Dennis Farina to Leave 'Law & Order'

Dismayed at this news, to say the least. I've been a Farina fan since "Crime Story," and was delighted when the news broke that he would be joining the cast of "Law & Order," since he seemed tailor-made for the part. I can't imagine who will replace him, but it's doubtful that it will be an actor of equal distinctiveness, even if one of equal distinction. Unfortunate.

Joe Fontana, goes back to Chicago. They better get another wisecracking guy to take his place. Too bad, for Lenny and Good Bye Joe

The worst news ever. Dennis is brilliant in all he does. But I wish him well, and hope he finds even more sucess.Com e see us in Australia sometime. Pamela

Sorry to see him go. He is a pleasure to look at and great on the show! Best of luck to him. I love Law and Order!!!

NO! Tell us it cannot be happening! Wise-cracking, twinkle in his detective eye, many of us loved Dennis Farina's Joe Fontana! I hope L & O is not heading toward a leggy young chick in this part. The seaasoned detective role is part of the series. Help, Friday nights?? Don't change too much for the viewers all in one heavy-handed effort.
Good luck to Farina in his future pursuits!

I am sorry to see Dennis Farina go as Joe Fontana. That was one of the only reason I continued watching the show after Jerry Orbach left. And also we will never know why he could afford his tailor made suits and BMW! Kinda left us all hanging! Maybe he will come back at another time! I agree, they need a gruff character to take his place, we already have female partners on all the other L and O shows!

I grew up with Dennis Farina, and have been following his career since my sister called one day in the 80's and said, there is a Dennis Farina on a TV show and I think he's your friend from Chicago. Sure enough it was, and I'm confident we will be seeing a lot more of Dennis in the years to come. Dennis, if you read this, remember St. Mikes and our "gang" the falcons. Also sorry I didn't follow up on the last letter you wrote.

Jim

Richard Belzer's Det. Munch would have been a great replacement!!

as an actor farino plays himself boring. same takes diff roles viiwers in usa seem very unsophiscated

I sure miss his character on L&O - the new girl paired with Green (now the senior detective) seems to mundane. Fontana was a unique kind of cop who added some spice.

Does anyone know when Farina's new movies are coming out? I'd like to see him in other roles.

Jim wrote:

I grew up with Dennis Farina, and have been following his career since my sister called one day in the 80's and said, there is a Dennis Farina on a TV show and I think he's your friend from Chicago. Sure enough it was, and I'm confident we will be seeing a lot more of Dennis in the years to come. Dennis, if you read this, remember St. Mikes and our "gang" the falcons. Also sorry I didn't follow up on the last letter you wrote.
Jim

Out of curiosity, I have been trying to get this loveable jerk to contact me for the past 15 years. I worked in homicide in New York, lived there thirty years, and did some Vice work in Jacksonville Florida. I have his home addresses, and telephone number and I did have his personal manager call me several years ago to inform me that Dennis would eventually contact me. Since he actually does write letters, since you received one, do me a favor and tell him to jump on Topix. We have several fun threads that were made on his behalf including one called "Dennis, We found Valerie," and a novel being written about Dennis and myself called Denis and Vee the novel. We also started to take up a collection to get his name on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Tell him I want to cook him some eggplant parmesan with my intricate italian sauce and to hop on the threads and see all the buzz about him.

The networks are still using Dennis to advertise this show in the UK - how's that for confidence in their new cast member. I quit watching as have most people I know. Denis slid into the part with ease and, I am not being sexist, but no woman is going to bring to the show what he and Jerry Orbach did, guts, grit and sheer bloody menace. Too bad but all shows die out sometime and I wish Dennis all the best in whatever he does.

I CANNOT believe he is not on the show anymore. I love him, he is a fantastic actor AND I heard he is a really decent guy. I can't watch that show anymore. That woman is the worst, even though he is a very tough act to follow. Also, he is so handsome, what awesome hair. He can play any role. I never miss a rerun of Midnight Run. He is the best. I wish he'd get back on TV so we could see him more often.

I am not sorry to see him go. The makers of Law and Order should never have replaced Jerry Orbach with this man. To me, he is one of the most unlikable and uncharasmatic characters I have seen in a long time. I just dread to see who they will replace him with.