Emmy Award-winning actor Joe Pantoliano is heading to South Jamaica, Queens.
The veteran performer has joined the cast of Power Book III: Raising Kanan for its fifth and final season in a major recurring role. Production wrapped last year, with the final chapter expected to premiere in 2026.
Pantoliano will play Pino Bernardi, the head of the Manhattan Mafia. Described as supremely self-assured and embodying the old adage “speak softly and carry a big stick,” Pino doesn’t have to announce that he’s in charge — his presence says it all.
He joins previously announced cast member Leslie Grossman, who will portray Florence “Flossie” Siegel, Manhattan’s most prolific madam. Flossie may live a polished and luxurious lifestyle on the surface, but as the daughter of a Jewish mobster, she’s just as tough, strategic, and calculating as the men who underestimated her.
What’s Ahead in the Final Season
The Starz crime drama continues to explore the early life of Kanan Stark, played by Mekai Curtis and originally portrayed by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson in the flagship series Power. The prequel charts Kanan’s evolution from a naïve teenager into the ruthless villain viewers first met years ago.
Season 4 delivered one of the show’s most explosive moments yet — a brutal showdown between Kanan and his mother Raq, played by Patina Miller. In the shocking final moments, Kanan shot Raq after becoming convinced she was behind the murders of people closest to him, including his best friend Famous (Antonio Ortiz) and his girlfriend Krystal (Aliyah Turner).
The season also introduced Branford “Breeze” Frady, portrayed by Shameik Moore — the nephew of street legends Snaps (Wendell Pierce) and Pop (Erika Woods). Breeze’s arrival creates a critical bridge between the prequel and the original series, hinting at future alliances that will shape the larger Power universe.
When the series returns, viewers will finally learn Raq’s fate — though one thing is certain: Kanan survives and moves forward into the upcoming spinoff Power: Origins, which will introduce younger versions of Ghost and Tommy as ambitious young players carving out their own space in New York’s criminal underworld.
Pantoliano’s Legacy
Pantoliano’s addition brings decades of gravitas to the final season. He won an Emmy in 2003 for his unforgettable portrayal of Ralph Cifaretto in The Sopranos and earned another nomination last year for his work as Eugene in The Last of Us.
His recent credits include Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Dexter: Original Sin and Marvel’s Wonder Man, adding yet another crime boss to a résumé already stacked with iconic characters.
As Raising Kanan heads into its final chapter, Pantoliano stepping in as a Manhattan Mafia boss signals that the endgame will be bigger — and more dangerous — than ever.