Armand Anthony Assante Jr. (; born October 4, 1949) is an American actor. He played mobster John Gotti in the 1996 HBO television film Gotti, Odysseus in the 1997 miniseries adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey, Nietzsche in When Nietzsche Wept, and Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer in 1982's I, the Jury. He has been nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards (one win for his performance in Gotti), four Golden Globe Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. Assante also played 'Dominic Cattano', who was based on the real-life Lucchese family boss Carmine Tramunti, in the 2007 film American Gangster alongside Denzel Washington, Josh Brolin and Russell Crowe, which was nominated for two Oscars at the 80th Academy Awards in 2008.
Early life
Armand Anthony Assante, Jr. was born on October 4, 1949 in New York City and raised in Cornwall, New York, the son of Armand Anthony Assante Sr., a painter and artist, and Katharine (née Healy), a music teacher, English teacher and poet. He is of Italian and Irish descent.
Career
During the 1970s, Assante was a regular on two NBC soap operas, How to Survive a Marriage as Johnny McGhee and The Doctors as Mike Powers. His first film was The Lords of Flatbush (1974), although his work did not appear in the final cut of the film and the end credits misspelled his last name as Assanti. He starred in <u>Prophecy</u> (1979). His first on-screen role was playing Sylvester Stallone's brother in Paradise Alley (1978). A role that brought him greater attention came in 1980's Private Benjamin, as a handsome Frenchman who becomes the love interest of a U.S. soldier played by Goldie Hawn. In 1984, he portrayed the playboy violin virtuoso Maximillian Stein in the Dudley Moore comedy vehicle Unfaithfully Yours.
Assante has played a number of tough hero characters, such as his starring role as private eye Mike Hammer in the film I, the Jury (1982) as well as mafia gangsters such as Michael Moretti in Sidney Sheldon's Rage of Angels. In 1990, his role as Roberto Texador in Sidney Lumet's film Q&A garnered him a Golden Globe nomination. The following year, he portrayed Bugsy Siegel in Neil Simon's The Marrying Man (1991). The following year, he was seen as mafia boss Carol D'Allesandro in Hoffa (1992) starring Jack Nicholson, and crime kingpin John Gotti in the 1996 made-for-television biopic Gotti, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie.
thumb|upright=0.85|Assante at a film screening in Chicago 2015
In addition to mafia and "tough-guy" roles, Assante has appeared in historical dramas, such as Napoleon Bonaparte in 1987's Napoleon and Josephine: A Love Story opposite Jacqueline Bisset, Odysseus in The Odyssey, Friedrich Nietzsche in the film adaptation of Irving Yalom's novel When Nietzsche Wept, and as Sanchez, Queen Isabella's Minister of State, in 1492: Conquest of Paradise.
Other film appearances include one as a Cuban bandleader in The Mambo Kings (1992) opposite Antonio Banderas and in the adaptation of the science-fiction story Judge Dredd (1995) with Sylvester Stallone, his co-star in Paradise Alley. He appeared in the 2007 film American Gangster with Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. He had a recurring guest star role in several episodes of NCIS, playing the international arms dealer René Benoit. He has also appeared in the 2009 horror film Smile as the mysterious Tollinger and portrayed Ernie in Sugar (marketed on Lifetime as Danger Below Deck). Outside of the U.S., he has participated in several film projects and humanitarian endeavors in Romania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
Personal life
Assante had a high-profile relationship with Dyan Cannon, his co-star from 1978's Lady of the House. He married Karen McArn in 1982. The couple had two daughters. They separated in 1992. It is not clear whether or when they divorced. Assante has also dated Italian actress Mara Venier and Vanessa Constantino.
Filmography
Film
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1974
| The Lords of Flatbush
| Wedding Guest
|
|-
| 1975
| First Ladies Diaries
| Robards
| Television film
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1978
| Paradise Alley
| Lenny Carboni
|
|-
| Human Feelings
| Johnny Turner
| Television film
|-
| Lady of the House
| Ernest de Paulo
| Television film
|-
| The Pirate
| Ahmed
| Television film
|-
| 1979
| Prophecy
| John Hawks
|
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1980
| Little Darlings
| Gary Callahan
|
|-
| Private Benjamin
| Henri Alan Tremont
|
|-
| Sophia Loren: Her Own Story
| Riccardo Scicolone
| Television film
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1982
| Love and Money
| Lorenzo Prado
|
|-
| I, the Jury
| Mike Hammer
|
|-
| 1983
| Rage of Angels
| Michael Moretti
| Television film
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1984
| Unfaithfully Yours
| Maximillian Stein
|
|-
| Why Me?
| James Stalling
| Television film
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1986
| A Deadly Business
| Charles Macaluso
| Television film
|-
| Belizaire the Cajun
| Belizaire Breaux
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1987
| Stranger in My Bed
| Hal Slater
| Television film
|-
| Hands of a Stranger
| Joe Hearn
| Television film
|-
| 1988
| The Penitent
| Juan Mateo
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1989
| Passion and Paradise
| Alfred de Marigny
| Television film
|-
| Animal Behavior
| Mark Mathias
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1990
| Q & A
| Roberto Texador
| Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
|-
| Eternity
| Romi/Sean
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1991
| The Marrying Man
| Bugsy Siegel
|
|-
| Fever
| Ray
| Television film
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1992
| The Mambo Kings
| Caesar Castillo
|
|-
| 1492: Conquest of Paradise
| Gabriel Sánchez
|
|-
| Hoffa
| Carl "Dally" D'Allesandro
|
|-
| 1993
| Fatal Instinct
| Ned Ravine
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1994
| Blind Justice
| Canaan
| Television film
|-
| Trial by Jury
| Rusty Pirone
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1995
| Judge Dredd
| Rico Dredd
|
|-
| Kidnapped
| Alan Breck Stewart
| Television film
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1996
| Striptease
| Lieutenant Al Garcia
|
|-
| Gotti
| John Gotti
| Television film <br> Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special <br> Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television <br> Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
|-
| 1999
| The Hunley
| Lieutenant George E. Dixon
| Television film
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2000
| The Road to El Dorado
| Tzekel-Kan
| Voice <br> Nominated—Annie Award for Best Voice Acting by a Male Performer in an Animated Feature Production
|-
| On the Beach
| Commander Dwight Towers
| Television film
|-
| Looking for an Echo
| Vince "Vinnie" Pirelli
|
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2001
| Last Run
| Frank Banner
|
|-
| After the Storm
| Jean-Pierre
| Television film
|-
| One Eyed King
| Hollis "Holly" Cone
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2002
| Federal Protection
| Frank Carbone
| Television film
|-
| Partners in Action
| Jack Cunningham
|
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2003
| Tough Luck
| Ike
|
|-
| Citizen Verdict
| Sam Patterson
|
|-
| Consequence
| Sam Tyler
|
|-
| rowspan="8"| 2005
| Dot.Kill
| Charlie Daines
|
|-
| The Third Wish
| Benefactor
|
|-
| Mirror Wars
| Henry York
|
|-
| Two for the Money
| C.M. Novian
|
|-
| Confessions of a Pit Fighter
| Argento
|
|-
| The Commuters
| Donald
| Television film
|-
| Ennemis Publics
| -
|
|-
| Rambam: The Story of Maimonides
| Yitzchak
|
|-
| rowspan="4"| 2006
| Funny Money
| Genero
|
|-
| Surveillance
| Harley
|
|-
| Soul's Midnight
| Simon
|
|-
| Dead Lenny
| Tony "Thick"
|
|-
| rowspan="6"| 2007
| Casanova's Last Stand
| Sebastian Marr
|
|-
| Mexican Sunrise
| Salvidar
|
|-
| California Dreamin
| Captain Doug Jones
| Nominated—Gopo Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
|-
| When Nietzsche Wept
| Friedrich Nietzsche
|
|-
| Children of Wax
| Kemal
|
|-
| American Gangster
| Dominic Cattano
| Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2008
| The Man Who Came Back
| Amos
|
|-
| Shark Swarm
| Hamilton Lux
| Television film
|-
| rowspan="8"| 2009
| The Lost
| Kevin
| Television film
|-
| The Steam Experiment
| Detective Mancini
|
|-
| La Linea
| Padre Antonio
|
|-
| Smile
| Edward Tollinger
|
|-
| Chicago Overcoat
| Stefano D'Agnostino
|
|-
| Death Valley Screamers: Bonnie & Clyde
| Casino Owner
| Short
|-
| The Bleeding
| Jake Plummer
|
|-
| Breaking Point
| Marty Berlin
|
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2010
| Shadows in Paradise
| Captain John "Ghost" Santo
|
|-
| Magic Man
| Lieutenant Taper
|
|-
| Killer by Nature
| Eugene Branch
|
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2011
| The Return of Joe Rich
| Uncle Dom
|
|-
| Jesse
| Dominick
|
|-
| Guido
| Lorenzo De Costa
|
|-
| 2012
| The Night Never Sleeps
| Inspector Romanelli
|
|-
| rowspan="4"| 2013
| Dead Man Down
| Lon Gordon
|
|-
| The Fix
| Vincent
| Short
|-
| Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn
| Joseph Baldano Sr.
|
|-
| Assumed Killer
| Aaron Banfield
|
|-
| rowspan="5"| 2014
| See You in Montevideo
| Hotchkins
|
|-
| Hunting the Phantom
| Charles Ingrim
|
|-
| A Fine Step
| Alejandro Bolivar
|
|-
| Charlie Mantle
| Inspector Bennett
|
|-
| In Between Engagements
| Alonzo
|
|-
| rowspan="5"| 2015
| Diamond Cartel
| Mussa
|
|-
| Leaves of the Tree
| Joe Buffa
|
|-
| Sicilian Vampire
| Vince
|
|-
| Kids vs Monsters
| Damian
|
|-
| Blind Pass
| Richard James
|
|-
| rowspan="5"| 2016
| Beyond the Game
| Mr. Leone
|
|-
| Stressed to Kill
| Paul Jordan
|
|-
| The Red Maple Leaf
| Agent Joseph Cortez
|
|-
| Wasn't Afraid to Die
| Paul
|
|-
| Blowtorch
| Canarsie
|
|-
| rowspan="6"| 2017
| First Law
| Don Nowet
|
|-
| You Can't Have It
| The Man
|
|-
| Joe's War
| Dr. Galante
|
|-
| The Wanderers: The Quest of the Demon Hunter
| Louis
|
|-
| The Neighborhood
| Tucci
|
|-
| Power of Silence
| The Narrator
|
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2018
| Con Man
| Jack Saxon
|
|-
| Darc
| Lafique
|
|-
| The P.I.M.P.
| Armando
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2019
| The Brave
| Frank Pedulla
|
|-
| General
| Andreas
|
|-
| 2020
| Infamous Six
| Dr. Albert Cioran
|
|-
| 2021
| The Match
| Camp Commander
|
|-
| 2022
| Sugar
| Ernie
|
|-
| 2023
| Don Q
| Don Q
|
|-
| 2024
| Oak
| Abe
|
|-
|}
Television series
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1975
| How to Survive a Marriage
| Johnny McGee
| Episode: "Episode #1.325"
|-
| 1975–1976
| The Doctors
| Dr. Michael Powers
| Regular cast
|-
| 1977
| Kojak
| Tom Ryan
| Episode: "Caper on a Quiet Street"
|-
| 1979
| Mrs. Columbo
| Freddie Faust
| Episode: "A Chilling Surprise"
|-
| 1985
| Evergreen
| Joe Friedman
| TV miniseries
|-
| 1987
| Napoleon and Josephine: A Love Story
| Napoleon Bonaparte
| TV miniseries
|-
| 1988
| Jack the Ripper
| Richard Mansfield
| TV miniseries <br> Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special <br> Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
|-
| 1997
| The Odyssey
| Odysseus
| TV miniseries <br> Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television <br> Nominated—Online Film & Television Association Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries <br> Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
|-
| 2002
| Push, Nevada
| Mr. Smooth
| Episode: "The Amount"
|-
| 2006
| ER
| Richard Elliot
| Recurring cast: season 12, guest: season 13
|-
| 2007
| NCIS
| René "La Grenouille" Benoit
| Recurring cast: season 4, guest: season 5
|-
| 2008
| October Road
| Gabriel Diaz
| Recurring cast: season 2
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2010
| Chuck
| Premier Alejandro Goya
| Episode: "Chuck Versus the Angel de la Muerte & Coup d'Etat"
|-
| Human Target
| Joubert
| Episode: "Christopher Chance"
|-
| 2015
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
| Nicolas Amaro
| Episode: "Padre Sandunguero"
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2018–2019
| The Family Business
| Sal Dash
| Main cast: season 1
|-
| The Deuce
| Mr. Martino
| Guest: season 2, recurring cast: season 3
|-
| 2019
| General
| Andreas
| Episode: "Episode #1.2"
|-
| 2022
| Salvage Marines
| Kelkis Morturi
| Main cast
|}
Awards and nominations
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Award
! Category
! Nominated work
! Results
! Ref.
|-
| 2016
| Action On Film International Film Festival
| Outstanding Cast Performance – Feature
| The Red Maple Leaf
|
| align="center"|
|-
| 2000
| Annie Awards
| Best Voice Acting by a Male Performer in an Animated Feature Production
| The Road to El Dorado
|
| align="center"|
|-
| 2018
| Garden State Film Festival
| Most Valuable Player
|
|
| align="center"|
|-
| 1988
| rowspan="4"| Golden Globe Awards
| Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
| Jack the Ripper
|
| align="center" rowspan="4"|
|-
| 1990
| Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
| Q & A
|
|-
| 1996
| rowspan="2"| Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
| Gotti
|
|-
| 1997
| The Odyssey
|
|-
| 2008
| Gopo Awards
| Best Actor in a Leading Role
| California Dreamin
|
| align="center"|
|-
| 2017
| Ischia Global Film & Music Festival
| Ischia Documentary Feature Award
| The Man Who Unlocked the Universe
|
| align="center"|
|-
| 1997
| Online Film & Television Association Awards
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
| The Odyssey
|
| align="center"|
|-
| 1989
| rowspan="2"| Primetime Emmy Awards
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special
| Jack the Ripper
|
| align="center" rowspan="2"|
|-
| 1997
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special
| Gotti
|
|-
| 1997
| Satellite Awards
| Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
| The Odyssey
|
| align="center"|
|-
| 1996
| rowspan="2"| Screen Actors Guild Awards
| Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
| Gotti
|
| align="center"|
|-
| 2007
| Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
| American Gangster
|
| align="center"|
|-
| 2007
| Westchester Film Festival
| Lifetime Achievement Award
|
|
| align="center"|
|}
Other recognition
In 2010, Assante received a star on the Italian Walk of Fame in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
References
External links
- Official website