# Larry Romano
**Larry Romano** (Lawrence John Romano; born 1963 in [Mount Vernon, New York](https://www.edgepedia.org/mount-vernon-new-york)) is an American actor, writer, and producer whose screen career began with the [Sylvester Stallone](https://www.edgepedia.org/sylvester-stallone) prison film *Lock Up* (1989) and includes *Donnie Brasco* (1997), *The Thin Red Line* (1998), and *The Irishman* (2019).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0738913/) On television he played recurring and starring roles in *NYPD Blue*, *Public Morals*, and *The King of Queens*, where he portrayed Richie Iannucci, a friend of Doug Heffernan.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/romano-larry) He is not related to the actor [Ray Romano](https://www.edgepedia.org/ray-romano).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0738913/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1963, Mount Vernon, New York, USA[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0738913/) |
| Full name | Lawrence John Romano[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/romano-larry) |
| Signature TV role | Richie Iannucci on *The King of Queens*, 28 episodes as a starring cast member (1998–2001), plus one 2001 guest appearance[5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/49175/larry-romano) |
| Early film break | First Base in *Lock Up* (1989), opposite Sylvester Stallone[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/larry_romano) |
| Notable film roles | Tommy in *Donnie Brasco* (1997), Pvt. Frank Mazzi in *The Thin Red Line* (1998), Phil Testa in *The Irishman* (2019)[3](https://www.metacritic.com/person/larry-romano/) |
| Writing | The play *We Ain't Kids No More*, staged in New York and Los Angeles; the film *Saturday in the Park* (2024), based on his play[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0738913/) |
| Music | Drummer, singer, and songwriter with the bands Deficit and Eljay Are[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/romano-larry) |
## Training and early career
Romano studied acting at Weist-Barron, HB Studios, and the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, all in New York City.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0738913/) While pursuing his studies at Strasberg he wrote his first play, *We Ain't Kids No More*, presented under the artistic direction of Ana Strasberg; it was later produced at the William Redfield Theatre in New York and at The Burbage Theatre in Los Angeles.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0738913/) An earlier profile also lists training at the Learning Annex and notes that before acting he worked at a garment factory and as a pizza delivery person, bartender, bicycle messenger, and telephone sales representative.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/romano-larry)
## Film roles
Romano's film career began with character parts in action and crime pictures: First Base in *Lock Up* (1989), a sales clerk in [Steven Seagal](https://www.edgepedia.org/steven-seagal)'s *Out for Justice* (1991), and roles in *New York Cop* (1995) and the [Al Pacino](https://www.edgepedia.org/al-pacino) drama *City Hall* (1996), where he played Tino Zapatti.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/larry_romano) • [3](https://www.metacritic.com/person/larry-romano/) He worked steadily through the 1990s, appearing in the crime dramas *Sleepers* (1996, as Man #2), *[Bullet](https://www.edgepedia.org/bullet-1996-film)* (1996, as Frankie 'Eyelashes'), and *No Way Home* (1996).[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/larry_romano)
**1997–1998 brought his most visible film work.** In Mike Newell's *Donnie Brasco* he played Tommy, appearing alongside Al Pacino and [Johnny Depp](https://www.edgepedia.org/johnny-depp); the following year he was Pvt. Frank Mazzi in [Terrence Malick](https://www.edgepedia.org/terrence-malick)'s *The Thin Red Line*, sharing the screen with [Sean Penn](https://www.edgepedia.org/sean-penn).[3](https://www.metacritic.com/person/larry-romano/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0738913/) His later credits include the crime film *Laugh Killer Laugh* (2015, as Vinny) and, in 2019, two high-profile releases: Martin Scorsese's *The Irishman*, in which he played Phil Testa (credited as Jamil Antonio Stefan), and the HBO television film *Bad Education*, as Cousin Larry.[3](https://www.metacritic.com/person/larry-romano/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0738913/) *The Irishman* stands as the best-reviewed title of his filmography, with a 95 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metascore of 94.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/larry_romano) • [3](https://www.metacritic.com/person/larry-romano/)
## Television
Romano's television work centers on Italian-American and law-enforcement characters. On *NYPD Blue* he played Richie Catena in a recurring role across the 1993–94 seasons, appearing in five episodes.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/romano-larry) • [5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/49175/larry-romano) He then starred as Detective Richie Biondi in the CBS series *Public Morals* (1996).[5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/49175/larry-romano)
**The King of Queens** gave him his longest run: as Richie Iannucci, a friend of [Kevin James](https://www.edgepedia.org/kevin-james)'s character, he was a starring cast member for 28 episodes from 1998 to 2001 and returned for one guest appearance in 2001.[5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/49175/larry-romano) His other series work includes a starring role as Aldo Bonnadonna on the ABC sitcom *Kristin* (2001), guest spots on *L.A. Law* (as Bobby Falcone, 1993), *Mad About You* (as Vinnie, 1995), *CSI: NY* (as Louie Messer, 2006), and *The War at Home* (2006).[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/romano-larry) • [5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/49175/larry-romano)
## Writing, producing, and music
Beyond acting, Romano has worked as a writer and producer. He wrote *Saturday in the Park*, a 2024 film based on his own original play, and was set to direct it himself.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0738913/) He also wrote the 2014 short film *Karma* and produced *Little Athens* (2005).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0738913/) • [7](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/larry-romano/credits/3030237202/)
Music has been a parallel pursuit. As a drummer, singer, and songwriter he performed with the bands Deficit and Eljay Are, and Encyclopedia.com lists him additionally as a musician and singer in his career summary.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/romano-larry)
## Reception and miscellany
Aggregated review scores illustrate the range of his projects: Metacritic assigns his film work an average career score of 62, spanning *The Irishman* (94) and *The Thin Red Line* (78) down to *Fish Without a Bicycle* (26).[3](https://www.metacritic.com/person/larry-romano/) On Rotten Tomatoes his highest-rated film is *The Irishman* at 95 percent and his lowest is *Lock Up* at 31 percent among critics.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/larry_romano)
A 2015 Television Academy interview describes him playing a coked-up record executive in a pilot directed by Martin Scorsese, a part he won through an audition tape without Scorsese having seen his sitcom work; Romano joked in the interview that bridging his Italian-American background to the Jewish character was easy, "the Italian mother, the Jewish mother — very, very similar."[6](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/hustle-blow) His cousin is the actor [Carmine Giovinazzo](https://www.edgepedia.org/carmine-giovinazzo), and his self-listed trademarks include a heavy New York accent.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0738913/)
## References
1. [Larry Romano, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0738913/)
2. [Larry Romano Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/larry_romano)
3. [Larry Romano, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/larry-romano/)
4. [Romano, Larry, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/romano-larry)
5. [Larry Romano, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/49175/larry-romano)
6. [Hustle & Blow, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/hustle-blow)
7. [Larry Romano List of Movies and TV Shows, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/larry-romano/credits/3030237202/)
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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 Ro to Sa*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license