Dennis Farina (February 29, 1944 – July 22, 2013)

(Fox News) – Dennis Farina, a onetime Chicago cop who as a popular actor 
played a cop on "Law & Order," has died.

Farina died Monday morning in a Scottsdale, Ariz., hospital after suffering
a blood clot in his lung, according to his publicist, Lori De Waal.

For three decades, Farina was a character actor who displayed remarkable
dexterity, charm and, when called for, toughness, making effective use of
his craggy face, steel-gray hair, ivory smile and ample mustache.

Farina appeared in films including "Get Shorty," ”Saving Private Ryan,"
”Midnight Run" and "Out Of Sight."

Among his many TV portrayals was Detective Joe Fontana on "Law & Order"
during the 2004-06 seasons. He eventually left the show to pursue other
projects. He also starred in the 1980s cult favorite "Crime Story" and was
a regular in the 2011-12 HBO drama "Luck." He recently completed shooting
a comedy, "Lucky Stiff."