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Dennis Farina

Dennis Farina

Highest Rated: 95% Midnight Run (1988)

Lowest Rated: 3% The Mod Squad (1999)

Birthday: Feb 29, 1944

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA

After spending 18 years as a Chicago police officer, actor Dennis Farina ironically earned a career onscreen playing supporting roles as criminals and mobsters, often to great comedic effect. Farina made his debut with a small part as a henchman in Michael Mann's crime thriller "Thief" (1981), which led to joining the Chicago theater scene that included a stint at the Steppenwolf Theater alongside the likes of Gary Sinise and John Malkovich. Following an acclaimed, but short-lived stint as a cop on "Crime Story" (NBC, 1986-88), he landed a higher-profile supporting role in "Manhunter" (1986), the first of several serial-killer movies featuring Hannibal Lecter (Brian Cox). From there, he delivered strong performances in a series of television movies and feature films until finally breaking out with an uproarious turn as self-serious Miami crime boss Ray Barboni in the surprise hit "Get Shorty" (1995). Now on Hollywood's radar, Farina had memorable turns in "Saving Private Ryan" (1998) and "Out of Sight" (1998) before landing his own drama series, the unfortunately short-lived "Buddy Faro" (CBS, 1998). He returned to series television some years later to replace Jerry Orbach on "Law & Order" (NBC, 1990-2010), while continuing to dazzle in a wide array of supporting roles in features. These diverse film and television parts marked Farina, who died in 2013, as being one of the most highly prized character actors working in the business.

Highest rated movies

95% 87% Midnight Run 94% 95% Saving Private Ryan 94% 74% Out of Sight
94% 77% Manhunter
92% 100% The Killing Floor
89% 70% Get Shorty
80% 81% Thief
79% 59% You Kill Me

Filmography

Movies

Credit
40% 55% Lucky Stiff Luigi (Character) - 2014
8% 16% Authors Anonymous John K. Butzin (Character) - 2014
72% 66% The Last Rites of Joe May Joe May (Character) - 2011
10% 35% Knucklehead Memphis Earl (Character) - 2010
48% 58% Bottle Shock Maurice (Character) $4.0M 2008
25% 43% What Happens in Vegas Banger (Character) $80.3M 2008
40% 43% The Grand L.B.J. Deuce Fairbanks (Character) $114.7K 2008
No Score Yet 60% Purple Violets Gilmore (Character) - 2007
No Score Yet 18% Bag Boy Marty Engstrom (Character) - 2007
79% 59% You Kill Me Edward O'Leary (Character) $2.4M 2007
18% 38% Paparazzi Detective Burton (Character) $15.7M 2004
9% 39% Stealing Harvard Mr. Warner (Character) $14.0M 2002
48% 54% Big Trouble Henry (Character) $7.3M 2002
56% 54% Sidewalks of New York Carpo (Character) $2.4M 2001
20% 46% Preston Tylk Dick Muller (Character) - 2000
74% 93% Snatch Cousin Avi (Character) $30.1M 2000
25% 27% Reindeer Games Jack Bangs (Character) $23.4M 2000
3% 17% The Mod Squad Captain Adam Greer (Character) $13.3M 1999
94% 95% Saving Private Ryan Lieutenant Colonel Anderson (Character) - 1998
94% 74% Out of Sight Marshall Sisco (Character) $37.5M 1998
43% 59% That Old Feeling Dan De Mora (Character) $16.3M 1997
16% 36% Eddie Coach John Bailey (Character) $31.4M 1996
No Score Yet 60% Bonanza: Under Attack Charley Siringo (Character) - 1995
89% 70% Get Shorty Ray 'Bones' Barboni (Character) $68.8M 1995
No Score Yet No Score Yet Out of Annie's Past Charlie Ingle (Character) - 1995
35% 54% Little Big League George O'Farrell (Character) $12.1M 1994
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Corpse Had a Familiar Face Detective Harry Lindstrom (Character) - 1994
No Score Yet No Score Yet One Woman's Courage Stella Jenson (Character) - 1994
16% 28% Another Stakeout Brian O'Hara (Character) $20.1M 1993
20% 35% Striking Distance Capt. Nick Detillo (Character) $23.8M 1993
27% 61% Romeo Is Bleeding Nick Gazzara (uncredited) (Character) $3.3M 1993
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Disappearance of Nora Denton (Character) - 1993
No Score Yet No Score Yet We're Talkin' Serious Money Sal (Character) - 1993
No Score Yet 29% Street Crimes Brian (Character) - 1992
No Score Yet No Score Yet Drug Wars: The Cocaine Cartel Mike Cerone (Character) - 1992
No Score Yet 78% Cruel Doubt Tom Brereton (Character) - 1992
No Score Yet 86% American Gangster Unknown (Character) - 1992
No Score Yet 41% Men of Respect Bankie Como (Character) $119.8K 1990
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Hillside Stranglers Angelo Buono (Character) - 1989
No Score Yet 11% The Case of the Hillside Stranglers Angelo Buono (Character) - 1989
95% 87% Midnight Run Jimmy Serrano (Character) $36.3M 1988
No Score Yet No Score Yet Open Admissions Fred (Character) - 1988
No Score Yet No Score Yet Six Against the Rock Robert Stroud (Character) - 1987
94% 77% Manhunter FBI Section Chief Jack Crawford (Character) $7.0M 1986
50% 81% Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling Freddy (Character) $16.4M 1986
No Score Yet 89% Crime Story Lt. Mike Torello (Character) - 1986
68% 51% Code of Silence Dorato (Character) - 1985
92% 100% The Killing Floor Supervisor (Character) - 1984
No Score Yet No Score Yet Through Naked Eyes Patrolman (Character) - 1983
80% 81% Thief Carl (Character) - 1981

TV

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Crime Story Lt. Mike Torello (Character) 1986-1988 2019 2023-2024
No Score Yet 64% Family Guy Himself (Guest Voice) 2014
95% 85% New Girl Walt Miller (Guest Star) 2013
No Score Yet 85% The Looney Tunes Show Frank Russo (Guest Voice) 2013
82% 81% Luck Gus Demitriou (Character) 2012
No Score Yet No Score Yet Unsolved Mysteries Host 1994-1995 2008-2010
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Bonnie Hunt Show Guest 2010
No Score Yet 83% Law & Order Joe Fontana (Character) 2004-2006
No Score Yet No Score Yet Empire Falls Walt Comeau (Character) 2005
No Score Yet No Score Yet Law & Order: Trial by Jury Unknown (Guest Star) 2005
8% No Score Yet In-Laws Unknown (Character) 2002-2003
92% No Score Yet Buddy Faro Unknown (Character),
Executive Producer
1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet Bella Mafia Unknown (Character) 1997
82% 90% Tales From the Crypt Unknown (Character) 1992
No Score Yet No Score Yet People Like Us Unknown (Character) 1990
No Score Yet No Score Yet Blind Faith Prosecutor Kelly (Character) 1990
71% 88% Miami Vice Albert Lombard (Guest Star) 1984-1985 1989
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hunter Vic Terranova (Guest Star) 1985