After studying journalism and serving in the United States Army, Loggia began a long career as a supporting player in movies, on stage and on television. He first came to prominence as a Mexican bandit named Elfio Baga in a series of Walt Disney television shows. He also starred as a cat burgler turned good in a short-lived series called T.H.E. Cat. His many films include An Officer and a Gentleman, Scarface, Prizzi's Honor, Independence Day (1996), and as charismatic Senator Anton Kreutzer in Oliver Stone's Wild Palms (1993). Loggia also had a memorable and threatening role as mobster Mr. Eddy in David Lynch's Lost Highway (1997), a film which reunited him with Independence Day co-star Bill Pullman. Loggia poked fun at his "mobster" roles when he played a bumbling corrupt union boss in the John Candy film Armed And Dangerous, but later returned to such roles with a fifth-season guest spot in The Sopranos. In 1985, Loggia was nominated for an Academy Award for best supporting actor for his portrayal of a crusty private detective in the thriller Jagged Edge. He has kept active in recent years and won an Emmy nomination in 1989 playing a righteous FBI agent in the TV series Mancuso FBI.

He also appeared in the video games Grand Theft Auto III, playing bent cop Ray Machowski and Admiral Petrarch in Freespace 2.

Arguably, Loggia’s most popular role was in a commercial for Minute Maid orange-tangerine juice. The commercial, which ran in the late years of the 20th century, featured a lisping boy defying his parents and refusing to drink his juice. When the boy demands the appearance of Loggia, the character actor suddenly appears, dressed in black, and testifies to Minute Maid’s quality. Quickly, the little boy gulps down his orange-tangerine juice and his parents thank Loggia. The surrealistic ad has since gained cult status.