# Anthony Denison
**Anthony Denison** (born Anthony John Sarrero in 1949) is an American actor best known for playing the [crime boss](https://www.edgepedia.org/crime-boss) Ray Luca in [Michael Mann](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-mann)'s NBC drama *Crime Story* (1986–1988) and Detective Andy Flynn on the TNT series *The Closer* and its spin-off *Major Crimes*.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/anthony-denison/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0219208/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth name and place | Anthony John Sarrero, born 1949 in Harlem, New York[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/anthony-denison/) |
| Breakthrough role | Ray Luca, the crime boss of *Crime Story* (NBC, 1986–1988, 40 episodes), cast by Michael Mann[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0219208/) • [1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/anthony-denison/) |
| Signature later role | Det. Andy Flynn on *The Closer* (2005–2012, 108 episodes) and *Major Crimes* (2012–2018, 105 episodes)[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0219208/) |
| Recognition | TIME magazine named Ray Luca television's best villain of the 1980s; a Prism Award and five SAG Award nominations for ensemble performance in a drama series[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0219208/) |
| Other notable roles | John Henry Raglin on *Wiseguy*, Joey Buttafuoco in *The Amy Fisher Story* (1993), John Gotti in *Getting Gotti* (1994), head coach Mike George on ESPN's *Playmakers*[3](https://prabook.com/web/anthony.denison/2591080) • [1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/anthony-denison/) |
| Stage name origin | Took the name Denison from his friend Jan Denison, who supported his pursuit of acting[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0219208/) |
## Early life and jobs before acting
Denison was born Anthony John Sarrero in Harlem, New York, the son of a Sicilian truck driver.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/anthony-denison/) • [4](https://smashinginterviews.com/interviews/actors/tony-denison-interview-the-closer-star-heads-to-major-crimes) Before acting he held a series of jobs, which he listed in a 1989 Los Angeles Times interview: newspaper editor, stonemason, promoter of chess and backgammon tournaments, construction worker, insurance salesman, and bookie, until a Lakers-Knicks game wiped him out one night.[5](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-12-02-ca-174-story.html) He worked for John Hancock Insurance as a life insurance agent in [Poughkeepsie, New York](https://www.edgepedia.org/poughkeepsie-new-york), while appearing in stage productions in the New Paltz area.[3](https://prabook.com/web/anthony.denison/2591080)
He decided he wanted to act in 1976, joined a professional touring company, and moved toward full-time acting in New York, where he accumulated Broadway credits.[4](https://smashinginterviews.com/interviews/actors/tony-denison-interview-the-closer-star-heads-to-major-crimes) A continuing education acting class, he told the Los Angeles Times, hooked him on acting; it was in a 1979 regional staging of Israel Horovitz's play *Line* that he met his actress wife, Jennifer Evans.[5](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-12-02-ca-174-story.html)
## Crime Story and Ray Luca
Denison's television debut came starring as Ray Luca in *Crime Story*, the critically acclaimed NBC drama created by Michael Mann, which ran from 1986 to 1988 for 40 episodes.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0219208/) • [1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/anthony-denison/) The role made his career: "Suddenly it was limousines and 'What can I get for you?'", he told the Los Angeles Times in 1989.[5](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-12-02-ca-174-story.html) TIME magazine recognized Luca as television's best villain of the 1980s, and the part brought him a wave of offers for bad-guy roles.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0219208/) • [5](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-12-02-ca-174-story.html)
After the series ended, he filled in for the injured [Ken Wahl](https://www.edgepedia.org/ken-wahl) as undercover agent John Henry Raglin on *Wiseguy*, a break arranged by David Burke, an executive producer of *Crime Story* who had moved to that show.[5](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-12-02-ca-174-story.html) • [4](https://smashinginterviews.com/interviews/actors/tony-denison-interview-the-closer-star-heads-to-major-crimes) He then played the philandering husband [Joey Buttafuoco](https://www.edgepedia.org/joey-buttafuoco) in *The Amy Fisher Story* (ABC, 1993) opposite [Drew Barrymore](https://www.edgepedia.org/drew-barrymore), and John Gotti in *Getting Gotti* (1994).[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/anthony-denison/) • [3](https://prabook.com/web/anthony.denison/2591080) In 2002 he returned to series television as head coach Mike George on *Playmakers*, ESPN's first original drama series, which aired for one season.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/anthony-denison/)
## The Closer and Major Crimes
In 2005 Denison joined *The Closer*, starring [Kyra Sedgwick](https://www.edgepedia.org/kyra-sedgwick), as Detective Andy Flynn, beginning as a recurring role in the first season and becoming a series regular; the show became TNT's top drama.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0219208/) • [1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/anthony-denison/) He carried the role into the spin-off *Major Crimes*, starring [Mary McDonnell](https://www.edgepedia.org/mary-mcdonnell), playing Flynn for 105 episodes from 2012 to 2018.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0219208/) His Flynn became a fan favorite for his antics opposite G.W. Bailey's Lt. Provenza and for the character's rumored romance with McDonnell's Capt. Sharon Raydor, which fans called #Shandy.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0219208/)
For his television work he received a Prism Award from the Entertainment Industry Council for outstanding performance in a drama series and five [Screen Actors Guild](https://www.edgepedia.org/screen-actors-guild) nominations for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0219208/)
## Guest roles and later work
Denison has worked steadily as a guest star and character actor. His television appearances include *Prison Break* (as Aldo Burrows, seven episodes from 2006 to 2008), *Sons of Anarchy* (Desmond Harnigan, 2014), *[Castle](https://www.edgepedia.org/castle-tv-series)*, *Boston Legal*, *Cold Case*, *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation*, *The O.C.*, *Melrose Place*, and *Criminal Minds*.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0219208/) • [6](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/tony-denison/credits/3000054149/) His film credits include *Men of War* (1994), *Trattoria*, *Atlas Shrugged: Who Is John Galt?*, *Dirty* (2016), *Dementia* (2015), *Clarity* (2015), and *Deep Woods* (2022).[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0219208/) • [6](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/tony-denison/credits/3000054149/)
His starring role in the film-festival favorite *Trattoria* sparked a passion for cooking; his recipes appear in the *Major Crimes* Cast & Crew cookbook benefiting The Sunshine Kids Foundation, a charity for chronically ill and physically challenged youths to which he donates his time, and he has cooked on CBS, Hallmark's *Home & Family*, and other programs.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0219208/)
## References
1. [Anthony Denison – Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/anthony-denison/)
2. [Tony Denison – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0219208/)
3. [Anthony Denison – Prabook biographical entry](https://prabook.com/web/anthony.denison/2591080)
4. [Tony Denison Interview: 'The Closer' Star Heads to 'Major Crimes' – Smashing Interviews Magazine](https://smashinginterviews.com/interviews/actors/tony-denison-interview-the-closer-star-heads-to-major-crimes)
5. [A Jack of All Trades – Los Angeles Times, December 2, 1989](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-12-02-ca-174-story.html)
6. [Tony Denison List of Movies and TV Shows – TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/tony-denison/credits/3000054149/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames D to Di*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license