Celebrity Info
Danny Pino, a talented actor who got his start in the New York theater scene, gradually built a strong screen presence through a series of guest appearances before landing a breakout role as homicide detective Scotty Valdes on the long-running CBS procedural Cold Case (2003–2010). Prior to that, Pino had already made a name for himself in a chilling performance as Armando Quintero, a ruthless drug kingpin on the FX drama The Shield (2002–2008). He also impressed audiences with his portrayal of Desi Arnaz in the television biopic Lucy (CBS, 2003), where he starred opposite Rachel York as Lucille Ball.
While working on Cold Case, Danny Pino continued to diversify his filmography with roles in independent films such as Between (2005) and Rx (2005). He also made appearances on other popular TV shows, including a crossover episode of CSI: New York (CBS, 2004–2013) and a multi-episode arc on Burn Notice (USA Network, 2007–2013), where he played a morally ambiguous defense attorney seeking help from the show’s protagonist.
After Cold Case ended in 2010, Danny Pino took a brief step back from the spotlight before reemerging in 2011 with a major role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC, 1999– ), stepping in for the departing Christopher Meloni. His performance on the long-running series further solidified his reputation as a versatile and dependable actor. Pino remained with the show until 2015, after which he joined the cast of the CBS political thriller BrainDead (2016), starring alongside Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Aaron Tveit.
Danny Pino’s journey into acting began at a young age, sparked by his portrayal of an elderly teacher in a sixth-grade school musical. Born on April 15, 1974, in Hialeah Gardens, Florida, Pino pursued his passion through high school at Miami Coral Park High School. His dedication earned him a theater scholarship to Florida International University, where he took on leading roles in numerous dramatic and musical productions. After graduating in 1996, he continued his education with a graduate theater scholarship at New York University.
Pino quickly became a familiar face in New York’s theater world, with appearances at prestigious venues like Lincoln Center, the Williamstown Theatre Festival, and the New York Shakespeare Festival. His first major television role came in 2001 with the short-lived WB sitcom Men, Women and Dogs, which, although canceled after one season, helped open doors for future opportunities.
In 2002, Danny Pino took a detour back to the stage for a West End production of Up for Grabs in London, where he shared the spotlight with Madonna, who personally chose him for the role. The following year, he took on the dark and controversial character of Armando Quintero, a brutal drug lord and serial rapist on The Shield. Quintero was one of the show’s most despised antagonists, known for his sadistic tactics, including branding and burning his enemies.
That same year, Danny Pino balanced out the darkness with a charismatic and historically grounded performance as Desi Arnaz in Lucy. Shortly after, he was cast as Scotty Valdes in Cold Case, a role that would become one of his most iconic. Introduced in the sixth episode, titled “Love Conquers All,” Valdes quickly became a central figure in the Philadelphia homicide unit that revisited unsolved murders.
While filming Cold Case, Danny Pino also appeared in the indie thriller Between and the road-trip drama Rx, both released in 2005. He later appeared in the period film The Lost City (2006), starring Andy Garcia, Bill Murray, and Dustin Hoffman, and took on a more prominent role in Flicka (2006), a coming-of-age story about a young girl and her wild horse.
Danny Pino also expanded his film work with roles in The Burning Plain (2009) and Across the Hall (2009), continuing to demonstrate his range as an actor. After Cold Case wrapped in 2010, Pino’s career trajectory remained steady, leading to his impactful run on Law & Order: SVU and beyond.
Danny Pino has appeared in a variety of films throughout his career, but one of his most acclaimed roles on screen came in the 2006 movie Flicka. This film, which showcases his acting abilities in a heartfelt and emotionally rich story, is widely regarded as Danny Pino’s highest-rated movie to date. On the other hand, among the films he has been a part of, Between from 2005 holds the distinction of being his lowest-rated performance. While every actor experiences a range of successes and challenges in their filmography, these two movies represent the notable extremes in Danny Pino’s cinematic journey.
Turkey
