Midnight Run and Snatch actor Dennis Farina dies aged 69

Dennis Farina, the experienced character actor famed for playing many bad-ass and mouthy individuals (as well as having a cool mustache), has died at the age of 69.

His death was announced earlier today with reports suggesting that he had suffered a blood clot in his lung.

Born in 1944, Farina initially had a successful livelihood serving as an officer in the Chicago Police Department from 1967 to 1985. When that ended, he became an actor in the 80s and started off his screen career in various television shows and independent films.

His first big-break was to come with his role as Detective Jack Crawford (a character later portrayed by Scott Glenn, Harvey Kietel and Laurence Fishburne) in the Hannibal-based crime thriller Manhunter (1986). That same year, he also landed the joint-lead role of another law enforcer, Lt. Mike Torello in the acclaimed television series Crime Story which ran for two seasons on NBC.

When that show ended, he produced one of his more memorable performances as foul-mouthed mob boss Jimmy Serano in the crime-caper Midnight Run (1988).

In the 90s, he continued to play feisty characters in well-known films like Get Shorty (1995) and Out of Sight (1998) as well as making a brief appearance in Steven Spielberg’s war-epic Saving Private Ryan (1998). Another recognised role came in the noughties when he played frustrated businessman Cousin Avi in Guy Ritchie’s renowned Brit-flick Snatch.

He then made another strong return to television when he spent three years playing yet another character of the law, Joe Fontana, in the successful detective series Law & Order. His last high-profile screen appearance was as Dustin Hoffman’s right-hand man Gus Demitriou in the ill-fated horse-racing series Luck (2012).

Farina is survived by his long-term partner and three adult children.

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