Like just about everyone else, I first witnessed his talent and screen presence when he played hardboiled police Lieutenant Mike Torello on Michael Mann's seminal period police drama, Crime Story series back in 1986. A true-life ex-Chicago cop, Farina brought hard-earned verisimilitude to his mob-busting, tough guy role.
Farina went on to play a wide variety of tough cops and criminals - sometimes comically (as in Get Shorty) - in dozens of television shows and films, including Code Of Silence, Manhunter, Snatch, and Midnight Run. He was well known for his recurring role on Law and Order, but I most fondly remember him as the titular character in Mark Frost's short-lived 1998 private eye series, Buddy Faro.
I'm definitely going to miss the guy. Rest in peace, sir.
He lit up the small screen in Crime Story. You wanted to see more, and thankfully we were treated to some utterly wonderful Farina moments over the decades.
ReplyDeleteI loved how he schmoozed on Law and Order, always not quite following the rules, but often getting the job done. Charming rogue! That's what he played and it always seemed it might've been what he was.
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