Robert Miano

A natural performer, Robert Miano came to acting through his singing career, auditioning for the lead in the musical "Satyricon." After a brief hiatus, he returned to New York to study acting with Lee Strasberg and Warren Robertson. His first film role was in 1973, when he was awarded a bit part by director Howard W. Koch in "Badge 373." He had dozens of small parts in B and C films, and one-off appearances on various TV shows in the '70s and '80s, but it wasn't until the late '90s that his profile was raised. After being cast as the lead in "The Killer Inside" in 1996, Miano played Enrico in the star-studded "The Funeral," directed by Abel Ferrara. His increased visibility led to his best role, in 1997's "Donnie Brasco," in which Miano played infamous mafia capo Sonny Red alongside stars Johnny Depp, Al Pacino, and Michael Madsen. Despite the critical acclaim for the film, Miano was unable to move on to more substantial roles. He played a small part in the Native American indie comedy "Smoke Signals," but returned to lesser films such as "Detour" and "Thick as Thieves." In the '00s Miano has appeared in dozens of indie films, including "Giallo" starring Adrien Brody, and occasionally worked on Hollywood projects like "Fast & The Furious" and "Little Fockers."