Biography
A familiar face in film and on television and stage since the early 1970s, Paul Sorvino was a Tony-nominated character actor and occasional lead whose imposing presence belied the versatility of his talents. His Italian-American heritage and Brooklyn roots assured him regular employment as policemen and gangsters, both of which he essayed in projects ranging from "Law and Order" (NBC, 1990- ) to Martin Scorsese's flawless Mob epic, …
Paul Sorvino SlideShow
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Career Milestones
| Appeared in "Die Fledermaus" with the Seattle Opera Company | ||
| At age 16, trained to be a dance instructor; fired for being underage | ||
| Dropped out of show business to work in advertising; became vice president and creative director of ad agency | ||
| Sang at charity balls and on the Catskills circuit as "The Romantic Voice of Val Sorvino" at age 23 | ||
1964 | Broadway debut in the chorus of the musical "Bajour" | |
1970 | Resumed acting career; made film debut in "Where's Poppa?" | |
1971 | Had featured role in "The Panic in Needle Park"; first feature with Al Pacino | |
1972 | Breakthrough stage role as Phil in the Pulitzer-winnning "That Championship Season," written by Jason Miller; earned Tony nomination | |
1972 | Originated character of Bert D'Angelo on an episode of ABC's "The Streets of San Francisco" | |
1973 | Acted in supporting role in the comedy "A Touch of Class" | |
1974 | TV debut as Earl of Gloucester in Great Performances/Joseph Papp presentation of "King Lear" (PBS) | |
1974 | TV series debut as star of the CBS sitcom "We'll Get By" | |
1976 | Returned to series TV as an unorthodox L.A. police detective on "Bert D'Angelo, Superstar" (ABC) | |
1977 | Replaced Topol in the role of the baker in the stage musical "The Baker's Wife"; toured with show in Boston and Washington, DC; was scheduled to open on Broadway but closed out of town | |
1978 | Had rare feature lead as a journalist who falls in love with a ballerina in "Slow Dancing in the Big City" | |
1979 | Portrayed a hearing-impaired attorney appointed to defend an illiterate black youth accused of murder in the fact-based "Dummy" (CBS) | |
1981 | Portrayed Louis Fraina in Warren Beatty's epic "Reds" | |
1982 | Reprised stage role in Jason Miller's film version of "That Championship Season" | |
1985 | Had featured role in "Surviving," an ABC drama about teen suicide; first screen teaming with Ellen Burstyn | |
1987 | Portrayed title character in "The Oldest Rookie," a CBS series about a police chief who becomes a rookie cop at age 50 | |
1990 | Cast as Lips Manlis in Warren Beatty's "Dick Tracy" | |
1990 | Landed one of his best screen roles as mob boss Paul Cicero in Martin Scorsese's "Goodfellas" | |
1991 | Spent one season playing Detective Phil Cerreta on the popular NBC series "Law & Order" | |
1995 | Appeared as Henry Kissinger in Oliver Stone's "Nixon" | |
1996 | Cast as Capulet in Baz Luhrmann's "William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet" | |
1996 | Played role of the father of a Juliet-like Italian girl in the comedy "Love Is All There Is" | |
1997 | Executive produced and starred in unsold pilot for an ABC series loosely inspired by his life | |
1997 | Portrayed New York Yankees manager Joe Torre in the Showtime biopic "Joe Torre: Curveballs Along the Way" | |
1998 | Reteamed with Beatty for "Bulworth," playing a platinum-haired lobbyist | |
1999 | TV directing debut with Showtime remake of "That Championship Season"; also starred in role of the Coach | |
2000 | Co-starred as Philadelphia mayor Frank Rizzo in the fact-based "The Thin Blue Lie" (Showtime) | |
2000 | Had featured role in the Nicolas Cage vehicle "Family Man" | |
2000 | Played the principal who must fire a teacher who provides his students with the answers to a local competition in "Cheaters" (HBO) | |
2000 | Returned to series TV as Ellen Burstyn's husband in "That's Life" | |
2001 | Acted in the improvisational parody "Perfume" | |
2003 | Appeared in "The Cooler" opposite Alec Baldwin, William H. Macy, and Maria Bello | |
2004 | Cast opposite Bernie Mac in the comedy "Mr. 3000" | |
2004 | Joined the cast of CBS sitcom "Still Standing" in a recurring role | |
2008 | Starred in the campy horror musical "Repo! The Genetic Opera" | |
2009 | Cast as Santa Claus in the ABC Family movie "Santa Baby 2" | |
Awards
1996 | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in Nixon |