Dennis Farina is an actor with a very unusual story. He served in the police for many years; he played the first role at a fairly mature age. Dennis was given fame by the series Criminal History. Most often, the actor can be seen in the roles of policemen and criminals. He passed away at the age of 69, managed to star in about 70 films and TV shows.
Dennis Farina: family, childhood
The actor was born in Illinois, or rather, in Chicago. Dennis Farina was born on February 29, 1944. According to the horoscope he is Pisces. Dennis comes from a family of immigrants from Italy, which explains his unusual surname. His father, Joseph, worked as a doctor, and Yolanda's mother watched the house and children. Dennis was born into a large family, his parents had seven children - four sons and three daughters. Parents could not pay him much attention, he soon became independent.
In childhood, Farina did not represent herself as an actor at all. The boy, like many children, dreamed of a heroic profession. As a teenager, he realized that he wanted to become a policeman, to catch criminals.
Way to the cinema
In 1967, Dennis Farina began to serve in the Chicago police. He served until 1985. You can’t say what his life would have been like if it had not been for his acquaintance with the director Michael Mann. Mater needed a consultant, and he used Dennis in that capacity. Gradually Farina became seriously interested in cinema, work in the police faded into the background.
Dennis got his first role in 1981. Farina made his debut in the movie "The Thief" by Michael Mann. It was then that he realized that he had chosen the wrong profession. Fortunately, Dennis was not yet forty years old, he could change his life. That is what the aspiring actor did.
Finest hour
Dennis Farina gained fame five years later. He got the lead role in the series Crime Story. A former law enforcement official embodied the image of Lieutenant Mike Torello, who leads a special police unit in Chicago. His unit is designed to deal with large criminal groups in the city.
A new gang appears in Chicago whose members do not recognize authorities. The group is led by a young, unprincipled and brutal gangster Ray Luca. In a short time, this person becomes a full member of the mafia. He sets himself a very ambitious goal - to lead the underworld.
Torello makes every effort to bring the gangster to clean water. The new criminal gang leaves no evidence. But Mike has no doubt that it is on the orders of Ray Luke that they commit bold robberies and brutal murders. One terrible day, a brutal criminal kills the son of a close friend of Torello. After that, the lieutenant swears an oath to stop the gangster at all costs.
Film and television projects
Thanks to the bright role of Mike Torello, Dennis Farina was remembered not only by the audience. His filmography began to actively replenish, as the directors noted his talent. Mostly the actor got the roles of policemen (“Law and Order”) and violators of the law (“Get Shorty”, “Catch it before midnight”, “Big Jackpot”).
Many series and films by Dennis Farina deserve the attention of the audience. The actor can be seen in the following film and television projects.
- "Six opposite the cliff."
- China Beach.
- "The Case of Stranglers from the Hills."
- "Tales from the crypt."
- Blind Faith.
- "Perfect crimes."
- "Our hobby is a lot of money."
- "Cruel doubts."
- "Street crime."
- "The stranger in the mirror."
- "Romeo is bleeding."
- "At a hit distance."
- “The corpse has a familiar face.”
- Little Big League.
- "Eddie".
- "Out of sight."
- "Save Private Ryan."
- "Gambling."
- "The wormy fruit."
- "Big jackpot."
- "Sidewalks of New York."
- "Big trouble."
- "My criminal uncle."
- "Kill me".
- "Classmates."
- "Packer".
- "Once upon a time in Vegas".
- "Iron head".
- "Memorial service for Joe May."
- "Brand new."
- "Luck".
- "Doctor Plyusheva."
- "Unknown authors."
- "Lucky".
Behind the scenes
Dennis did not choose an actress as his wife. Patricia was not involved in the world of cinema. They lived together for many years, then divorced for unknown reasons. Three children were born in the marriage - sons Dennis, Joseph and Michael. Of all the actor’s children, only Joseph followed in his footsteps.
Farina is the grandfather of five grandchildren. Fortunately, they were born when the actor was still alive.
Death
Dennis passed away at the age of 69. The cause of his death was pulmonary thromboembolism. The actor died July 22, 2013, he died in a hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Photo Dennis Farina can be seen in the article.