Dennis Farina was born 71 years ago this weekend to a large-Italian family from Chicago. Before his successful career as an actor, Farina was a real-life Chicago Police officer for 18 years after his service in the Army.

Farina’s initial work in cinema came as a police consultant to director Michael Mann (a fellow Illinoisan) while working on Mann’s 1981 film Thief. Farina would then go on to appear on Miami Vice and Crime Story.

He became best-known for his role on Law & Order, playing Detective Joe Fontana alongside Jesse L. Martin.

Learn more:
Dennis Farina (Biography.com)
IMDb – Dennis Farina