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IMDbPro

Frank L. Messina

  • Actor
  • Writer
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeter
See rank
Frank L. Messina, New York City, 2014
Frank Messina in Boardwalk Empire; Grunt; Where's Willie; Buds; The Intervention; Price War on Christmas; Lawn of the Year. Courtesy HBO, Manhattan Film Institute, New York University, Rowan Cinema, and Troma Films.
Play demo reel1:32
Frank L. Messina Short Reel 2019
1 Video
34 Photos
Frank L. Messina (Frank Messina) is an award-winning poet, artist and actor who grew up in northern New Jersey. He's the author of four books of poetry including "Disorderly Conduct" and "Full Count: The Book of Mets Poetry".

Messina first gained notoriety as a spoken word artist and raconteur by performing on stage in the U.S. and Europe including at Newark Symphony Hall, The Crossing Border Festival and at Symphony Space in New York City. In 2007, the NY Times published a front-page feature on him and his baseball-related writing which garnered him international attention and a book contract.

Messina began making appearances as "The Mets Poet" on SNY, where his dramatic and comedic baseball verse were set to the visual backdrop of glorious (and not so glorious) moments in baseball history. Actor Jerry Stiller saw Messina performing in New York City and afterwards urged him to take up acting.

Messina first appeared as himself in the documentary Jack Kerouac Slept Here (2011). He was featured in the season 2 promo of HBO's Boardwalk Empire (2010) and in a recurring role as bodyguard to Chicago mob boss Al Capone in seasons 3, 4 and 5. Film credits include a starring role as "Ginger Lafferty" in the cult classic Toxic Avenger mockumentary, Toxic Tutu (2016) and the lead role of "Zach" in the Rowan Cinema production, Lawn of the Year.

His directorial debut came in 2015 with the production of Grunt, a short film based on Messina's poem of the same title which was produced by the Manhattan Film Institute. As a visual artist, Messina's work hangs in private and public collections around the world.
BornFebruary 16, 1968
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BornFebruary 16, 1968
IMDbProStarmeter
See rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro

Photos34

Frank Messina, Golden Door Film Festival, September 2019
"Grunt" poster.
Frank Messina on the red carpet, 2014,
Frank L. Messina
Frank Messina on the red carpet
Frank L. Messina - Boardwalk Empire
Frank L. Messina
Frank L. Messina
Frank Messina
Frank L. Messina
from Boardwalk Empire
Frank Messina, from "Buds"

Known for

Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci in The Irishman (2019)
The Irishman
7.8
  • Tony Pro Guy #3
  • 2019
Toxic Tutu (2017)
Toxic Tutu
4.8
  • Ginger Lafferty
  • 2017
The Transfiguration (2016)
The Transfiguration
6.1
  • Cop One(as Frank Messina)
  • 2016
Vic Noto in Boardwalk Empire (2010)
Boardwalk Empire
8.6
TV Series
  • Frankie
  • Gladhandler
  • Torrio Bodyguard
  • Capone
  • Capone Bodyguard(uncredited)

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actor

  • Lawn of the Year
    • Completed
  • weAR
    • Completed
  • Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci in The Irishman (2019)
    The Irishman
  • 3 Dollars (2019)
    3 Dollars
  • Joseph Aniska in It's a Wondrous Life (2018)
    It's a Wondrous Life
  • Toxic Tutu (2017)
    Toxic Tutu
  • Final Decision (2017)
    Final Decision
  • The Transfiguration (2016)
    The Transfiguration
    • (as Frank Messina)
  • Constantine Malahias and Andrew DiTusa in The Intervention (2015)
    The Intervention
  • Dom Fera, Chris Ogren, Amanda Ebert, and Brad Linton in Buds (2015)
    Buds
  • Price War on Christmas
  • Remember to Love
  • Grunt (2014)
    Grunt
  • Chyler Leigh and Jacky Ido in Taxi Brooklyn (2014)
    Taxi Brooklyn
    • (uncredited)
  • Vic Noto in Boardwalk Empire (2010)
    Boardwalk Empire
    • (uncredited) ...
  • Julianna Margulies in The Good Wife (2009)
    The Good Wife
    • (uncredited)
  • Where's Willie?

Writer

  • David Amram, Lauren Carr, and Frank L. Messina in The Art of Restraint and Cool Excuses (2017)
    The Art of Restraint and Cool Excuses
  • Lauren Carr and Frank L. Messina in Barker (2016)
    Barker
  • Grunt (2014)
    Grunt

Producer

  • Toxic Tutu (2017)
    Toxic Tutu

Videos1

Frank L. Messina Short Reel 2019
Demo Reel 1:32
Frank L. Messina Short Reel 2019

Personal details

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    • Official Site
    • February 16, 1968
    • Englewood, New Jersey, USA
  • Other works
    Book: "Disorderly Conduct". Louisville, KY: Published in Heaven Books. ISBN 978-0971581111
  • Publicity listings
    • 3 Interviews
    • 8 Articles

Did you know

Edit
  • Quotes
    [2007 - on recognition] I remember signing my first autograph to a kid when I was 25 years old. As time went on, I came out with books and CDs, and I became used to that kind of thing. To me, the ultimate feeling of success as an artist, is to move somebody enough where they thank you.
    • Scar on bridge of nose

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