Dennis Farina, a Chicago native and police officer who turned to acting, has died at 69 in Arizona, his publicist said today.
Farina, best known as detective Joe Fontana on the long-running TV series "Law & Order," suffered a blood clot in his lung, publicist Lori De Waal said.
Farina was an 18-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, a detective who moonlighted on Chicago theater stages and in small movie roles. In the 1980s he was on the NBC television series "Crime Story."
He then became one of the stars of "Law & Order," playing tough, nattily dressed Detective Joe Fontana.
After graduating from high school, Farina decided to "get the Army out of the way" and served three years before returning to Chicago. He worked for a while at the South Water produce market until, on the advice of his older brother, a lawyer, he joined the police force and studied criminal justice at Truman Junior College.
The actor is survived by his three sons, six grandchildren and the love of his life of 35 years, Marianne Cahill.....snip~
Dennis Farina dead at 69 - chicagotribune.com
Ex Chgo Cop.....He also Starred in Code of Silence with Chuck Norris. They did the film in Chicago and under Wacker drive. Also did Crime Story with Andrew Dice Clay.
R.I.P. Dennis.