Romano Orzari

Romano has performed in over 80 different leading and supporting roles for feature films, short films and television series. Including NBC's "Taken" as the series ultimate villain Carlos Meija, the assassin Giovanni Auditore in Ubisofts live action film "Assassin's Creed Lineage", the ex-IRA sniper Mulcahy in Columbia Pictures "White House Down", the legendary Icarus in Relativity/Virgin's "Immortals" and FBI agent Nicky Donatelli in Marvel's "The Punisher:War Zone". He has worked with some of the most professionally respected names in the industry like Joe Mantegna in "The Last Hit Man", Henry Cavil in "Immortals", Pam Grier and Rutger Hauer in "Wilder", Anthony LaPaglia in the acclaimed series Bad Blood, Kate Bosworth in Sony Pictures "The Art of More", Stephen Lang and Danny Glover in "Gridlocked", Bill Paxton and Laurence Fishburne in "The Colony". Having also worked with many talented industry professionals that are behind the camera including two feature with award winning director Pupi Avati and Emmy Winner Yves Simoneau. Romano is proficient either on a large Hollywood production or a small independent film. Proud of his blue-collar roots is what maintains him as a journeyman actor. Fluent in Italian and French, Romano initially studied engineering in college. Changing his studies to literature, art history and filmmaking due to seeing the films "City Lights" by Charlie Chaplin and "The Exterminating Angel" by Luis Bunuel along with Frank McGuinness' play "Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme". Studying theatre workshop classes given by the play's director Joe Dowling, former Artistic Director of the Guthrie in Minneapolis and the Abbey in Dublin. Now determined, Romano moved to New York City to further his acting studies. He dedicated five years of training beginning with The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, Ron Stetson in the Sanford Meisner Technique, Group Theatre alumni Bobby Lewis and most importantly a three year tenure at the Stella Adler Theatre Conservatory. Notably with his graduating year under the guidance of the legendary teacher, Mrs Adler herself. The intensive program also included influential teachers Alice Winston, Casey Keziah and Jimmy Tripp. Towards the end of the 2nd year at the Stella Adler Conservatory, Romano professionally debuted in the jazz bio-pic "Bix" by critically acclaimed director Pupi Avati. The film premiered in competition at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival. Praised in The Hollywood Reporter and Variety for portraying the legendary American jazz pianist Hoagy Carmichael. A few months later, a near fatal accident put a stop to this ascent. While recuperating he found the strength to return with a defining lead role in the independent film "Burnt Eden". Romano's seamless performance won The Yves Montand Best Actor Award at the 1998 Kyiv International Film Festival. With this performance he landed the lead role for the multi-nominated, critically acclaimed and fan-favorite television series "Omertà". Adding a Best Actor nod for a TV series at the 1999 Gemini Awards and the 2000 Metro Star Awards. Other nominations include the 2006 ACTRA Award in a supporting role for "Baby For Sale" and the 2007 Minnesota SMMASH Film Festival's Best Actor for "The Overlookers".