NEW YORK, NY, June 29, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to name Joseph A. Di Palma a Lifetime Achiever. An accomplished listee, Mr. Di Palma celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Long before his popularity as a TV and movie producer, Joseph Di Palma traveled to Italy in 1937 at age six by ship with his father, Gaetano Di Palma, a Civil Engineer, who was commissioned by the Italian government to build the Italian Pavilion at the 1939 World's Fair in NYC.
Joseph Di Palma received his B.A. from Columbia University in 1952, his law degree from Fordham University in 1958, and his LL.M in Taxation from New York University in 1959. He was admitted to the New York Bar in March 1959.
He served with the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.
He worked as a Tax Attorney for CBS in New York City 1960-1964, and for TWA in NYC from 1964-1974 becoming Staff Vice President-Taxes.
He was also Executive Director of The Di Palma Family Holdings in New York City and Las Vegas.
On April 18, 1970 he married Joycelyn Ann Engle.
Joseph Di Palma flew to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in 1972 on a matter regarding the Israeli Travel Tax in his capacity as Chairman of the International Air Transport Association Taxation Sub-Committee and Staff Vice President- Taxes for TWA. The story was carried by the Jerusalem Post, The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times.
His first child, Joycelyn Joan Di Palma, was born on January 9, 1972 in New York City and is now a TV producer in LA.
Upon leaving TWA in 1974 to enter the private practice of law in NYC, Joseph Di Palma received an award from the Air Transport Association for distinguished service and valuable counsel.
He was in the private practice of law in NYC 1974-1987 and worked with his father on numerous real estate deals. Joseph Di Palma was Executive Director of The Di Palma Family Holdings specializing in real estate and stocks.
In 1991, Joseph Di Palma initiated his weekly column in the Las Vegas Sun, which expressed his opinion on a number of issues including the American economy, the future of Atlantic City and Las Vegas, and the effect of gaming on taxes and property values. He was also interviewed by a number of newspapers and magazines for his views on the crisis in the Mideast, the stock market and other national and international issues.
In 1990, he was appointed head of a comprehensive gaming study to determine future prospects for gaming legislation and the effects of gaming on state taxes, employment and real estate values.
In the 1990s, his think tank, The Di Palma Position Papers, The Di Palma Forum TV show at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and The Di Palma Center for the Study of Jewelry and Precious Metals at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution in New York made him internationally known and garnered him many invitations and awards, including an invitation from First Lady Laura Bush to a luncheon at The White House.
Joseph Di Palma established The Di Palma Forum at UNLV, a TV interview program, which was the first televised university affiliated celebrity panel discussion of significant national issues in a serious debate atmosphere. His wife, Joycelyn Engle, assembled the Host Committee and cast every show. She was also one of the hosts on the TV show. Joseph Di Palma worked with top Hollywood stars on The Di Palma Forum, including guests and Host Committee members, Woody Allen, Fred de Cordova, Diane Keaton, Jonathan Jackson, Bette Midler, Julianne Michelle, Shirley Jones, Elliott Gould, Susan Anton, U.S. Senator Richard Bryan, U.S. Senator Harry Reid, Joe Mantegna, Edward James Olmos, Debbie Reynolds, Dee Wallace Stone, Tony Randall, Della Reese, Katherine Helmond, and Robert Maheu, who was Howard Hughes' long term personal representative, and many more.
Joseph Di Palma is Executive Producer of the feature film Shannon's Rainbow (aka Amazing Racer) in 2009 and the motion picture, Awakened in 2013, which starred award winning actors including Oscar and Golden Globe winners and nominees. Cast members of both movies include Julianne Michelle, Scott Eastwood, Daryl Hannah, Edward Furlong, Louis Gossett Jr., John Savage, Eric Roberts, Claire Forlani, Sally Kirkland, Steven Bauer and Charles Durning.
Joycelyn Engle is the producer and casting director for Shannon's Rainbow (aka Amazing Racer), and she is writer, director, producer and casting director for Awakened.
Joseph Di Palma's younger daughter, Julianne Michelle, is a film star whose credits include more than 30 movies and several TV series. She stars in the lead role in Shannon's Rainbow (aka Amazing Racer), Awakened, and many more. She won Best Actress in Poland for her role in the feature film, The House is Burning, starring opposite Oscar Winner Melissa Leo.
Joseph Di Palma's non-profit, editorial think tank, The Di Palma Position Papers, released an average of 20 topics per month to the media.
Joseph Di Palma was named as a member of The International Platform Association.
In 1993, Joseph Di Palma dedicated The Chapel of The Blessed Virgin at The Guardian Angel Cathedral in Las Vegas in memory of his parents, Michele May and Gaetano Di Palma.
In 1996, Joseph Di Palma made the cover of Las Vegas Magazine in connection with a cover story on his think tank, The Di Palma Position Papers.
In 1997 the Di Palma family donated a 50-carat diamond necklace and pendent and an 18.5 carat diamond woman's wristwatch to The Cooper- Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution on Fifth Avenue in NYC. The gift served to establish The Di Palma Center for the Study of Jewelry and Precious Metals at the museum. Avenue Magazine published a number of photos from events sponsored by The Di Palma Center for the Study of Jewelry and Precious Metals.
In 2001 Joseph Di Palma received the Tiffany Smithsonian Benefactors Circle Award from The Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution in NYC.
In 2002 he received the WNET/Thirteen Public Spirit Award for years of continued support in underwriting (sponsoring) The Nightly Business Report at a gala party with guests from the TV and movie world.
He received a special commendation from The University of Nevada, Las Vegas for The Di Palma Forum TV show due to excellent ratings, superior selection of topics, and the many celebrities from the motion picture and TV industry who appeared on the show, and world leaders, as well as other powerful people in America, including Robert Maheu, Howard Hughes' long time personal representative.
Joseph Di Palma was interviewed extensively by the media regarding his views on Indian gaming, business, finance, the stock market, the motion picture industry and the Mid-East.
He has been listed in Marquis Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in Finance and Industry, and Who's Who in the West.
In 1997, former NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani sent a letter of commendation to the Di Palma Center at The Cooper Hewitt, National Design Museum.
Joseph Di Palma has authored many tax and legal articles for various magazines and publications, and he has been interviewed on TV and radio and written up by the media. He has been on the board of many charities including, Friends of the Henry Street Settlement and The Outdoor Cleanliness Association of New York. He is a member of The NY Athletic Club.
He is the son of Gaetano and Michela May (Ambrosio) Di Palma and he married Joycelyn Ann Engle on April 18, 1970. They have two children Joycelyn Joan and Julianne Michelle and two grandchildren, Bailey Joseph and Avalynn Karen Ann.
Joseph Di Palma also carries the title of Count from his ancestors originating in Norway, Normandy and Italy.
His wife, Joycelyn Engle, is a movie producer, writer, director, actress, casting director, and a speech and image consultant. She is also the Executive Producer of The Di Palma Forum at UNLV TV show. She formed the Host Committee for The Di Palma Forum, which consists of many of her celebrity friends. She cast the celebrity panelists for all The Di Palma Forum TV shows. She is also a TV Host.
Joycelyn Engle Di Palma and Joseph Di Palma have two daughters, Joycelyn Joan and Julianne Michelle and two grandchildren, Bailey Joseph, 5 and Avalynn, 7 months old.
His first born daughter, Joycelyn Joan (Joycelyn Di Palma), is a TV writer/producer in LA. Her credits include Forensic Justice, Corrupt Crimes, E! News, E! True Hollywood Story, What Should You Do? and many more. She also assisted in many production aspects of The Di Palma Forum TV Show.
Joseph Di Palma's younger daughter, Julianne Michelle, is a celebrity in her own right. She is an actress who thus far has starred in 30 movies and TV series.
Julianne Michelle, a two-time Best Actress winner in New York and Poland Film Festivals, stars with Oscar and Golden Globe winners and nominees. Her big screen credits in the past ten years include Awakened, Apartment 1303, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Shannon's Rainbow (aka Amazing Racer), Sweet Lorraine, The Little Wizard Stories, The Oz Kids, and more. TV shows in which she starred and guest starred include Who's The Boss?, Roseanne, Ellen Degeneres, Queen Latifah, As The School Bus Turns, Bus No. 9, Phenom, the WB TV special "20 Teens Who Will Change the World", and many more. She was also a celebrity panelist on The Di Palma Forum TV show. In movies and TV, Julianne Michelle starred with Tatum O'Neal, Melissa Leo, Scott Eastwood, Sally Kirkland, Michael Douglas, Charles Durning, Rebecca De Mornay, John Savage, Steven Bauer, Robin Lord Taylor, Anne Archer, Joe Mantegna, Patti LuPone, Tony Danza, Judith Light, Alyssa Milano, Claire Forlani, Daryl Hannah, Eric Roberts and many more.
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America , Marquis Who's Who has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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