Paul Sorvino
Paul Sorvino | |
|---|---|
| Born | Paul Anthony Sorvino |
| Years active | 1970 - present |
Paul Anthony Sorvino (born April 13, 1939) is an American character actor whose solid career has largely been the portrayal of authority figures, both as a legal enforcer and criminal, in television, stage, and film.
Biography
Early life
Sorvino was born in Brooklyn, New York City to Italian American parents Marietta, a homemaker and piano teacher, and Ford Sorvino, a robe factory foreman.[1] He attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.[2]
Career
He began his career as a copywriter in an advertising agency, where he worked with John Margeotes, founder of Margeotes, Fertitta, and Weiss. He took 18 years of voice lessons. While attending The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, he decided to go into the theatre. He made his Broadway debut in the 1964 musical Bajour, and six years later he appeared in his first film, Where's Poppa?
He received an avalanche of critical praise for his performance as Phil Romano in Jason Miller's 1972 Broadway play That Championship Season, a role he repeated in the 1982 TCS film version. He appeared also in the 1976 Elliott Gould/Diane Keaton vehicle I Will, I Will...For Now. He has starred in the weekly series We'll Get By (1975, as George Platt), Bert D'Angelo/Superstar (1976, in the title role) and "The Oldest Rookie" (1987, as Detective Ike Porter). He appeared in Larry Cohen's 1985 science fiction horror film The Stuff as a reclusive militia leader, alongside his future Law & Order co-star Michael Moriarty.
In 1991, he took over from George Dzundza on the popular series Law & Order, and in 1993 he subbed for the late Raymond Burr in a Perry Mason TV movie. He has also appeared as Bruce Willis' father in the weekly series Moonlighting, and the "Lamont" counterpart in the never-aired original pilot for Sanford and Son. One of his most notable film roles were Paul Cicero in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas (1990) and Henry Kissinger in Oliver Stone's Nixon (1995). In 1999, friend Jason Miller wrote the screenplay as he directed and again starred in (albeit playing a different role) a lower-budget TV version of That Championship Season.
From 2000 to 2002, he had a starring role as Frank DeLucca in the CBS television drama That's Life. He is filming "The Trouble with Cali" in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area of Pennsylvania. He is directing and starring in the film which is partially funded by Lackawanna County, where the city of Scranton is the county seat. His daughter, Mira, also stars in the film.
He still remains active in the theatre as both an actor and director.
Personal life
Sorvino lives in Los Angeles and Gilbert, Pennsylvania in the Pocono Mountains. He was married to Lorraine Davis, a drama therapist for Alzheimer's patients and is the father of actors Mira, Michael and playwright Amanda.
On January 17, 2007, news reports detailed that he displayed a gun in front of his daughter Amanda's ex-boyfriend, Daniel Snee, after the man pounded on her hotel door and made threats. Amanda testified Snee threatened to kill her at a hotel Jan. 3 in Stowe, Vt.; she said she locked herself in the bathroom and called both police and her father. Her 67-year-old father showed up before police, she testified. When police arrived, the young man was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, she said. As a deputy sheriff in Pennsylvania, he is legally able to carry a gun in different states. He did not point the gun at Snee, or threaten him.[3]
Filmography
- Repo! the Genetic Opera (2008)
- The Trouble with Cali (2007)
- The Wild Stallion (2007)
- Mr. 3000 (2004) - Gus Panas
- Mambo Italiano (2003) - Gino Barberini
- Mafia Doctor (2003) - Nicola
- The Cooler (2003) - Buddy Stafford
- See Spot Run (2001) - Sonny
- That Championship Season (TV) - Coach - Director
- Bulworth (1998) - Graham Crockett
- Money Talks (1997) - Guy Cipriani
- Romeo + Juliet (1996) - Fulgencio Capulet
- Nixon (1995) - Henry Kissinger
- Law & Order (TV) (1991-1992) - Sgt. Phil Cerreta
- The Rocketeer (1991) - Eddie Valentine
- Goodfellas (1990) - Paul Cicero
- Dick Tracy (1990) - Lips Manlis
- The Stuff (1985) - Col. Spears
- Wes Craven's Chiller (1985) - Reverend Penny
- Off the Wall (1983) - Warden Nicholas F. Castle
- That Championship Season (1982) - Phil Romano
- Reds (1981) - Louis Fraina
- Cruising (1980) - Capt. Edelsen
- Oh, God! (1977) - Tele-evangelist
- The Gambler (1974) - Hips
- The Day of the Dolphin (1973)
- The Panic In Needle Park (1971)
- Made for Each Other (1971)