Kate Brasher (2001)
For the People (2002)
Birds of Prey (1 episode, 2003)
Boston Public (4 episodes, 2001–2003)
The District (1 episode, 2003)
Strong Medicine (14 episodes, 2000–2006)
Bones (1 episode, 2006)
Runaway (1 episode, 2006)
Cashmere Mafia (1 episode, 2008)
Zork: Nemesis (1996)
As first assistant director
The First Deadly Sin (1980) - Director: Brian Hutton
Blow Out (1981) Director: - Brian De Palma
Scarface (1983) - Director: Brian De Palma
The Pope of Greenwich Village (1984) - Director: Stuart Rosenberg
Body Double (1984) - Director: Brian De Palma
Wise Guys (1986) - Director: Brian De Palma
The Untouchables (1987) - Director: Brian De Palma
Throw Momma from the Train (1987) - Director: Danny DeVito
Last Rites (1988) Also as a second unit director - Director: Donald P. Bellisario
Parenthood (1989) - Director: Ron Howard
The Dream Team (1989) - Director: Howard Zieff
The Fisher King (1991) - Director: Terry Gilliam
Brooklyn's Finest (2008) Also as Co Producer - Director: Antoine Fuqua
