Carmine Giovinazzo Biography American actor Carmine Giovinazzo began pursuing acting in 1996, and after bit parts and small roles, he found success through the popular television program CSI: NY. The role of Danny Messer remains his most well-known part to date.
Carmine Dominick Giovinazzo was born August 24, 1973 in Staten Island, New York. He was subsequently raised in the same city. His parents were Nancy Giovinazzo and Dominick Giovinazzo, a part of the police force. Giovinazzo is of Italian, Native American, English, and Swedish descent. An active child, Giovinazzo was constantly involved in sports. This included roller hockey and baseball.
On the education front, Giovinazzo obtained his initial schooling from Port Richmond High School followed by Wagner College. Continuing to pursue sports at the collegiate level, Giovinazzo’s hopes of playing professional baseball ended abruptly with a major back injury. Giovinazzo then turned his sights to acting. By 1996, he had earned his onscreen debut in Conception followed by No Way Home starring Tim Roth. (The film was written and directed by his cousin, Buddy Giovinazzo.) The following year, he relocated to Los Angeles, California. The move brought him in proximity to higher profile roles such as a one-episode appearance on Buffy the Vampire Slayer with leads Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Charisma Carpenter, and others. Scraping by with numerous bit parts, Giovinazzo’s career was marked by small roles in productions such as Locomotive and Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss opposite Sean Hayes and Brad Rowe. By 1999, Giovinazzo was earning roles in higher profile productions. To that end, he appeared with Kevin Costner, Kelly Preston, and John C Reilly in the sports drama For Love of the Game. Also in this year, he was cast as Scott in the short-lived comedy Shasta McNasty with Jolie Jenkins, Jake Busey, and Dale Godboldo.
Continuing to find work, many may recognize Giovinazzo for his bit work in Ridley Scott’s Black Hawk Down starring Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore, Eric Bana, and more. But it was 2004 that was a breakout year for Giovinazzo. He started the year with an appearance in the war drama In Enemy Hands. He appeared beside Scott Caan and William H Macy. But it was also 2004 that brought his role in CSI: NY. Landing the role of Detective Danny Messer, he became a series regular along with Gary Sinise, Melina Kanakaredes, Hill Harper, and Eddie Cahill. Earning the exposure necessary to become a household face, Giovinazzo has been an integral part of each of the show’s five seasons. Coming from a family of police officers, Giovinazzo has stated that he often turns to his relatives for pointers to utilize in the show. Keeping busy, he has currently completed work on the comedy film This is Not a Test. In his personal life, Giovinazzo is an avid musician. A guitarist and songwriter, Giovinazzo also dedicates time to painting. He has been romantically linked to fellow actress Vanessa Marcil. Their relationship ended, however, in 1999. | 
