Regalbuto graduated from New Milford High School in New Milford, New Jersey, in 1967.
In 1982 Joe Regalbuto played a supporting role in the critically acclaimed film Missing. Also in 1982, Regalbuto played Darius, in the cult sci-fi/fantasy The Sword and the Sorcerer and on television he played Kalnik, an evil alien, in three episodes of Mork & Mindy.
He starred in the CBS series Knots Landing in the 1984-1985 and 1985-1986 season as a character called Harry Fisher who had taken possession of the Ewing twins illegally which centered on the Black Market storyline.
In 1986 Regalbuto also starred in the TV movie Fuzz Bucket and the short-lived series Street Hawk.
Joe starred in Murphy Brown for the entire run of the acclaimed series from November 14, 1988, to May 18, 1998.
In 2002, he appeared on the final season (5th) of the Ally McBeal TV series, episode 10, "One Hundred Tears", as Harvey Hall, a man who believed he could fly, using wings of his own making.
In 2008, he had a small role in the movie Bottle Shock. In 2008, he also had guest roles in the TV series Ghost Whisperer and Criminal Minds. In 2009, Regalbuto had a guest appearance on NCIS.
He has also directed episodes of Hot in Cleveland - Season 3, Episode 5 in 2011 and Season 4, Episodes 6 and 7 in 2013.
In 2012, he played the critically acclaimed part of Mr Rogers in the TV Series Southland: "his character feigned grief in what Det. Lydia Adams (Regina King) called 'an Academy Award-winning performance.' He's not eligible for an Oscar, but Regalbuto might just get an Emmy".
In 2015, he had a guest role as Stuart "Stu" Sloan in episode 4, "Turn Down", of season 4 in the TV series Major Crimes.
