The tough guy Joe Penny from the series Jake and the Fat Man once drove away female fans in a big way. Today he is an aging recluse

Joe Penny, 67, is an unforgettable part of the magical era of the 1980s television industry. This charismatic actor shone in the role of a detective in several series and although he lives out of the limelight today, his name remains indelibly etched in the memory of fans.

Joe Penny was born on June 24, 1956 in London to an Italian and an American family. He spent his childhood in the USA, where he lived with his mother, stepfather and seven other siblings. However, he left home at the age of fifteen and went to California, where he later discovered his passion for acting.

Penny’s acting career began modestly, with small roles and various odd jobs to keep him afloat. The breakthrough in his career came in 1984, when he got one of the main roles in the series Riptide, during the filming of which he suffered from seasickness. Here he portrayed detective Nick Ryder.

Riptide made him famous and opened the door to another prominent role in the series Jake and the Fat Man (1987-1991), where he played the attractive detective Jake Styles. Even this filming did not go completely smoothly, during one of the episodes in Hawaii he suffered a serious health crisis. In addition to well-known detective roles, he also played in the thriller Bloody Birth (1981) and the drama The Fateful Meeting (2011). He most recently appeared in the crime comedy The Last Night Inn (2016).

As for his private life, Joe Penny is known to avoid public events and prefers a quiet life in Los Angeles. His interests outside of acting include outdoor camping and cooking. Penny claims to be a good cook and spends hours in her kitchen indulging in gastronomy. He also makes no secret of the fact that he professes the Nichiren Shoshu Buddhist sect.

Not much is known about his current life. However, it can be assumed that the actor is still in Los Angeles, enjoying a quiet life away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood. Although he is no longer active in the acting field, his work from the eighties is still appreciated and remembered. Viewers like to refer to him as the most charismatic TV detective of his time.

Sources: Yahoo, GH Gossip