# Erik Palladino
**Erik Palladino** (born 1968) is an American actor, producer, and writer best known for playing Dr. Dave Malucci on the NBC medical drama *ER* and for a long run of recurring character roles on American television, including Vostanik Sabatino on *NCIS: Los Angeles*, Kevin Miller on *Suits*, and Frank on *The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/). His screen work spans feature films such as *[U-571](https://www.edgepedia.org/u-571-film)* (2000) and *Can't Hardly Wait* (1998), and in 2025 he completed the fourth season of *Godfather of Harlem* opposite [Forest Whitaker](https://www.edgepedia.org/forest-whitaker)[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/bio/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1968, Yonkers, New York, USA; height 6 ft (1.83 m)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/) |
| Family background | Youngest of three sons of Peter Palladino, a heating contractor, and Queenie Palladino, a junior high school teacher; of Italian-Armenian ancestry[3](https://encyclopedia-loadbalancer-1-1782916326.us-west-2.elb.amazonaws.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/palladino-erik-1968) |
| Breakthrough role | Dr. Dave Malucci on *ER*, 47 episodes from 1999 to 2001[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/) |
| Recognition | TV Guide Award and two Screen Actors Guild nominations for outstanding ensemble in a drama series, 2000 and 2001, both for *ER*[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/bio/) • [4](https://www.actorawards.org/sites/default/files/nominee_histories_0.pdf) |
| Long-running TV roles | Vostanik Sabatino on *NCIS: Los Angeles* (21 episodes, 2012–2023); Kevin Miller on *Suits* (10 episodes, 2016–2019); Frank on *The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel* (8 episodes, 2018–2023)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/) • [5](https://www.sensacine.com/actores/actor-102905/filmografia/) |
| Family life | Married Jaime Lee on August 12, 2005; three children[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/bio/) |
## Early life and training
Palladino was born and raised in [Yonkers, New York](https://www.edgepedia.org/yonkers-new-york), the youngest of three sons in a working-class family; his father worked as a heating contractor and his mother as a junior high school teacher[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/bio/) • [3](https://encyclopedia-loadbalancer-1-1782916326.us-west-2.elb.amazonaws.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/palladino-erik-1968). An account of his childhood says he caught the acting bug at about 12 from [Robert De Niro](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-de-niro)'s performance as Jake La Motta in *Raging Bull*[6](https://www.ontvtonight.com/guide/cast/15269226/erik-palladino/). He joined a Children's Repertory Company in New York at about 13 and later earned a B.A. in Theatre from [Marymount Manhattan College](https://www.edgepedia.org/marymount-manhattan-college), graduating in 1991; the college was almost entirely female at the time, and he enrolled in its only co-educational program[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/bio/) • [3](https://encyclopedia-loadbalancer-1-1782916326.us-west-2.elb.amazonaws.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/palladino-erik-1968) • [7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/erik-palladino/). He appeared in New York stage productions of *Entertaining Mr. Sloane* and *True West*[7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/erik-palladino/).
**Music television years.** Before acting on screen, Palladino worked in music television. In 1989 he became the presenter of the hard rock music magazine series *Heavy Metal Meltdown*, broadcast in New York on WWOR-TV, while still wearing long heavy-metal hair[7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/erik-palladino/). In the mid-1990s he was a VJ at MTV, covering [Woodstock '94](https://www.edgepedia.org/woodstock-94), hosting the short-lived home shopping series *The Goods*, presenting the late-night *Dreamtime* stretch and MTV's summer *Beach House*, and doing regular work on [Comedy Central](https://www.edgepedia.org/comedy-central)'s *Short Attention Span Theater*[7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/erik-palladino/). He also sang, serving as lead singer of the alternative rock band No Happy Faces, in which he performed with his older brother Chris, and later with the band Hearing Red[8](https://liner-notes.com/articles/sportshollywood/askpalladino.html) • [9](https://www.serienjunkies.de/person/erik-palladino/3789/).
## ER and breakthrough
After cutting his long hair, he landed series work in the mid-1990s: regular supporting roles on the working-class sitcoms *Love and Marriage* (Fox, 1996) and *DiResta* (UPN, 1998–1999), a two-episode guest turn in the 1996–1997 season of *Murphy Brown* as Danny, the delinquent son of Dana, and recurring roles on *Malcolm & Eddie*[7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/erik-palladino/) • [10](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=2538).
In the 1999–2000 season he joined *ER*, NBC's top-rated medical drama, as Dr. David (Dave) Malucci, a cocky second-year resident whose confidence produced an irreverent attitude toward hospital procedure[7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/erik-palladino/). The role ran for 47 episodes across the sixth through eighth seasons, from 1999 to 2001[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/) • [11](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108757/fullcredits/cast). IMDb's biography describes the period as one of the rare cases of an actor appearing simultaneously in the number one movie and the number one television show: while *U-571* topped the box office in 2000, Palladino was starring on *ER*[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/bio/). The role earned him a TV Guide Award and two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations with the ensemble, for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series in 2000 and 2001[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/bio/) • [4](https://www.actorawards.org/sites/default/files/nominee_histories_0.pdf).
He left *ER* in 2001, saying he felt his character was being underused[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/bio/). A Spanish-language retrospective on *ER* in *El País* gives the same reason for his departure, alongside [Gloria Reuben](https://www.edgepedia.org/gloria-reuben)'s[12](https://elpais.com/television/2022-07-17/guia-de-la-mitica-serie-urgencias-cuyas-15-temporadas-llegan-a-hbo-max.html).
## Films and later television
**Feature films.** Palladino made his feature debut in the 1998 teen comedy *Can't Hardly Wait*, playing a young man with amorous intentions toward his newly single cousin ([Jennifer Love Hewitt](https://www.edgepedia.org/jennifer-love-hewitt))[7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/erik-palladino/). He then took the role of Seaman Anthony Mazzola in *U-571* (2000), Jonathan Mostow's World War II submarine drama starring [Matthew McConaughey](https://www.edgepedia.org/matthew-mcconaughey), Harvey Keitel, Bill Paxton, and [Jon Bon Jovi](https://www.edgepedia.org/jon-bon-jovi)[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/bio/) • [7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/erik-palladino/). He starred in *Finder's Fee* (2001) opposite James Earl Jones and Ryan Reynolds[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/bio/). Later film work includes the thriller *Buried* (2010), in which he voiced Special Agent Harris[7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/erik-palladino/), and *Skincare* (2024), a psychological thriller with Elizabeth Banks, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, and Nathan Fillion[13](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/hulu/elizabeth-banks-is-terrifyingly-hilarious-in-an-overlooked-hulu-thriller-movie-you-probably-missed).
**Television since ER.** In 2005 he starred in the FX war drama *Over There* as Staff Sergeant Chris "Scream" Silas, leading a squad of U.S. soldiers during the 2003 invasion of Iraq[14](https://www.filmweb.pl/person/Erik%2BPalladino-9592/filmography) • [10](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=2538). After 2005 his work became mainly guest and recurring appearances across crime, legal, and genre series[9](https://www.serienjunkies.de/person/erik-palladino/3789/). His longest recurring part is CIA officer Vostanik Sabatino on *NCIS: Los Angeles*, appearing across seasons from 2012 to 2023 in 21 episodes[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/) • [5](https://www.sensacine.com/actores/actor-102905/filmografia/). He played Kevin Miller, the imprisoned cellmate of Mike Ross, on *[Suits](https://www.edgepedia.org/suits-american-tv-series)* from 2016 to 2019[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/) • [15](https://cartermatt.com/216507/suits-season-6-exclusive-erik-palladino-kevin-miller-mike-ross-relationship-trust-issues-frank-gallo/), and the union-associate Frank on *The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel* in eight episodes between 2018 and 2023[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/). Other recurring roles include Tony DeMeo, the doorman of the Drake building, in the supernatural drama *666 Park Avenue* (2012–2013)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/), Leo Foster in *The Fix* (2019), Scott Hughes in *SIX* (2017–2018), and a one-episode part as Agent Art in *Watchmen* (2019)[16](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/9434/erik-palladino).
In 2025 he appeared in the fourth season of *Godfather of Harlem* as Pino Greco, a head of the [Genovese crime family](https://www.edgepedia.org/genovese-crime-family), opposite Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/bio/). His announced upcoming credits include *I Play Rocky* (2026), in the role of Pete[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/).
## Writing, directing, and producing
Palladino has worked behind the camera as well. IMDb credits him as producer on four projects and writer on three, including the 2009 TV movie *Stuck* and the 2018 *Volunteers, a Rwandan Comedy*, which he co-wrote and executive produced[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/). He also co-created the animated musical *Dangerous Animals* and directed the web series *Stakeout*[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/bio/).
**The Hike.** His short film *The Hike* (2025) is his directorial debut in short films, on which he also served as writer and producer[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/bio/) • [17](https://cinegraph.org/people/erik-palladino). The film was screened at the 13th annual YoFi Fest, the Yonkers film festival, in November 2025, followed by a workshop in which Palladino discussed his career as a "triple threat" writer, director, and actor in Hollywood[18](https://yonkerstimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/west-nov-7lruto.pdf).
## Personal life
Palladino married Jaime Lee on August 12, 2005, and the couple have three children[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/bio/). Although his career moved him to California, profiles describe him as a devoted New Yorker and Yankees fan, with interests in boxing and cooking[6](https://www.ontvtonight.com/guide/cast/15269226/erik-palladino/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/bio/).
## References
1. [Erik Palladino, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/)
2. [Erik Palladino – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005292/bio/)
3. [Palladino, Erik 1968–, Encyclopedia.com](https://encyclopedia-loadbalancer-1-1782916326.us-west-2.elb.amazonaws.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/palladino-erik-1968)
4. [SAG Awards Nominee Histories, Actor Awards](https://www.actorawards.org/sites/default/files/nominee_histories_0.pdf)
5. [Erik Palladino : Filmografía, SensaCine](https://www.sensacine.com/actores/actor-102905/filmografia/)
6. [Erik Palladino TV Schedule, Movies & Shows, On TV Tonight](https://www.ontvtonight.com/guide/cast/15269226/erik-palladino/)
7. [Erik Palladino – Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/erik-palladino/)
8. [Ten Questions with Erik Palladino, Sports Hollywood](https://liner-notes.com/articles/sportshollywood/askpalladino.html)
9. [Erik Palladino: Filme, Serien und Biografie, Serienjunkies](https://www.serienjunkies.de/person/erik-palladino/3789/)
10. [Erik Palladino, TVSA](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=2538)
11. [ER (TV Series 1994–2009) – Full cast & crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108757/fullcredits/cast)
12. [Guía de la mítica serie 'Urgencias', El País](https://elpais.com/television/2022-07-17/guia-de-la-mitica-serie-urgencias-cuyas-15-temporadas-llegan-a-hbo-max.html)
13. [Elizabeth Banks is terrifyingly hilarious in an overlooked Hulu thriller, Tom's Guide](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/hulu/elizabeth-banks-is-terrifyingly-hilarious-in-an-overlooked-hulu-thriller-movie-you-probably-missed)
14. [Erik Palladino Filmografia, Filmweb](https://www.filmweb.pl/person/Erik%2BPalladino-9592/filmography)
15. [Suits season 6 exclusive: Erik Palladino on Kevin Miller, CarterMatt](https://cartermatt.com/216507/suits-season-6-exclusive-erik-palladino-kevin-miller-mike-ross-relationship-trust-issues-frank-gallo/)
16. [Erik Palladino, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/9434/erik-palladino)
17. [Erik Palladino · Cinegraph](https://cinegraph.org/people/erik-palladino)
18. [Westchester Rising, November 7, 2025, Yonkers Times](https://yonkerstimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/west-nov-7lruto.pdf)
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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 O to Pa*
*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