Actor Dennis Farina dead at 69

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      One of the great lines of '90s Hollywood cinema was delivered by Dennis Farina in the film Get Shorty

      "They say the fucking smog is the fucking reason you have such beautiful fucking sunsets," he says, as Ray "Bones" Barboni, an unimpressed and highly volatile mobster on an unhappy trip to Tinseltown in the 1995 feature.

      Farina passed away this morning (July 22) in Scottsdale, Arizona, just weeks after the death of his Get Shorty co-star, James Gandolfini.

      Probably best known in recent years for his role on Law & Order, Farina—who wore one of the finest mustaches of the modern era—was always a welcome presence in film, usually playing either a cop or a gangster.

      The former Chicago police officer had a long and successful association with filmmaker Michael Mann. His first ever film role was in Mann's directorial debut, Thief, in 1981.

      Later they would work together on Manhunter and 44 episodes of the cult '80s TV show Crime Story. Recently he was seen in the series New Girl

      Farina was 69 year -old. His death was caused by a blood clot in his lung. 

      Comments

      2 Comments

      Bobby Rydell

      Jul 22, 2013 at 11:56am

      I will miss him dearly.I first met Dennis at a restaurant with my friend Frankie Avalon.Frankie introduced me to Dennis, Dennis turned around and said Bobby fuc______in Rydell.We did many Italian fuctions together for NIAF.My condolences to his family and friends.Dennis, Ciao!

      judi sommer

      Jul 22, 2013 at 7:02pm

      It seems surreal that this big bear of a man with his quick wit,booming baritone voice,shaggy mane of silver hair and from accounts of those in his acting families who saw him as a real mensch, is gone and so suddenly.Bobby, thanks for the anecdote and how lucky you were to have known him.From all accounts,his language was as colourful and as grounded as he was.Ciao Bello...