Dennis Farina biography

Synopsis

Dennis Farina was a police officer in Chicago from 1967 to 1985. It was while working as a police consultant with director Michael Mann that Farina first got interested in acting. He eventually landed film and TV roles, often as a mobster or police officer. He is best known by mainstream audiences from Law & Order. His films include Midnight Run, Get Shorty, and Saving Private Ryan.

Profile

Actor. Born Donaldo Gugliermo Farina on February 29, 1944 in Chicago, Illinois. Farina grew up in a large Italian family and served as an officer with the Chicago Police Department from 1967 to 1985. It was while working as a police consultant with director Michael Mann that Farina first got interested in acting. After starting out in Chicago theater, Farina eventually landed film and television roles, often as a mobster or police officer. He is best known by mainstream audiences as Detective Joe Fontana on NBC?s Law & Order. His films include Midnight Run, Get Shorty and Saving Private Ryan.