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Paul Anthony Sorvino (born April 13, 1939 in Brooklyn, New York City) is an American character actor whose career has largely been the portrayal of authority figures, both as legal enforcer and criminal, in television, stage, and film. He is the father of actress Mira Sorvino, actor Michael Sorvino and daughter Amanda.

He began his career as a copywriter in an advertising agency, where he worked with the soon-to-be-great John Margeotes, founder of Margeotes, Fertitta, and Weiss.

He took 18 years of voice lessons. While attending the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Sorvino decided to go into the theatre. He made his Broadway debut in the 1964 musical Bajour, and six years later he appeared in his first film, Where's Poppa?

He received an avalanche of critical praise for his performance as Phil Romano in Jason Miller's 1972 Broadway play That Championship Season, a role he repeated in the 1982 TCS film version.

He appeared also in the 1976 Elliott Gould-Diane Keaton vehicle I Will, I Will...For Now. Sorvino has starred in the weekly series We'll Get By (1975, as George Platt), Bert D'Angelo/Superstar (1976, in the title role) and "The Oldest Rookie" (1987, as Detective Ike Porter).

In 1991, he took over from George Dzundza on the popular series Law & Order, and in 1993 he subbed for the late Raymond Burr in a Perry Mason TV movie. He has also appeared as Bruce Willis' father in the weekly series Moonlighting, and the "Lamont" counterpart in the never-aired original pilot for Sanford and Son.

One of his most famous roles was that of Paul Cicero in Goodfellas. Sorvino also played Henry Kissinger in Oliver Stone's film Nixon (1995).

In 1999, friend Jason Miller wrote the screenplay as Sorvino directed and again starred in (albeit playing a different role) a lower-budget TV version of That Championship Season.

From 2000 to 2002 he had a starring role as Frank DeLucca in the CBS television drama That's Life.

He still remains very active in the theatre as both an actor and director.

He lives in Los Angeles and Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (where he, his son Mike, and daughter Mira are honorary law enforcement officers).

He is currently filming "The Trouble with Cali" in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area of Pennsylvania. He is directing and starring in the film which is partially funded by Lackawanna County, where the city of Scranton is the county seat. His daughter, Mira Sorvino also stars in the film.

Partial filmography

• The Trouble with Cali {2007}
• Last of the Mustangs (2006)
• Mr. 3000 (2004) - Gus Panas
• Mambo Italiano (2003) - Gino Barberini
• Mafia Doctor (2003) - Nicola
• The Cooler (2003) - Buddy Stafford
• See Spot Run (2001) - Sonny
• That Championship Season (TV) - Coach - Director
• Bulworth (1998) - Graham Crockett
• Money Talks (1997) - Guy Cipriani
• Romeo + Juliet (1996) - Fulgencio Capulet
• Nixon (1995) - Henry Kissinger
• Law & Order (TV) (1991-1992) - Sgt. Phil Cerreta
• The Rocketeer (1991) - Eddie Valentine
• Goodfellas (1990) - Paul Cicero
• Dick Tracy (1990) - Lips Manlis
• Wes Craven's Chiller (1985) - Reverend Penny
• Off the Wall (1983) - Warden Nicholas F. Castle
• That Championship Season (1982) - Phil Romano
• Oh, God! (1977) - Tele-evangelist
• Reds (1981) - Louis Fraina
• The Gambler (1974) - Hips
• The Day of the Dolphin (1973)

External links

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