I'm not sure all that many people could answer that question
before Sleepers, and I doubt that many more can now! 
Here is the (sort of) vital info:

Age: 15

Birthplace/Hometown: Bronx (in New York)

Film Debut: The Juror (he had a small role as Thomas Riggio)

First Starring Role: Young Shakes, in Sleepers

Future projects: The Mighty (1997)

One of his favorite pasttimes: Watch Movies

How he got the role of "Shakes": He was standing outside an
Italian restraunt in the Bronx called Mario's, and was given a 
flyer about the open casting for Sleepers. But other sources have
different versions of this story. Some websites say that he was
playing baseball in the park when the casting crew saw him, 
People magazine says that he was standing under streetlight with
his older brother, Franco. Who knows which is the correct story??

What director Barry Levinson says about Joe:
"I've never seen a kid like him.
He's got an astounding ability to be 
completely natural. In his first day 
on the set, he worked with Robert 
De Niro, and it didn't even faze
him. He knew so little about the
business that between takes, he was
asking De Niro questions about
something he read in a fan magazine."

What Movie Reviews by Lisa says about :
 "The most beautiful scene in the entire 
movie was the projection of the hydrant 
on Shakes' hand in the darkness of solitary 
at Wilkinson. Joseph, barely recognizable 
through a beaten and swollen face, conveys 
in his eyes, the fear, despair, and 
hopelessness of Shakes' life in Wilkinson, 
and the joy and wistfulness of his youth in 
Hell's Kitchen. Excellent young actor."

What Town ONline said about Joe (even
though their review for Sleepers was less than flattering:
  "But the best acting performances in this film are turned in by the 
boys, especially Perrino. He was good in "The Juror," and he's even 
better here, giving the film a spiritual center and serving as its 
conscience."

All right, Joe!! :-)

Joe Perrino
c/o Sleepers
Warner Brothers Studios 
4000 Warner Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91522

Joe Perrino (Younger Shakes) asks Jason Patric (Older Shakes),
"What's my motivation?"