Dan Hedaya

Born: 24th July 1940
Where: Brooklyn, New York

Dan Hedaya's range stretches across stage, screen, and television.

Best known in his early days for appearances in the long-running sitcom Cheers as barmaid Carla's slime-ball husband Nick Tortelli.

Dan began his acting career after studying at Tufts University in the North East of the US but it nearly didn't happen - he was a junior high school teacher for many years before deciding to go for it and become an actor.

Dan made his feature film debut in The Passover Plot in 1975 and to date Dan has acted in more than 20 movies.

He's often cast as cops, criminals, or rough-diamond regular blokes.

In the Coen Brother's feature debut Blood Simple, Dan starred as Marty, the jealous husband who hires a creepy detective to kill his unfaithful wife.

During the eighties Dan got most of his work on TV. He has guest-starred on police and courtroom dramas such as Hill Street Blues and Law and Order and he's appeared on sitcoms such as Family Ties.

Dan has carved out an effective career playing unpleasant types!