Anthony Denison
Encyclopedia
Anthony John Sarrero also known by his stage name
Anthony Denison, is an American
actor
. The eldest of three, he was born and raised in New York City
's Harlem
. Before acting he worked for John Hancock Insurance
as a life insurance agent in Poughkeepsie, New York
. At the same time he was acting, starring in several stage productions in the New Paltz, New York
locale. His stage surname "Denison" was taken from his friend Jan Denison during his days as an actor and director at a nonprofit theater in the late 1970s. Tony also ran a poker club in the early 1980s on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
He is well known for his role as mob boss Ray Luca on the 1980s NBC
television show Crime Story
which ran from 1986 to 1988. Afterwards he starred and guest-starred in several crime movies and television programs, notably Wiseguy
, in which he portrayed undercover agent John Henry Raglin penetrating the corrupt New York garment trade, City of Hope
(1991), The Amy Fisher Story
(1993, played Joey Buttafuco) Getting Gotti
(1994 in which he portrayed John Gotti
), Criminal Passion ( also 1994), and head coach Mike George in ESPN
's drama series Playmakers
. He appeared on Charmed
as the Charmed Ones' mortal father for the first season, but was immediately discarded and subsequently replaced by James Read
. His latest work is the recently completed movie Karla
, in which he plays Detective Burows. Denison is part of the regular cast, playing the character Detective Andrew Flynn, in The Closer
airing on TNT
and he also had a recurring role as Aldo Burrows on the Fox series Prison Break
. In the year 2000 he also played the role of a killer for hire in Walker, Texas Ranger
.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Anthony Denison, is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. The eldest of three, he was born and raised in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
. Before acting he worked for John Hancock Insurance
John Hancock Insurance
John Hancock Financial is a loose term for a United States insurance company which existed, in various forms, from its founding on April 21, 1862, until its acquisition in 2004 by the Canadian insurance company Manulife Financial. It was named in honor of John Hancock, a prominent patriot...
as a life insurance agent in Poughkeepsie, New York
Poughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
. At the same time he was acting, starring in several stage productions in the New Paltz, New York
New Paltz, New York
New Paltz is a town in Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 14,003 at the 2010 census. The town is located in the southeastern part of the county and is south of Kingston, New York. New Paltz contains a village also with the name New Paltz...
locale. His stage surname "Denison" was taken from his friend Jan Denison during his days as an actor and director at a nonprofit theater in the late 1970s. Tony also ran a poker club in the early 1980s on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
He is well known for his role as mob boss Ray Luca on the 1980s NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television show Crime Story
Crime Story (TV series)
Crime Story is an NBC TV drama created by Gustave Reininger and Chuck Adamson. The executive producer was Michael Mann, who had left Miami Vice to oversee Crime Story and direct the film Manhunter. The show premiered with a two hour pilot — a movie which had been exhibited theatrically —...
which ran from 1986 to 1988. Afterwards he starred and guest-starred in several crime movies and television programs, notably Wiseguy
Wiseguy
Wiseguy is an American crime drama series that aired on CBS from September 16, 1987 to December 8, 1990 for a total of four seasons. Starring Ken Wahl, the series was produced by Stephen J...
, in which he portrayed undercover agent John Henry Raglin penetrating the corrupt New York garment trade, City of Hope
City of Hope
City of Hope may refer to:*City of Hope National Medical Center, a cancer center in California** The name of the medical center's charity*City of Hope , a 1991 film taking place in fictitious Hudson City, New Jersey...
(1991), The Amy Fisher Story
The Amy Fisher Story
The Amy Fisher Story is a 1993 television movie dramatizing the events surrounding Amy Fisher's teenage affair with Joey Buttafuoco and her conviction for aggravated assault for shooting Buttafuoco's wife. The film was produced by ABC and originally aired on that network; in 1993 it was released on...
(1993, played Joey Buttafuco) Getting Gotti
Getting Gotti
Getting Gotti is a 1994 TV film centered on a Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney named Diane Giacalone, and her attempts to build a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act case against John Gotti and the Gambino crime family. It was shot in Toronto, Ontario.-Cast:The movie starred...
(1994 in which he portrayed John Gotti
John Gotti
John Joseph Gotti, Jr was an American mobster who became the Boss of the Gambino crime family in New York City. Gotti grew up in poverty. He and his brothers turned to a life of crime at an early age...
), Criminal Passion ( also 1994), and head coach Mike George in ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's drama series Playmakers
Playmakers
Playmakers is an American television series that aired on ESPN from August 26, 2003 to November 11, 2003. It depicted the lives of the Cougars, a fictional professional football team in an unidentified city. The show starred Omar Gooding, Marcello Thedford, Christopher Wiehl, Jason Matthew Smith,...
. He appeared on Charmed
Charmed
Charmed is an American television series that originally aired from October 7, 1998, until May 21, 2006, on the now defunct The WB Television Network. The series was created in 1998 by writer Constance M...
as the Charmed Ones' mortal father for the first season, but was immediately discarded and subsequently replaced by James Read
James Read
James Christopher Read is an American actor, best known for his role of George Hazard in the North and South television miniseries.-Early life:...
. His latest work is the recently completed movie Karla
Karla (film)
Karla is a 2006 American drama and thriller film. The film is based on the true story of two of Canada's most notorious serial killers, Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka.-Synopsis:...
, in which he plays Detective Burows. Denison is part of the regular cast, playing the character Detective Andrew Flynn, in The Closer
The Closer
The Closer is an American crime drama, starring Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, a Georgia police detective who often closes her cases using sometimes-questionable methods...
airing on TNT
Turner Network Television
Turner Network Television is an American cable television channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner...
and he also had a recurring role as Aldo Burrows on the Fox series Prison Break
Prison Break
Prison Break is an American television serial drama created by Paul Scheuring, that was broadcast on the Fox Broadcasting Company for four seasons, from 2005 until 2009. The series revolves around two brothers; one has been sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit, and the other devises an...
. In the year 2000 he also played the role of a killer for hire in Walker, Texas Ranger
Walker, Texas Ranger
Walker, Texas Ranger is an American television action crime drama series created by Leslie Greif and Paul Haggis, and starring Chuck Norris as a member of the Texas Ranger Division. The show aired on CBS in the spring of 1993, with the first season consisting of three pilot episodes. Eight full...
.