RIP, Chicago Tough Guy Dennis Farina

Dennis Farina (1944-2013)The Washington Post's Adam Bernstein has a nice article on the life and work of long-time Chicago cop turned actor, Dennis Farina, who recently passed away at the age of 69. We loved him in the underappreciated Crime Story, Law & Order of course, and really just about everywhere he brought his unmisktakeable attitude, accent, amd moustache. Considering his long career with the public before acting, it's interesting to read about his approach to roles, especially using costume like the fabulous haberdashery he sported in L&O to help him understand character. He might have thought that sounded simplistic, but iconic acting coach Stella Adler would've approved.

“Acting, sometimes I think the whole thing’s a little overthought, overworked,” he told the Star-Ledger in 2011. “I don’t know, maybe it’s because I’m just not that deep. And I always play a certain kind of guy — which is fine, I can’t help what I look like or what I’ve done or where I’ve been. But maybe there’s something to be said for that, too. I mean, I’m lousy at that kind of analysis.

“But before you actually become an actor, you know, maybe there’s something to be said for having lived a life.”

Thanks for the great times and crime stories.