Dennis Farina Birthday & Fun Facts

Dennis Farina Birthday Highlights

Birth Name

Dennis Farina

Place Of Birth

Chicago, USA

Age

79 years old

Birth Date

February 28 1944

Dennis Farina Facts

Child Star?

no

Occupation

Actor

Education & Qualifications

St Michael Central High School

Net Worth

$8,000,000

Current Partner

Patricia Farina

Parents

Yolanda, Joseph Farina

Dennis Farina was the last and the fourth sibling and also the youngest of Joseph and Yolanda Farina's seven children.

He was born on February 29, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois, and surprisingly it was on a leap year in Chicago's Old Town area. Dennis Farina died on July 22, 2013, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Farina's dad was a well-known doctor in the Chicago region, and his mother was a housewife from Villalba in Sicily.

They nurtured their children on North Avenue in Old Town, a working-class district with a diverse ethnic population led by Italians and Germans. Again, Dennis starred as a difficult, overly protective father-in-law in the sitcom 'Stealing Harvard,' released in 2002. and in the 2008 film 'Bottle Shock,' he played a role beside Alan Rickman.

He voiced Daffy Duck's girlfriend's father in early 2013, which was considered his final role in his acting path. After this, Farina spent three years in the US Army during the Vietnam War, then worked for the Chicago Police Force for almost 18 years (1967–1985), rising through the ranks from patrol officer to investigator. He entered the entertainment business as a police consultant for director Michael Mann.

The notable roles in which he has appeared are Jimmy Serrano ('Midnight Run'), Albert Lombard ('Miami Vice'), Army Colonel ('Saving Private Ryan'), Wildcat ('Justice League Unlimited'), and several others.

Please continue reading to learn more about this famous actor and director, Dennis Farina, including his net worth, acting roles, personal life, and early career, including time in the US Army and Chicago Police Force.

What was Dennis Farina's net worth?

Dennis Farina had a net worth of around $8 million.

How much did Dennis Farina earn per year?

Dennis Farina is no longer alive, so his income cannot be determined. While working, he used to earn up to $1 million every year.

How tall was Dennis Farina?

Dennis Farina was 6 ft 2 in (187cm tall).

How old was Dennis Farina?

Dennis Farina was 69 years old when he died in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was born on February 29, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois, in Chicago's Old Town area.

Dennis Farina was the youngest of seven children born to Joseph, a doctor from Villalba, Sicily, and Yolanda, on February 29, 1944, in an old neighborhood town in Chicago, Illinois. In Chicago Old Town, the family had a house on North Avenue. Their neighbors in Chicago were a mix of working-class and multicultural families. Germans and the Italians were by far the most visible among them.

Dennis Farina received his high school diploma from St Michael Central in 1962. After that, Dennis Farina himself enrolled in the military of the United States right at the beginning of the  Vietnam War and spent the following three years serving in that nation.

Who was Dennis Farina's partner?

Dennis Farina's partner was Patricia Farina, and they had three sons together.

Best Known For…

Dennis Farina was best known for his mind-blowing acting in 'Midnight Run,' a movie where he was known to have excelled in his role. Dennis Farina achieved fame with his work in the hit movie 'Saving Private Ryan.' Dennis was also known to have served for several years in the military services, and then again, he spent around 18 years in one of the police departments in Chicago. This was his life before entering into the show business.

Farina was raised in an average family who belonged to the working class and had a famous mixed-race neighborhood; and is regarded as one of the finest character performers of all time.

Dennis Farina joined the US Army right after he got done with his education in high school, and then he spent the following three years serving in the most brutal war of Vietnam. Ferina subsequently joined one of the police departments in his hometown, Chicago, where he was born and reared.

He was serving in the robbery section when he accidentally met a very famous filmmaker, Michael Mann, who recruited him as a means of helping him better understand Chicago's underground. Mann later hired him as an actor in his film 'Thief.'

He starred as Buddy Faro in CBS' short-lived criminal drama series 'Buddy Faro' in 1998. He played Victor Pellet in NBC's sitcom 'In Laws' from 2002 to 2003. Farina was cast as Det. Joe Fontana on NBC's long-running police procedural drama 'Law & Order' in 2004 and appeared in 46 episodes.

Charity Work

Dennis is well-known for donating large amounts of money to numerous fundraising organizations. He had a strong desire to assist the needy. He had also assisted several homeless folks and given meals to the kids. He also contributed to several AIDS prevention foundations and charities that benefit his country's disadvantaged regions.

Since childhood, he was always compassionate to those in need. He had given large sums of money to numerous cancer hospitals and organizations that help the homeless. He was also observed assisting innumerable students with their studies by assisting them with tuition fees and other matters. He never sat quietly and constantly spoke out when he noticed anything was amiss.

What awards did Dennis Farina win?

Farina had starred in NBC's most famous and globally watched series called 'Law and Order' and in the HBO drama called 'Empire Falls,' for which he even received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Mini-Series. Farina is most known for his supporting role in Steven Soderbergh-directed show called 'Out of Sight,' a show where he played the retiring lawman dad of the most beautiful Jennifer Lopez character.

Farina's earlier appearance in an Elmore Leonard popular, 'Get Shorty,' a great movie produced by Barry Sonnenfeld, had its co-stars as  John Travolta, Rene Russo, and also Gene Hackman. For his role 'Ray' Bones' Barboni,' Farina won an award for being the Funniest Supporting Male, and this was for his performance as the character Ray Bones. Farina received great acclaim for his depiction of the terrifying and humorously foul-mouthed Jimmy Serrano, who acted as Robert De Niro's bête noire when he portrayed the comedy character of Jack Walsh in the 1988 action-comedy called the 'Midnight Run.'

Ferina got cast in 'Men of Respect,' a contemporary rendition of William Shakespeare's most famous and well-known 'Macbeth,' in 1990. Bankie Como, a character adapted from Banquo, the original play, was played by Farina. In Sydney Pollack's drama film 'Havana,' he performed an uncredited role; in John Turturro's Caméra d'Or-winning drama 'Mac,' he portrayed a character named Mr. Stunder.

Dennis Farina's Hobbies And Interests

Dennis Farina had a lot of hobbies and interests, including reading novels and filling his own diary. He loved to spend time with his family and friends whenever he got time. He even loved to go for regular walks and paint. He would go out for a movie or a drink with his friends during the weekends.

He would also take his children to the park and play with them. He even loved animals, primarily dogs. He had a pet dog, his best friend, and forever companion. He also had a great fascination with old movies; hence, he had a huge collection of beautiful masterpieces.

• Dennis Farina worked for the police department from 1967 until 1985, mainly in the burglary division. In 1978, filmmaker Michael Mann engaged him to assist him in scouting sites for a crime picture.
• Mann, a native of Chicago, intended to use the city as the setting for his debut feature film. Soon after, the two started a professional partnership that would continue for the next three decades.
• Farina was even cast in Mann's first picture, 'Thief' (1981). He was cast opposite James Caan, James Belushi, and Tuesday Weld in the role of Carl. 'Code of Silence,' starring Chuck Norris, was Farina's second picture (1985). In Mann's program 'Miami Vice,' which was also his debut television series, he collaborated with him.
• Farina's earlier appearance in an Elmore Leonard popular, 'Get Shorty,' a great movie produced by Barry Sonnenfeld, had its co-stars as  John Travolta, Rene Russo, and also Gene Hackman.
• He starred as Buddy Faro in CBS' short-lived criminal drama series 'Buddy Faro' in 1998. He played Victor Pellet in NBC's sitcom 'In Laws' from 2002 to 2003. Farina was cast as Det. Joe Fontana on NBC's long-running police procedural drama 'Law & Order' in 2004 and appeared in 46 episodes.
• He voiced Wildcat, the boxer-turned-superhero, in 'Justice League Unlimited' in early 2005. He also starred in the miniseries 'Empire Falls' that year. Around 2008, Dennis had taken over as a great host in a famous show called the 'Unsolved Mysteries,' where he was known to have replaced Robert Stack.
• Farina then co-starred in HBO's famous series titled 'Luck' with Dustin Hoffman between the years 2011 and 2012. Lastly, it is important to mention Dennis Farina's performance as Lt. Mike Torello in a famous show called' Crime Story,' which is regarded as his best hour on the screen.
• Not to forget the legendary NBC cop drama that was groundbreaking in terms of storyline. Rather than being episodic, as was the custom in the year of '80s, it provided a continuous tale throughout one season.

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