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.
Photos
Dennis Farina
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
40% |
|
Lucky Stiff | Luigi (Character) | - | 2014 |
8% |
|
Authors Anonymous | John K. Butzin (Character) | - | 2014 |
72% |
|
The Last Rites of Joe May | Joe May (Character) | - | 2011 |
10% |
|
Knucklehead | Memphis Earl (Character) | - | 2010 |
48% |
|
Bottle Shock | Maurice (Character) | $4.0M | 2008 |
25% |
|
What Happens in Vegas | Banger (Character) | $80.3M | 2008 |
40% |
|
The Grand | L.B.J. Deuce Fairbanks (Character) | $114.7K | 2008 |
No Score Yet |
|
Purple Violets | Gilmore (Character) | - | 2007 |
No Score Yet |
|
Bag Boy | Marty Engstrom (Character) | - | 2007 |
79% |
|
You Kill Me | Edward O'Leary (Character) | $2.4M | 2007 |
18% |
|
Paparazzi | Detective Burton (Character) | $15.7M | 2004 |
9% |
|
Stealing Harvard | Mr. Warner (Character) | $14.0M | 2002 |
48% |
|
Big Trouble | Henry (Character) | $7.3M | 2002 |
56% |
|
Sidewalks of New York | Carpo (Character) | $2.4M | 2001 |
20% |
|
Preston Tylk | Dick Muller (Character) | - | 2000 |
74% |
|
Snatch | Cousin Avi (Character) | $30.1M | 2000 |
25% |
|
Reindeer Games | Jack Bangs (Character) | $23.4M | 2000 |
3% |
|
The Mod Squad | Captain Adam Greer (Character) | $13.3M | 1999 |
94% |
|
Saving Private Ryan | Lieutenant Colonel Anderson (Character) | - | 1998 |
94% |
|
Out of Sight | Marshall Sisco (Character) | $37.5M | 1998 |
43% |
|
That Old Feeling | Dan De Mora (Character) | $16.3M | 1997 |
16% |
|
Eddie | Coach John Bailey (Character) | $31.4M | 1996 |
No Score Yet |
|
Bonanza: Under Attack | Charley Siringo (Character) | - | 1995 |
89% |
|
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% |
|
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% |
|
Another Stakeout | Brian O'Hara (Character) | $20.1M | 1993 |
20% |
|
Striking Distance | Capt. Nick Detillo (Character) | $23.8M | 1993 |
27% |
|
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 |
|
Street Crimes | Brian (Character) | - | 1992 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Drug Wars: The Cocaine Cartel | Mike Cerone (Character) | - | 1992 |
No Score Yet |
|
Cruel Doubt | Tom Brereton (Character) | - | 1992 |
No Score Yet |
|
American Gangster | Unknown (Character) | - | 1992 |
No Score Yet |
|
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 |
|
The Case of the Hillside Stranglers | Angelo Buono (Character) | - | 1989 |
95% |
|
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% |
|
Manhunter | FBI Section Chief Jack Crawford (Character) | $7.0M | 1986 |
50% |
|
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling | Freddy (Character) | $16.4M | 1986 |
No Score Yet |
|
Crime Story | Lt. Mike Torello (Character) | - | 1986 |
68% |
|
Code of Silence | Dorato (Character) | - | 1985 |
92% |
|
The Killing Floor | Supervisor (Character) | - | 1984 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Through Naked Eyes | Patrolman (Character) | - | 1983 |
80% |
|
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 |