Romano Orzari
- Actor
- Producer
Romano has performed in over 80 different leading and supporting roles for feature films, short films and television series. He is easily comfortable on either a Hollywood production, a small Indie low budget production or an actual no-budget production. Decidedly proud of his working class immigrant parents, he values his blue-collar roots that repeatedly nurture the virtues of being a journeyman actor.
Fluent in Italian and French and in the "good" Greek words, Romano initially studied engineering in college. Changing his studies to literature, art history and filmmaking due to 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 latter play's director Joe Dowling, former Artistic Director of the Guthrie in Minneapolis and the Abbey in Dublin. Determined, Romano moved to New York City to further his acting studies. He dedicated five years of training beginning with one year at the The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, then at the Ron Stetson Studio studying the Meisner Technique, adding workshops with Group Theatre alumni Bobby Lewis, but 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 the beautiful Jimmy Tripp.
While still in school (and skipping class) he attended an audition otherwise known as a "cattle-call" and landed a major supporting role. Professionally debuting in the jazz bio-pic "Bix" by critically acclaimed Italian 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 tragic accident put a stop to this achievement. Alive and 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 strength and growth 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".
Though lately in the realms of woods, literally, Romano continues to mine his own business, prospect the poetic, be a canapé instigator and explore our effervescent need of storytelling.
Fluent in Italian and French and in the "good" Greek words, Romano initially studied engineering in college. Changing his studies to literature, art history and filmmaking due to 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 latter play's director Joe Dowling, former Artistic Director of the Guthrie in Minneapolis and the Abbey in Dublin. Determined, Romano moved to New York City to further his acting studies. He dedicated five years of training beginning with one year at the The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, then at the Ron Stetson Studio studying the Meisner Technique, adding workshops with Group Theatre alumni Bobby Lewis, but 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 the beautiful Jimmy Tripp.
While still in school (and skipping class) he attended an audition otherwise known as a "cattle-call" and landed a major supporting role. Professionally debuting in the jazz bio-pic "Bix" by critically acclaimed Italian 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 tragic accident put a stop to this achievement. Alive and 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 strength and growth 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".
Though lately in the realms of woods, literally, Romano continues to mine his own business, prospect the poetic, be a canapé instigator and explore our effervescent need of storytelling.
