Dan Hedaya Biography

Date of Birth: July 24, 1940

Dan Hedaya has played a wide variety of characters on the stage, screen, and television. Fans of the long-running sitcom Cheers will remember Hedaya for his portrayal of barmaid Carla's grease bag husband Nick Tortelli.

Following studies in literature at Tufts University in 1962, the Brooklyn, NY native launched his acting career. He began to act in the New York Shakespeare Festival and stayed on for many years. His stage credits include Henry V, Hamlet, Golden Boy, Awake and Sing and The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel.

Hedaya made his feature film debut in The Passover Plot (1975) and has since appeared in over 40 feature films. Due to his tough Italian appearance and thick Brooklyn accent, Hedaya is frequently cast as cops, criminals, or rough-edged regular joes. Some of his better known credits include The Addams Family, Blood Simple, Marvin's Room, Searching for Bobby Fischer, Maverick, To Die For, The Usual Suspects, Nixon, Clueless and The First Wives Club.

However, it is on television that Hedaya has found most of his work. He has guest-starred on numerous shows ranging from police and courtroom dramas like Hill Street Blues and Law and Order, to sitcoms such as Family Ties andCheers.

His television movie credits include Second Civil War, Bounty Hunters, Fallen Angel, Betrayal of Trust and The Whereabouts of Jenny.