Article on Carmine Giovinazzo

"Family beams as its TV star shines"


A bloodied rape victim in a tattered black evening dress stumbles into a high-class party in Central Park, and it's up to a team of police, including Detective Danny Messer, to figure out who committed the crime.

While the sensational plot was part of a fictional television show, to the crowd of people huddled around a TV in Westerleigh last night, Messer is more than just a made-up character: He's Mariners Harbor native Carmine Giovinazzo, one of the new stars of "CSI: NY."

Giovinazzo's family was out in force at the home of his sister and brother-in-law to cheer him on as he played a prominent part in the second episode of the CBS-TV show, a spinoff of the network's hit drama "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."

"To know that's my son, it's incredible," said Dominick Giovinazzo of Grasmere, as his son examined the woman's clothing for clues.

After moving to Los Angeles in 1995, Giovinazzo scored roles in the pilot episode of television's "Buffy: The Vampire Slayer" as well as the movie "Black Hawk Down."

His current role puts him in the spotlight as a detective working in a crime lab, trying to foil criminals through forensic evidence.

The veracity of the show received high marks from the star's father, as well as the two homeowners quite possibly the toughest critics.

All retired cops, they vouched for the authenticity of the investigations, and said the star calls them occasionally for advice.

"Cops will be the biggest critics," said brother-in-law Will Varela, a former detective. "He called me for advice on interrogations, like where to sit the perpetrator and how to approach them."

He also called his sister, Alise Varela, for some pointers on fingerprinting.

"We love to say that he's following in our footsteps, in a way," she said.

Acting wasn't Giovinazzo's first passion, though. He played baseball at Port Richmond High School and Wagner College, Grymes Hill, and had a workout with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

But after being sidelined by a back injury, he worked in some student films, and later moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.

His family was quick to point out that his baseball career hasn't been totally forsaken during a recent celebrity baseball game, he was the only actor to smack a home run out of Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

The self-proclaimed "Other Carmine Giovinazzo," the television cop's uncle of the same name, said it was nice to see his name in the credits, and had high praise for his nephew.

"I'm a big CSI fan," the Bulls Head resident said. "I've been watching since the first one started. (Carmine) is doing a great job, he's very talented."

In fact, most of the family were already fans of the CSI franchise including the actor's mother, Nancy Giovinazzo of Port Richmond.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for him," she said. "I was delighted when I heard that he read for it. It's an opportunity to be seen by millions of viewers and be part of a great franchise."

And when she says millions of viewers, she means just that during the series premiere last week, 18.5 million people tuned in.