Ever ask yourself who is david caruso? He stars as Lt. Horatio Caine on CSI: Miami, yet many know him only by those cool shades. You might recall him as Detective John Kelly on NYPD Blue, and still feel in the dark about his journey.
Fans crave a clear view behind the man and his famous one-liners.
David Caruso won a Golden Globe for NYPD Blue at age 36. This post will guide you through his Forest Hills, Queens roots, his small film roles, his TV break, and his comeback on CSI: Miami.
You’ll learn about his awards, his stumbles, and his life today. Ready for the full story? Read on.
Key Takeaways
- David Caruso was born on January 7, 1956, in Forest Hills, Queens, New York. His father ran a magazine and newspaper, and his mother worked as a librarian.
- He won a Golden Globe in 1994 for playing Detective John Kelly on NYPD Blue. He shot 26 episodes but left after season one over pay and creative differences.
- In the mid-1990s he shifted to films like Kiss of Death and Jade. Both flopped and earned him Razzie Award nominations for Worst New Star.
- From 2002 to 2012 he starred as Lt. Horatio Caine on CSI: Miami. He led 232 episodes and earned about $375,000 per episode in 2009–10.
- After CSI: Miami ended in 2012, he kept a low profile. He lives with partner Liza Marquez, raises two children, and briefly ran a Miami shop.
What was David Caruso’s early life like?
David Stephen Caruso entered life on January 7, 1956, in Forest Hills, Queens, New York. His father, Charles Caruso, ran a magazine and a newspaper. His mother, Joan Caruso, worked as a librarian.
This environment fed the future american actor’s curiosity.
He studied at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Elementary School then at Archbishop Molloy High School, finishing in 1974. Early gigs in TV commercials taught him the ropes. Caruso grabbed small roles on Hill Street Blues and Crime Story.
His first big-screen parts appeared in Getting Wasted and Without Warning in 1980.
How did David Caruso get his breakthrough role in NYPD Blue?
ABC pitched NYPD Blue in early 1993, hunting fresh faces for its crime drama. David Caruso nailed his audition and won the part of Detective John Kelly. He tapped method acting to add depth.
The crew filmed on a video device in tight city streets.
Critics cheered his raw energy. He starred in 26 episodes. He bagged a Golden Globe and an Emmy nod. Fame shot skyward. Pay talks hit a dead end. He quit after one season and four episodes, amid buzz of on-set friction.
What challenges did David Caruso face transitioning to film?
David Caruso left NYPD Blue in 1995 to chase a film career. He signed on for crime thriller Kiss of Death and thriller Jade. Both flopped at the box office. Critics trashed his work and he grabbed a Razzie Award nod as Worst New Star.
He skipped the screen in 1996 and returned in drama Cold Around the Heart in 1997. That film drew little buzz. On the film set he faced typecasting and rough critical reception despite screen tests and camera work training.
He landed small roles like rescue drama Proof of Life in 2000 and led low budget titles, horror film Session 9 and action film Black Point in 2001.
CSI: Miami and Rise to Iconic Status
Detective Caine lifted his sunglasses and shot out a short joke, as he ran fingerprint scans in the crime lab. He made crime lab gear feel cool, and gave the CSI series a sunlit swagger.
How did David Caruso become a star on CSI: Miami?
Producers cast Caruso as Lieutenant Horatio Caine in 2002. He stood out among dozens of actors. CBS execs wanted a calm, sharp lead. Caruso’s style mixed method acting skills with bold flair.
Fans loved his sunglasses one-liners. This role expanded the CSI franchise.
Caruso appeared in 232 episodes of CSI: Miami over ten seasons. Viewers watched every plot twist. He earned about $375,000 per episode in 2009–10. A 2005 CSI: NY cameo widened his reach.
The series pulse drove him into icon status.
What made David Caruso’s character iconic in CSI: Miami?
David Caruso stood out with his slick demeanor and slow speech patterns, a nod to Captain Kirk’s style. He slid on his shades with trademark sunglasses one-liners in one smooth move.
His deep baritone cut through every crime story scene, lending a stage feel to each case. Fans tied CSI franchise flair to his style, and CSI: Miami rode that wave.
He handled a pistol in a way that showed his left-eye dominance, even as a right-handed actor. He admitted to being a tough interviewee and learned to check his ego since returning to TV.
His raw honesty gave Lieutenant Horatio Caine a pulse that fans felt in every twist. His style spawned skits on Late Show with David Letterman and caricatures by Jim Carrey.
When did David Caruso retire from acting and what is his life like now?
The American actor withdrew from acting after CSI: Miami ended in 2012. He has not taken any major roles since then. He also launched Steam, a clothing and furniture shop in Miami.
The enterprise closed within a few years.
He keeps a low profile with Liza Marquez, his partner since 2005. They raise two children, Marquez Anthony and Paloma Raquel. He went through three marriages before meeting Marquez, including a brief match with Rachel Ticotin that produced daughter Greta.
He stays out of Hollywood and away from public view now.
What awards and recognitions has David Caruso received?
David Caruso has impressed both viewers and critics. His career earned nods and trophies.
- A Golden Globe Award landed on his shelf in 1994 for NYPD Blue, where he played Detective John Kelly.
- A Primetime Emmy Award joined his trophy case, after he earned four total Emmy nominations.
- A nomination for Worst New Star at the Razzie Awards hit him twice, for Kiss of Death and Jade.
- His IMDb Starmeter rank peaked at 184, pushing him into the Top 5,000 of all actors on the site.
- Sixteen appearances as himself, plus eight archive footage credits, pad his IMDb filmography score.
- His stint as Lieutenant Horatio Caine on CSI: Miami helped him own the CSI franchise, thanks to his sunglasses one-liners.
Takeaways
Fans still talk about his days on the crime drama. A major TV award crowned his gritty detective turn. His film choices stumbled, but he leapt back into the forensic drama franchise, armed with famous sunglasses one-liners.
This journey shows real drive and grit in Hollywood. It leaves viewers eager for one more episode.
Discover more about the intriguing stature of this television legend by visiting how tall is David Caruso.
FAQs
1. Who is David Caruso?
He is an American actor, known for his cool shades and sharp roles. He has been on TV and in films. His name often pops up with CSI: Miami fame.
2. What shows did he start on?
He cut his teeth on a cop drama, Hill Street Blues. He moved to a period crime series, Crime Story. He then joined the police drama nypd blue as Detective John Kelly. He also led the legal drama Michael Hayes.
3. What films did he star in?
He hit the big screen with First Blood and shone in the crime thriller Kiss of Death. He took roles in An Officer and a Gentleman, Mad Dog and Glory, Hudson Hawk, King of New York, urban thriller Blue City, and international crime film China Girl.
4. How did he become Lt. Horatio Caine on CSI: Miami?
He joined the crime franchise, CSI: Miami, as Lieutenant Horatio Caine. He steps into the sun, taps his sunglasses, and drops a classic sunglasses one-liner. That tag made him a pop culture icon. Fans still quote him at every turn.
5. Has he won a major award?
Yes. He earned a Golden Globe Award for his TV work and received a Golden Globe nod on other occasions.
6. What shaped his life off screen?
He grew up Roman Catholic, at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic School and Archbishop Molloy High School. He studied method acting to hone his craft. Faith and training guide his path today.
