Veteran character actor Dennis Farina has died. The real-life police officer-turned-actor passed away from a blood clot in his lung. He was 69.
Farina starred as a detective on Law and Order for two seasons. He was hired as a replacement when Jerry Orbach retired. More recently he was on HBO’s short-lived horseracing drama Luck. He also played Nick’s scheming dad on New Girl, who died in the show’s second season.
Film fans may know him best for his award-winning role as a mobster in Get Shorty. The film also starred James Gandolfini, who recently passed away as well.
Farina was born in Chicago in 1944, where he reserved as a police officer for 18 years. He began his work in Hollywood as a police consultant for director Michael Mann, and it led to him ultimately changing careers.
The actor spent most of his career playing roles on both sides of the law, either as a mobster or criminal (Get Shorty, Midnight Run, Luck) or as a cop (Manhunter, Crime Story, Law and Order).
(Image courtesy of HBO)
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