Romano Orzari filmography and biography

Date of birth: 12 December 1964, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Romano Orzari biography

Romano's formative theatre training began at a QDF workshop in Montreal with Joe Dowling, who is the Artistic Director of the Guthrie Theatre. Upon completion of these studies, Romano left for his adoptive New York City where he felt the need to continue, deepen and solidify his studies. Collectively spending five years at schools such as The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, intensive workshops with Ron Stetson in the Sanford Meisner Technique and a workshop with Group Theatre alumni Bobby Lewis. But it was his three-year tenure at the Stella Adler Theatre Conservatory (his final year with the legendary teacher herself), which defined his belief and passion for the art of acting.

Before completing his theatre training, he landed his first paying job with nationally acclaimed Italian director Pupi Avati. Portraying none other than jazz great Hoagy Carmichael in the film "Bix". The film was officially selected in competition at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival. After an unfortunate auto accident in Italy, and while still recuperating in the hospital, Romano was offered (by the same director) a supporting role in his next film "Brothers and Sisters", which was officially selected for competition at the 1992 Venice Film Festival.

Then there was "Burnt Eden", a film specifically written for Romano. For his searing performance, he was awarded The Yves Montand Best Actor award at the 1997 Kiev International Film Festival. The film went on to win Best Film at the Montreal Festival of New Cinema, tremendously showcased at IFP West in Los Angeles and short-listed at the Cannes Film Festival respectively for the same year. With the aplomb of some wonderful press, this film helped Romano land the lead in the multiple Gemini winning TV series "Omerta". A show that has reached a cult like status in Quebec, in which Romano's work is endearingly remembered to this day. For his extensive and exhaustive efforts, not to mention acting in four different languages, he garnered two nominations for Best Lead Actor: One for Les Prix Gemeaux (Gemini Awards) in 1999 and the other for Le Gala MetroStar (People's Choice Award) in 2000.

Numerous movies for US/Canadian television and cable networks ensued. Working along side fellow actors such as Ben Gazzara, Linda Hamilton, Pam Grier, Jim Belushi and Taryn Manning just to name a few. In "Baby for Sale" starring Dana Delany, Romano was nominated for a 2006 ACTRA Award for best male performance in a drama. At the 2007 SMMASH Film Festival, he earned another nomination in the multiple awards winning independent film "The Overlookers". For his next feature "The Last Hitman", he was given the opportunity to star opposite Joe Mantegna. With gratitude this collaboration deeply affected Romano with a profound belief in precision and integrity.

Other recent projects include "Punisher: War Zone" with Ray Stevenson and Dominic West and the critically acclaimed TV series "Durham County" (Season 2) as the twisted Ray Prager. He also appears in a wonderful little film entitled "Hidden Diary" by 2002 Cannes Film Festival Camera d'Or winner Julie Lopes-Curval, and featured with award winning actresses Marina Hands, Marie-Josee Croze and the luminous Catherine Deneuve. Romano also stars in the 2008 Borsos Award Winner (Whistler Film Fest) "3 Seasons". Uniquely having improvised in 3 different languages. The film was also nominated for 3 Genie Awards this year, including Best Picture. Currently he can be seen in the lead role of Ubisoft's record-breaking web series "Assassin's Creed Lineage", directed by the truly engaging and Emmy Award winner Yves Simoneau.

Next flight out is to the sun... Playing Icarus in Tarsem Singh's highly anticipated feature "Immortals".

Romano Orzari filmography