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Joseph Edward Penny, Jr., credited as Joe Penny (born June 24, 1956, in London, England) is an actor best known for his role as Nick Ryder on the detective series Riptide from 1984 to 1986 and for his role as Jake Styles in the CBS television series Jake and the Fatman from 1987 to 1992. Penny was born in London, England to an American father and an Italian mother. He was raised in Marietta, Georgia (U.S. state). After his parents divorced, he moved to California with his mother. He attended Marina High School in Huntington Beach, California, where he played football and basketball.... MORE

Joseph Edward Penny, Jr., credited as Joe Penny (born June 24, 1956, in London, England) is an actor best known for his role as Nick Ryder on the detective series Riptide from 1984 to 1986 and for his role as Jake Styles in the CBS television series Jake and the Fatman from 1987 to 1992. Penny was born in London, England to an American father and an Italian mother. He was raised in Marietta, Georgia (U.S. state). After his parents divorced, he moved to California with his mother. He attended Marina High School in Huntington Beach, California, where he played football and basketball. Throughout his high school years, he maintained a low profile. He consistently avoided picture day. In each yearbook published during his enrollment at Marina High School, he is listed as "missing in action." Starting with a minor role on Forever Fernwood in 1977, the busy actor has appeared in numerous TV movies and has made many guest appearances on television shows including Touched by an Angel, T. J. Hooker, Vega$, Matt Houston, Lou Grant, CHiPs, Flamingo Road, The Sopranos, Diagnosis: Murder, Walker, Texas Ranger, 7th Heaven, Tucker's Witch, Boomtown and CSI. He briefly dated Stepfanie Kramer after LESS