Actor Dennis Farina, the star of "Law & Order" has died at the age of 69, the New York Daily News reports.
According to reports he died in an Arizona Hospital. He is best known for his role as Detective Joe Fontana on "Law & Order" but has also starred in "Snatch," "Saving Private Ryan" and "Get Shorty."
Before becoming an actor, Farina was a Chicago police officer for 19 years. His first movie was "Thief" in 1981.
"I remember going to the set that day and being intrigued by the whole thing," Farina told the Associated Press in a 2004 interview. "I like it. And everybody was extremely nice to me. If the people were rude and didn't treat me right, things could have gone the other way."
According to the Daily News, once he landed the role on the drama TV series "Crime Story" he handed over his badge and became a full-time actor.
"I was giving up a pretty secure job, and I had to be pretty certain that this is what I wanted to do," he told the Daily News in 2002. "But, yeah, I think it's worked out all right."
He is survived by his three children from his marriage to Patricia Farina, who he divorced in 1980. He also has two granddaughters and four grandsons. His rep also said he is survived by "the love of his life of 35 years, Marianna Cahill."
"I was stunned and saddened to hear about Dennis' unexpected passing this morning," said Dick Wolf, the creator of "Law & Order to USA Today." "The 'Law & Order' family extends sympathy and condolences to his family. He was a great guy."
Many celebrities took to Twitter to express their condolences over the sudden loss of Denis Farina.
