Publicist: Police officer turned 'Law & Order' star Dennis Farina dies at 69

7/22/2013
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dennis Farina died today after suffering a blood clot in his lung. He was 69.
Dennis Farina died today after suffering a blood clot in his lung. He was 69.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Dennis Farina, a former Chicago cop who as a popular actor played a cop on “Law & Order,” has died.

Lori De Waal, his representative, says Farina died today in a Scottsdale, Ariz., hospital after suffering a blood clot in his lung. He was 69.

Born Feb. 29, 1944, in Chicago, he was a city police officer before turning to acting in his late 30s.

Farina appeared in films including “Get Shorty,” ‘’Saving Private Ryan” and “Midnight Run.”

Among his many TV portrayals was Det. Joe Fontana on “Law & Order.” He starred in the 1980s cult favorite, “Crime Story” and most recently was in the HBO drama series “Luck.”