Tough guy actor from the U.S., Dennis Farina, who was for years a policeman in Chicago prior to entering the acting field, died Monday at 69.
Farina was in Scottsdale, Arizona when he died, following the development of a blood clot inside his lung, said Lori De Waal his publicist.
Of all his roles, Farina will be remembered most for his portrayal of New York City Detective Joe Fontana in the hit show Law and Order.
Farina was also a mobster in two action comedy movies: Run in 1988 and Get Shorty in 1995.
Zooey Deschanel, the actress whom Farina worked on New Girl, a U.S. sitcom, said she was lucky to have been around his brilliance and charm.
John Cusack, a fellow actor, was amongst many others, who paid homage to their fellow actor and in Cusack’s case a fellow Illinoisan, as a real man from Chicago and a great guy.
Former star of Cheers Kirstie Alley said Farina was an awesome person and actor, while actor Denis Leary said he was a good policeman, a great actor and best of all even a better human being.
The Chicago Police Department’s current superintendant paid tribute to Farina saying he would always be the foremost and first guy from the North Side who helped make Chicago safer.
Farina was born on February 29, 1944 in Chicago. He served in the military prior to working 18 years as a detective with the Chicago Police Department.
He did not start acting until he was nearly 40, with his first credited role being a minor part in Thief the 1981 film by Michael Mann.
Farina played Detective Joe Fontana for three seasons and recently appeared alongside actor Dustin Hoffman in Luck an HBO drama that was short lived.
Farina is survived by Marianne Cahill his partner of over 35 years, three sons as well as six grandchildren.
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Source:
http://dcprogressive.org/2013/07/23/dennis-farina-actor-in-law-and-order-dies/