Despite spending the first 25 years of his life in Adelaide, Australia, Anthony LaPaglia is best known for playing street-savvy Italian New Yorkers. This was not, however, Anthony's original plan. Rather than testing the waters of show business, he travelled to the United States intending to pursue a full-time teaching career. As luck would have it, however, one of Anthony's odd jobs was a small role in Cold Steel (1987), a low-budget detective drama. Anthony began pursuing theatre and television in his spare time - one of his more notable early performances was in 1988's Frank Nitti: The Enforcer - and considered himself a full-time actor by 1989, when he made his feature-film debut in Slaves of New York. It was 1990, however, when the young actor earned critical recognition for his role as an exceedingly polite mobster in Betsy's Wedding.
Anthony continued to build his resumé throughout the early '90s, most of which he spent playing either kindly policemen or good-hearted mobsters, and was delighted to work alongside a variety of noted actors so early in his career. Among those actors were Alan Alda in Betsy's Wedding, Michael Keaton in One Good Cop (1991), and Nathan Lane, Sharon Stone, and Kevin Bacon in He Said, She Said (1992). Later in 1992, Anthony could be found playing his first leading role in George Gallo's gangster farce 29th Street. Though the film did not fare particularly well, audiences were nonetheless impressed with Anthony's intensity, and he played a more serious gangster with great success opposite Susan Sarandon in The Client (1994). The actor switched gears for his next handful of films; in Mixed Nuts (1994) he played a disillusioned Santa Claus, while Empire Records (1995) found him as a down-on-his-luck store manager, and the Australian-helmed Brilliant Lies (1996) featured him as the defendant in a sketchy sexual-harassment case.
Despite a smattering of mediocre films between 1995 and the early 2000s, Anthony continued to earn critical acclaim for many of his endeavours, such as Steve Buscemi's directorial debut, Trees Lounge (1996), for which Anthony joined a star-studded supporting cast, as well as for his role as a detective in Spike Lee's Summer of Sam (1999). Luckily for him, 2000 and 2001 proved excellent for his career, as it was during this period that he played a wealthy businessman in The House of Mirth and an adulterous police detective in Lantana. In addition to receiving international success, Lantana earned Anthony the prestigious Best Actor award from the Australian Film Institute, as well as a nomination from the Film Critics Circle. In the meantime, he was adding several major television credits to his resumé, including a starring role as the head of the FBI's Missing Persons Squad on CBS's Without a Trace, and a recurring role on the long-running sitcom Frasier, a performance for which he would receive an Emmy in 2002. Far removed from his fledgling days as a teacher, 2002 also found Anthony working with Val Kilmer for The Salton Sea; Sigourney Weaver for The Guys; Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal in Analyze That; and Eric Stoltz in Happy Hour. In 2003, after filming Manhood with Janeane Garofalo and the late John Ritter, Anthony agreed to star in director Josh Sternfeld's Winter Solstice (2004).
Anthony continued to build his resumé throughout the early '90s, most of which he spent playing either kindly policemen or good-hearted mobsters, and was delighted to work alongside a variety of noted actors so early in his career. Among those actors were Alan Alda in Betsy's Wedding, Michael Keaton in One Good Cop (1991), and Nathan Lane, Sharon Stone, and Kevin Bacon in He Said, She Said (1992). Later in 1992, Anthony could be found playing his first leading role in George Gallo's gangster farce 29th Street. Though the film did not fare particularly well, audiences were nonetheless impressed with Anthony's intensity, and he played a more serious gangster with great success opposite Susan Sarandon in The Client (1994). The actor switched gears for his next handful of films; in Mixed Nuts (1994) he played a disillusioned Santa Claus, while Empire Records (1995) found him as a down-on-his-luck store manager, and the Australian-helmed Brilliant Lies (1996) featured him as the defendant in a sketchy sexual-harassment case.
Despite a smattering of mediocre films between 1995 and the early 2000s, Anthony continued to earn critical acclaim for many of his endeavours, such as Steve Buscemi's directorial debut, Trees Lounge (1996), for which Anthony joined a star-studded supporting cast, as well as for his role as a detective in Spike Lee's Summer of Sam (1999). Luckily for him, 2000 and 2001 proved excellent for his career, as it was during this period that he played a wealthy businessman in The House of Mirth and an adulterous police detective in Lantana. In addition to receiving international success, Lantana earned Anthony the prestigious Best Actor award from the Australian Film Institute, as well as a nomination from the Film Critics Circle. In the meantime, he was adding several major television credits to his resumé, including a starring role as the head of the FBI's Missing Persons Squad on CBS's Without a Trace, and a recurring role on the long-running sitcom Frasier, a performance for which he would receive an Emmy in 2002. Far removed from his fledgling days as a teacher, 2002 also found Anthony working with Val Kilmer for The Salton Sea; Sigourney Weaver for The Guys; Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal in Analyze That; and Eric Stoltz in Happy Hour. In 2003, after filming Manhood with Janeane Garofalo and the late John Ritter, Anthony agreed to star in director Josh Sternfeld's Winter Solstice (2004).
Anthony almost always wears a pink jersey when playing soccer.
(edit)
Anthony is superstitious about wearing green when he plays soccer. He says he always has a bad game when he wears green.
(edit)
Anthony attended Rostrevor College, a Catholic all-male boarding school located in Adelaide, South Australia.
(edit)
Anthony was a strong possibility for the role of Tony Soprano on The Sopranos, but did not get the role.
(edit)
In the summer of 2004, Anthony under went hip relplacement surgery to repair an injury he sustained in his early soccer playing days.
(edit)
Anthony has been doing an advertising campaign for American Express.
(edit)
2004 Awards
Emmy nomination - Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for Frasier
Emmy nomination - Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Without a Trace'
Golden Globe - Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama for Without a Trace
Golden Satellite Award nomination - Best Performance by an Actor in a Series, Drama for Without a Trace
Golden Starfish Award for Career Achievement for his acting career
Achievement Award at Newport Beach Film Festival - Outstanding Achievement in Acting for Happy Hour
Prism Award - Performance in a Film Festival Award for Happy Hour
Actor nomination at Screen Actors Guild Awards - Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series for Without a Trace
Actor nomination at Screen Actors Guild Awards - Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for Without a Trace shared with: Eric Close, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Poppy Montgomery, Enrique Murciano
Best Actor at Verona Love Screen Film Festival for Happy Hour (edit) 2002 Awards
Emmy - Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for Frasier
FCCA Award - Best Actor - Male for Lantana (edit) 2001 Awards
AFI Award - Best Actor in a Leading Role for Lantana
FCCA Award nomination - Best Supporting Actor - Male for Looking for Alibrandi
If Award - Best Actor for Lantana (edit) Anthony has set up two series projects via his Warner Bros. Television-based Last Straw Productions banner. The Eye project, named Damnation, is a comedy that revolves around a deceased man who believes he's wrongly been sent to hell and makes a deal with the devil to recruit souls to the underworld. The second project, The Word is an action drama about a renegade team of whistle-blowers who expose cover-ups and conspiracies. (edit) In 1993, Anthony received an AFI Award nomination for ‘Best Actor in a Lead Role’ for his role in Custodian. (edit) In 2000, Anthony received an Emmy nomination as ‘Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series’ for his role as Daphne’s brother in Frasier. (edit) Anthony won a 2004 Golden Globe award for "Best Actor" for his role in Without A Trace. (edit) Anthony received the 1998 Tony Award for ‘Best Actor In A Play’ for his role in A View From the Bridge (edit) In the mid 1980s, Anthony was the goalkeeper for both Adelaide City and West Adelaide teams in the National Soccer League in Australia. (edit) Anthony is a volunteer in the Young Storytellers Program. (edit) Anthony was previously married to actress Cherie Michan. (edit) Anthony met his wife, actress Gia Carides, when they both starred in the movie Lucky Break in 1994. (edit) Anthony attended Norwood Morialta High School in South Australia. (edit) Anthony has two younger brothers. Michael is a car dealer, while his other brother, Jonathon, is both a licensed doctor and an actor. (edit) In 2005, Anthony was nominated for a Golden Satellite Award as Best Actor in a Series, Drama for his role in Without a Trace. (edit) Anthony regrets dropping his Australian accent for American TV roles. (edit) Anthony filmed a number of scenes as gangster Al Capone in the movie Road to Perdition, but unfortunately all the scenes were omitted. (edit) Anthony says he was inspired to become an actor by a community theatre performance of William Congreve's Way of the World. (edit) Anthony is married to Australian actress Gia Carides, who he met whilst jointly starring in the 1994 movie Lucky Break. (edit) Anthony originally moved to America to pursue a career in teaching. (edit) Anthony is a part owner of an Australian Soccer club called Sydney FC (Football Club). (edit) Anthony is the brother-in-law of Zoe Carides. (edit) Anthony was listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1991" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 43. (edit) Anthony is 5'11" tall. (edit) Anthony welcomed a daughter, with Gia Carides, named Bridget in January of 2003. (edit) Anthony won Broadway's 1998 Tony Award as Best Actor (Play) for a revival of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge. (edit) Anthony is Italian on his father's side and Dutch on his mother's side. (edit) Anthony's last name is pronounced La Pah-lia. (edit) Anthony is the older brother of Jonathon Lapaglia, star of The District. (edit)
Emmy nomination - Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for Frasier
Emmy nomination - Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Without a Trace'
Golden Globe - Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama for Without a Trace
Golden Satellite Award nomination - Best Performance by an Actor in a Series, Drama for Without a Trace
Golden Starfish Award for Career Achievement for his acting career
Achievement Award at Newport Beach Film Festival - Outstanding Achievement in Acting for Happy Hour
Prism Award - Performance in a Film Festival Award for Happy Hour
Actor nomination at Screen Actors Guild Awards - Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series for Without a Trace
Actor nomination at Screen Actors Guild Awards - Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for Without a Trace shared with: Eric Close, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Poppy Montgomery, Enrique Murciano
Best Actor at Verona Love Screen Film Festival for Happy Hour (edit) 2002 Awards
Emmy - Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for Frasier
FCCA Award - Best Actor - Male for Lantana (edit) 2001 Awards
AFI Award - Best Actor in a Leading Role for Lantana
FCCA Award nomination - Best Supporting Actor - Male for Looking for Alibrandi
If Award - Best Actor for Lantana (edit) Anthony has set up two series projects via his Warner Bros. Television-based Last Straw Productions banner. The Eye project, named Damnation, is a comedy that revolves around a deceased man who believes he's wrongly been sent to hell and makes a deal with the devil to recruit souls to the underworld. The second project, The Word is an action drama about a renegade team of whistle-blowers who expose cover-ups and conspiracies. (edit) In 1993, Anthony received an AFI Award nomination for ‘Best Actor in a Lead Role’ for his role in Custodian. (edit) In 2000, Anthony received an Emmy nomination as ‘Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series’ for his role as Daphne’s brother in Frasier. (edit) Anthony won a 2004 Golden Globe award for "Best Actor" for his role in Without A Trace. (edit) Anthony received the 1998 Tony Award for ‘Best Actor In A Play’ for his role in A View From the Bridge (edit) In the mid 1980s, Anthony was the goalkeeper for both Adelaide City and West Adelaide teams in the National Soccer League in Australia. (edit) Anthony is a volunteer in the Young Storytellers Program. (edit) Anthony was previously married to actress Cherie Michan. (edit) Anthony met his wife, actress Gia Carides, when they both starred in the movie Lucky Break in 1994. (edit) Anthony attended Norwood Morialta High School in South Australia. (edit) Anthony has two younger brothers. Michael is a car dealer, while his other brother, Jonathon, is both a licensed doctor and an actor. (edit) In 2005, Anthony was nominated for a Golden Satellite Award as Best Actor in a Series, Drama for his role in Without a Trace. (edit) Anthony regrets dropping his Australian accent for American TV roles. (edit) Anthony filmed a number of scenes as gangster Al Capone in the movie Road to Perdition, but unfortunately all the scenes were omitted. (edit) Anthony says he was inspired to become an actor by a community theatre performance of William Congreve's Way of the World. (edit) Anthony is married to Australian actress Gia Carides, who he met whilst jointly starring in the 1994 movie Lucky Break. (edit) Anthony originally moved to America to pursue a career in teaching. (edit) Anthony is a part owner of an Australian Soccer club called Sydney FC (Football Club). (edit) Anthony is the brother-in-law of Zoe Carides. (edit) Anthony was listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1991" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 43. (edit) Anthony is 5'11" tall. (edit) Anthony welcomed a daughter, with Gia Carides, named Bridget in January of 2003. (edit) Anthony won Broadway's 1998 Tony Award as Best Actor (Play) for a revival of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge. (edit) Anthony is Italian on his father's side and Dutch on his mother's side. (edit) Anthony's last name is pronounced La Pah-lia. (edit) Anthony is the older brother of Jonathon Lapaglia, star of The District. (edit)
Anthony: (When asked if he thinks he could work an actual missing person's case.) Absolutely not. I'm the last person...I can't find my car keys in the morning. Trying to get out of my house is a nightmare. "Where's my wallet? Where are my keys? I have to go find a missing person."
(edit)
Anthony: (On "Without a Trace") It's hard to come up with interesting stories that you can't second-guess every week. It's a really tough job, to do it in an intelligent way. As an actor, you always want more character-driven stuff. No matter how much they give you, you still want more. I've always felt like the formula for the show is 10 to 15 percent personal and the rest procedural.
(edit)
Anthony: (on the role in "Bullets Over Broadway") It was down to Chazz Palminteri and myself for Bullets Over Broadway. Chazz is a good friend of mine, and I'm glad he got the role. If not me, I'm glad it was him!
(edit)
Anthony: I like the Baldwin boys a great deal. Alec is super-smart, super-articulate, almost too smart to be an actor.
(edit)
Anthony: A lot of people think I'm that guy in Betsy's Wedding, but I'm not. What it is for me is that, on some level, I connect with the character emotionally.
(edit)
Anthony: The whole question of God and what God is, and whether it's a blond guy with a beard, I don't know... I don't know that. Do I believe that there's something greater at work than the sum of humanity? Yeah, I think so.
(edit)
Anthony: Steve Martin is one of the most intelligent, well-read human beings that I've ever come across. He is equally as funny off screen as he is on. But he also has a very intellectual side, and he's a really nice human being. We actually become good friends.
(edit)
Anthony: We do have a fish named Shallowy. My daughter named it. She’s three!
(edit)
Person Vital Stats
Person
Score: 9.7 Superb 114 votes
Score: 9.7 Superb 114 votes
This content requires Macromedia Flash Player 7 or higher. Get Flash
| Track This Person | |
| Review This Person | Contribute |
