Romano Orzari movie list
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.
Romano is fluent in Italian and French with English being his primary language. He was raised within a working class family. His father Stefano, who volunteered in WWII to be in combat alongside the British Army, met his mother Carmina who fled Italy for Northern England where jobs were in high demand. In university Romano originally studied engineering, deciding to change his studies to literature, filmmaking and the theatre. Influenced by the great Cervantes' "Don Quixote" and 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". This exposure immediately made him sign up for workshop classes given by Joe Dowling, former Artistic Director of the Guthrie in Minneapolis and the Abbey in Dublin. Determined, Romano went to New York City to further his theatre 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.
While in his 3rd year at the Stella Adler Conservatory, Romano professionally debuted in the jazz bio-pic "Bix" by critically and world acclaimed director Pupi Avati. The film premiered in competition at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival. Romano's work was praised in The Hollywood Reporter and in Variety for portraying the legendary American jazz pianist Hoagy Carmichael. A few months later, a near fatal accident put a stop to his ascent. While recuperating he found the strength to return in front of the camera 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. His performance in that film helped him land the male lead role for the critically acclaimed and fan favorite television series "Omertà". It was multi-nominated, including Best Actor in a TV series at the 1999 Gemini Awards and the 2000 Metro Star Awards. To this day Romano is still recognized by loyal fans. Other nominations include the 2006 ACTRA Award in a supporting role for "Baby For Sale" and the 2007 Minesota SMMASH Film Festival's Best Actor for "The Overlookers".
