Early life and teen career

Spano was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Italian-American parents Vincent and Theresa, who are of Italian origin.

His career started when he was 14 years old in the Broadway drama, The Shadow Box. He was originally credited as Vincent Stewart because his first agent felt the name Spano was "too ethnic", and he was even instructed to sign autographs using that stage name. At age 16, in respect for his Italian heritage, Spano began using his real name and has done so ever since then.

His debut in The Shadow Box was in 1977, first at the Long Wharf Theatre, in New Haven, Connecticut, and later on Broadway in New York City. Spano's film debut was at the age of 15, in the mystery The Double McGuffin, which he shot in the winter of 1978. Following The Double McGuffin, he shot Over the Edge in the summer of 1978.

Adult career

Acting

Spano subsequently appeared in many Hollywood films, including the romantic-comedy Baby, It's You (1983), the drama City of Hope (1991), the drama Rumble Fish (1983), the biographical survival drama Alive (1993), the horror television film The Rats (2002), the drama Over the Edge (1979) and the comedy Creator (1985).

In the adventure film The Black Stallion Returns (1983), Spano appeared as a handsome, young, Arabic rider, Raj, who returns home from university to compete in a major horse race and befriends an American boy, Alec Ramsey (Kelly Reno). He also appeared in the Italian drama film Good Morning, Babylon (1987), and the crime drama film Alphabet City (1984). He co-starred with Dylan and Cole Sprouse in the comedy film A Modern Twain Story: The Prince and the Pauper (2007). He appeared on ION Television opposite Lou Diamond Phillips in the Western television film Lone Rider (2008). Spano had a recurring role as FBI Agent Dean Porter on the police procedural crime drama television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit since its eighth season in 2006.

In the fantasy horror-thriller film, The Prophecy 3: The Ascent (2000), he appeared as Zophael, a handsome angel that was after a young man named Danyeal.

Spano starred in the television drama film Landslide (also known as Buried Alive; 2005) as a fireman trapped in a collapsed building with his son.

He has also appeared in Italian projects including the drama television series L'onore e il rispetto - Parte seconda (2009) in the role of the mafia boss Rodolfo di Venanzio, and the film Caldo Criminale (2010) as Police Inspector Lai.

A prolific actor, Spano has starred in numerous television series episodes, television films and theatrical films.

Directing

Television Shows:

• Tales from the Crypt (one episode: "Two For The Show", 1994)

Short Films:

• Tony & Bobby (2002)
• High Expectations (2002)
• Bet Runner (2003)
• Me and My Daddy (2004)

Filmography

• The Double McGuffin (1979) as Foster
• Over the Edge (1979) as Mark
• A Stranger Is Watching (1982) as Gas Thief
• Baby It's You (1983) as Albert 'Sheik' Capadilupo
• The Black Stallion Returns (1983) as Raj
• Rumble Fish (1983) as Steve
• Alphabet City (1984) as Johnny
• Maria's Lovers (1984) as Al Griselli
• Creator (1985) as Boris Lafkin
• Blood Ties (also known as Il cugino americano; 1986) as Mark Ciuni
• Good Morning, Babylon (1987) as Nicola Bonanno
• High Frequency (aka Qualcuno in ascolto) (1988) as Peter
• And God Created Woman (1988) as Billy Moran
• Rosso veneziano (it) (1989) as Carlo Goldoni
• Heart of the Deal (1990) as Mitchell Bryce
• Oscar (1991) as Anthony Rossano
• City of Hope (1991) as Nick Rinaldi
• Alive (1993) as Antonio Balbi
• Indian Summer (1993) as Matthew Berman
• The Ascent (1994) as Franco Distassi
• The Tie That Binds (1995) as Russell Clifton
• No Strings Attached (1997) as Marc Demetrius
• A Brooklyn State of Mind (1997)
• The Christmas Path (1998) as Angel
• A Brooklyn State of Mind (1998) as Al Stanco
• The Unknown Cyclist (1998) as Frank Cavatelli
• Goosed (1999) as Steven Binder
• The Prophecy 3: The Ascent (2000) as The Angel Zophael
• Texas Rangers (2001) as Ed Simms
• Silence (2003) as Det. Steve Banks
• The Engagement Ring (2005) as Tony Di Cenzo
• Nevermore (2007) as Devin Bayliss
• A Modern Twain Story: The Prince and the Pauper (2007) as Miles
• Fatal Secrets (2009) as Scott
• Dante's Inferno: Abandon All Hope (2010) as Speaker: 7th Circle - The Murderers
• Sangue Caldo (2011) in Mauro Malaspina (an Italian film)
• Dante's Inferno Animated (2011) as Virgil (voice)
• Dante's Inferno Documented (2012) as Speaker, Virgil
• Dante's Purgatorio Documented (2013) as Virgil
• This Magic Moment (TV Movie) (2013) as Roberto Molinez
• Dante's Hell Animated (Short) (2014) as Virgil
• April Rain (2014) as Special Agent Thomas
• Pearly Gates (2015) as Mayor / Satan
• Badlanders (2015) as Prussian Mercenary

Television work

• Search for Tomorrow (1979) as Jackie Peterson
• The Gentleman Bandit (1981) as Angel Perez
• Senior Trip (1980) as Dick
• Afterburn (1992) as Ted Harduvel
• Environmental Media Awards (1993) as Himself
• Tales from the Crypt (one episode, 1993) as Officer Fine
• Downdraft (1996) as Jack
• Prince Street (six episodes, 1997-2000) as Det. Alex Gage
• The Deadly Look of Love as Brett Becker
• Jenifer (2001) as Jack
• The Rats (2002) as Jack Carver
• Deathlands: Homeward Bound (2003) as Ryan Cawdor
• North Shore (two episodes, 2004) as Dan Ralston
• Landslide (2005) as Mark Decker
• The Engagement Ring (2005) as Tony Di Cenzo
• Her Fatal Flaw (2006) as Robert Genaro
• Pandemic (2007) as Troy Whitlock
• Lone Rider (2008) as Stu Croker
• Grave Misconduct (2008) as Trent Dodson
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (five episodes, 2006-2009) as FBI Agent Dean Porter
• L'onore e il rispetto (2009) as Rodolfo Di Venenzio
• Caldo criminale (2010) as Ispettore Lai
• House M.D. (one episode, 2011) as Tommy
• The Mentalist (one episode, 2014) as Don De Jorio
• Castle (one episode, 2014) as Christopher Carlucci

Accolades

He received a Cable Ace Award nomination in 1988 for his role as Mark Ciuni in Blood Ties (also known as Il cugino americano).

Awards

Year	Group	Award	Result	Notes
1988	CableACE Awards	Actor in a Movie or Miniseries	Il cugino americano	Nominated

[ Source: Wikipedia ]