Dennis Farina Biography

Fast Facts

• In 1985, retired after 18 years with the Chicago Police Department to concentrate on acting, which he had been moonlighting in since taking a part in director Michael Mann's first movie, Thief (1981)
• A year later, had the lead in Mann's underrated TV series Crime Story
• Known as "The Great Wounder" during his time on the police force, due to his poor marksmanship skills
• Stage career is highlighted by leading roles in Steppenwolf Theatre productions, including A Prayer for My Daughter, Tracers and Streamers
• Won an American Comedy Award as the Funniest Supporting Male of 1996 for playing gangster Ray "Bones" Barboni in Get Shorty
• At the start of its 15th season, joined the cast of Law & Order as Det
• Joe Fontana, replacing Jerry Orbach's Det
• Lennie Briscoe