Dennis Farina dies at 69

One of our favorites, Dennis Farina, has died.  He was 69 years-old.

Dennis Farina, a onetime Chicago cop who as a popular actor played a cop on "Law & Order," has died, his publicist Lori DeWaal said in a statement.

Farina died Monday morning in a Scottsdale, Ariz., hospital after suffering a blood clot in his lung.

For us, Mr. Farina's work shined continuously in everything he was cast in. His recent work in the HBO drama "Luck" paired him perfectly with Dustin Hoffman as a tough guy right hand man.

A Chicago native who served the city as a police detective, Mr. Farina appeared in films including "Snatch," "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."

He recently completed shooting a comedy, "Lucky Stiff."

A veteran of the Chicago theater, Farina appeared in Joseph Mantegna's "Bleacher Bums" and "Streamers," directed by Terry Kinney, among other productions. His first film was the 1981 action drama "Thief," directed by Michael Mann, whom he had met through a mutual friend while still working for the Chicago Police Department. It was Mann who cast him in "Luck" for HBO.

Farina is survived by three sons, six grandchildren and his longtime partner, Marianne Cahill.