A sad-eyed, full-lipped, handsome actor of Italian and Puerto Rican descent, Michael DeLorenzo started out as a dancer in both the "Fame" feature and TV series and left his gypsy days behind as Eddie Torres, the hot-headed detective who took himself quite seriously on the Fox series "New York Undercover" for four years (1994-97). Although DeLorenzo started dancing at the High School for the Performing Arts in New York (the setting for "Fame"), he always had acting on his mind and when one of the "Fame" TV series leads had personal problems, he was picked from the chorus line to act in several episodes, and continued to do so on and off. Bigger parts were elusive. Although he was a regular on "The Bronx Zoo" (NBC, 1987), in features he managed only a small role as a thug who recognizes Whoopi Goldberg as a narc in "Fatal Beauty" (1987). Although larger feature parts still proved elusive, DeLorenzo joined the cast of the ABC sitcom "Head of the Class" for two seasons (1989-91) as the wolfish Alex Torres. He and co-star Malik Yoba made TV history in "New York Undercover"; no other cop series had featured non-white males in leading roles and lasted more than one season. DeLorenzo's feature work also picked up in the 90s. He was Private First Class William T. Santiago, the object of the drama, in "A Few Good Men" (1992) and Butch Mejia, a doomed rival gang leader, in "My Family/Mi Familia" (1995). He also appeared as Rosie Perez's suitor in "Somebody to Love" (filmed in 1994, released theatrically in 1996). DeLorenzo's stage work has been sporadic, but he did star in "Stand-Up Tragedy" at the prestigious Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles in 1989 and was much praised for his work.
Profession(s):
Actor, dancer, director
Sometimes Credited As:
Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award "Stand-Up Tragedy" 1989
2000 Had featured role in "Gun Shy"
2000 Returned to series TV as co-star of the Showtime drama "Ressurection Blvd."
1998 Returned to films in "Phantoms"
1995 Appeared as Butch Mejia in "My Family/Mi Familia"
1992 Played pivotal role in Rob Reiner's "A Few Good Men"
1989 Starred in "Stand-Up Tragedy" at the Mark Taper Forum
1987 Cast as Salvatore on the short-lived NBC series, "The Bronx Zoo"
1987 TV-movie debut, "Sister Margaret and the Saturday Night Ladies"
1982 - 1985 Appeared as a dancer and in occasional speaking roles on the series "Fame"
1980 Feature film debut as a dancer in "Fame"
1980 Stage debut, New York revival of "West Side Story"
Played Alex Torres on ABC sitcom "Head of the Class"
Played Detective Eddie Torres on Fox series "New York Undercover"
