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James Farentino Bio
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James Farentino An actor who, on occasions reflects in his roles the mixed up character he has become in his private life, with an arrest for cocaine possession, arrest for stalking Frank Sinatra’s daughter, Tina, three broken marriages and alcoholism. James Farentino was born in Brooklyn, New York on February 24th 1938 to Anthony and Helen Farentino. His father was a clothes designer of Italian decent and his mother was a homemaker. Farnetino began his career on the stage on Broadway when he appeared in his debut role in Tennessee Williams’s ‘The Night of the Lauguna’ in 1961. His time on Broadway was brief and he quickly moved his talents to film and television and made his film debut in the little known movie ‘Psychomania/Violent Midnight’ in 1963 before catching a break as the lead in the 1966 movie ‘The Pad……and how to use it’ with Brian Bedford. The movie saw James winning a Golden Globe Award as the most promising newcomer. 1962 was the year of James’s first of four marriages when he tied the knot with actress Elizabeth Ashley in September 1962. The marriage was as short lived as many of his roles in miniseries, when he divorced in 1965. Within two years James was ready to take his marriage vows once more, this time with another actress Michele Lee, later of ‘Knots Landing’ fame. Again the marriage ended in divorce in 1982, but not before the couple had a one son, David Farentino, born in July 1969.
The 1960’s was a poor decade for leading men in movies and James’s career took the path of television through until the 1980’s. With his large stature and handsome, brooding looks he found the roles he was suited to were often power orientated such as his role as Navy commander in the 1980 movie ‘The Final Countdown’ which also starred Kirk Douglas and Martin Sheen. Other powerful characters he was assigned were the district attorney in ‘Her Alibi’ with Tom Selleck in 1989 and in the same year he starred as a corrupt judge in the made for TV movie ‘Naked Lie’ with Victoria Principal as the leading lady. From the late 1960’s through early 1970’s Farentino was cast as the novice and most unorthodox attorneys in the NBC series "The Lawyers" which also guest starred Richard Pryor and Martin Sheen. He returned to series work as a CIA agent turned private investigator in "Cool Million" with Sharon Gless and Ray Milland 1972 through ‘73. For his portrayal of Simon Peter in the 1977 the miniseries reflecting on the life of Jesus, "Jesus of Nazareth" he earned an Emmy nomination. The 1980’s saw James Farentino pursuing a mainly television based career but still remained open to movie offers. He accepted the role of Frank Chaney in the short lived police helicopter based series, ‘Blue Thunder’ when he appeared for 11 episodes with Dana Carvey. His next appearance on a series in the 1980’s came as the romantic news room boss and love interest in ‘Mary’ which starred Mary Tyler Moore.
But it was 1981 that saw James in the role of the mysterious but handsome Dr Nick Toscanni on the set of ‘Dynasty’ for the 1981/82 series which starred Joan Collins as Alexis Carrington and John Forsythe as her ex-husband with a new wife played by Linda Evans. In 1986 James starred once again with Miss Collins in the miniseries ‘Sins’ which also starred Gene Kelly, Timothy Dalton and Lauren Hutton. James remained single until marrying wife number three, Debrah Farentino, also an actress, in 1985, and again they made an appointment at the divorce courts just three years later. Another powerful role that came James’s way was that of Juan Peron, the Argentinean dictator with his wife Eva Peron being played by Faye Dunaway. Farentino, never far from controversy, was arrested in Vancouver, Canada in July 1991 after the police intercepted a package containing 3.2 grams of cocaine being sent to his hotel room. Farentino was in town filming the TV movie ‘Miles From Nowhere’. He was charged with cocaine possession and released on bail.In 1992 James starred in another short lived, self named romantic sit com starring Julie Andrews, ‘Julie’. The series was once again short lived. James moved on to star with his ex-wife Michele Lee as an abusive husband in "When No One Would Listen" in 1992. After the end of a five year relationship with Frank Sinatra’s youngest daughter, Tina, in 1993, James continued to pursue his ex-girlfriend and was charged with stalking. The courts issued a restraining order against him after he entered a plea of "no contest". Once again, unable to be alone, James plunged himself into his fourth marriage to Stella in August 1994, as of 2007 he has managed to keep the marriage together. Farnetino’s acting roles in 1994 included the doomed father of his two murdering sons, Jose Menendez in the miniseries "Honor Thy Father and Mother: The True Story of the Menendez Murder". Once again James made an appearance in a long running series, ‘Melrose Place’, where he landed the role of Mr Beck in 1998 which saw him starring along side Heather Locklear and Kristin Davis.
In the late 1990s, Farentino guest-starred as George Clooney’s estranged father, Ray Ross, on the NBC TV series ER. ABB |
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