---
name: "Armand Assante"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/armand-assante"
fi1m_id: "armand-assante"
imdb_id: "nm0000800"
tmdb_id: 23346
wikidata_id: "Q310511"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "4 October 1949"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 65
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-10-04T16:44:55.297578+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Armand Assante

## Identity

Armand Assante

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/armand-assante
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** armand-assante
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000800
- **TMDB ID:** 23346
- **Wikidata ID:** Q310511
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armand_Assante, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q310511, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000800/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/23346

Actor. Born 4 October 1949 in New York City, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 4 October 1949, New York City, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1980–2007
- **Also known as:** Armand Anthony Assante, Armand Anthony Assante Jr.
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 65, as actor, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 64 (1), 2000s 66 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armand_Assante, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q310511, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000800/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/23346

## Streaming the US now

- **Tubi:** [*Private Benjamin*](https://film.one/film/private-benjamin.md) (64)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Armand Assante

> Armand Assante began as the charming Frenchman in *Private Benjamin* and spent the following decades making sure nobody cast him that way again: gangsters, bandleaders, a mob boss, Odysseus. The determination is admirable; the parts have often been smaller than the preparation.

He turns up in *Private Benjamin* (1980) after the film has left the barracks, a Frenchman called Henrí Trémont with a soft voice and good manners, there to give Goldie Hawn's Judy something to want. The first half of that film is sharp and well drilled; the half he is in is not. He is handed charm and nothing to do with it, and he does what an actor can do in that position, which is to be pleasant in every scene and memorable in none. We felt for him, and we still checked the time twice in the last half hour, which is not the reaction a love interest hopes to produce.

Assante noticed too. He has said that after that film he made it a point to do hard-nosed New York characters, because nobody believed he was American, and the career that followed is largely that decision carried out. There is the drug dealer Bobby Texador in Sidney Lumet's *Q&A* (1990), the Cuban bandleader Cesar Castillo opposite Antonio Banderas in *The Mambo Kings* (1992), John Gotti in the television film *Gotti* (1996), a crime-family capo for Ridley Scott in *American Gangster* (2007). Odysseus in the 1997 miniseries *The Odyssey* is the odd one out, and even he is a man who hits people. Accents, period detail, research by the yard: he is known for preparing for these parts as if sitting an exam.

What critics tend to notice is the intensity, and what they tend to hold against him is the same thing played a notch too loud; *The Mambo Kings* drew that complaint. The typecasting he ran from in 1980 followed him in a different coat, so that the Frenchman became a Puerto Rican, then a Cuban, then an Italian from New York. We have not weighed those performances ourselves. On the evidence of the one film of his we know best, an actor who would rather be too much than too little has reasoned correctly.

The later decades are mostly independent films, often with newer directors and writers, and he has said he prefers it that way, without the pressures a studio brings. Sylvester Stallone has had him back three times and Scott twice, so somebody in the large rooms still thinks of him. If you want to see where he started, *Private Benjamin* is there, and the good half is the half without him. Where he went next is, by all accounts, the better evening, though not one we can vouch for yet.

## Biography

Armand Anthony Assante Jr. is an American actor. He trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, where he won the Jehlinger Award in 1969. He began his career with roles in NBC soap operas including *The Doctors* and *How to Survive a Marriage* before appearing in films such as *Paradise Alley* (1978).

Assante gained attention for his performance as Henri Alan Tremont in the 1980 comedy *Private Benjamin*. He later played Dominic Cattano in the 2007 crime film *American Gangster*. Other notable roles include John Gotti in the 1996 HBO television film *Gotti*, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award, and voice work as Tzekel-Kan in the 2000 animated film *The Road to El Dorado*.

He has received nominations for four Golden Globe Awards and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. Assante has also appeared in television series including *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*, *NCIS* and *ER*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *NCIS* (2003), Fi1m 66, as René 'La Grenouille' — [page](https://film.one/tv/ncis.md)
- *Private Benjamin* (1980), Fi1m 64, as Henrí Trémont — [page](https://film.one/film/private-benjamin.md)

## Complete filmography (139)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *260 days* (2025), as Oficir JNA
- *Oak* (2025), as Abe
- *Don Q* (2024), as Don Q · Producer
- *Sugar* (2022), as Ernie
- *Salvage Marines* (2022), series, as Kelkis Morturi
- *Mister Mayfair: Shooting Paul* (2021), as Max
- *Mister Mayfair: The Spyce of Life* (2021), as Max Mayfair
- *The Match* (2021), as Commander
- *Mister Mayfair: Serena's Game* (2021), as Max
- *The General* (2019), as Andreas
- *The Brave* (2019), as Frank Pedulla
- *Carl Weber's The Family Business* (2018), series, as Sal Dash
- *Darc* (2018), as Lafique
- *The Wanderers: The Quest of The Demon Hunter* (2018), as Louis
- *Con Man* (2018), as Jack Saxon
- *The Deuce* (2017), series, as Mr. Martino — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-deuce.md)
- *The Neighborhood* (2017), as Tucci
- *The Man Who Unlocked the Universe* (2017), as Ulugh Beg
- *You Can't Have It* (2017), as The Man
- *Joe's War* (2017), as Doctor Galante
- *Ley primera* (2017), Actor
- *The Red Maple Leaf* (2017), as FBI Agent Joseph Cortez
- *Blowtorch* (2016), as Canarsie
- *Power of Silence* (2016), as Narrator
- *Leaves of the Tree* (2016), as Joe Buffa
- *Stressed to Kill* (2016), as Paul Jordan
- *Sicilian Vampire* (2015), as Vince
- *Kids vs Monsters* (2015), as Damian
- *Diamond Cartel* (2015), as Mussa
- *Beyond the Game* (2014), as Mr. Leone
- *Charlie Mantle* (2014), as Inspector Bennett
- *A Fine Step* (2014), as Alejandro Bolivar
- *Hunting the Phantom* (2014), as Charles Ingrim
- *See You in Montevideo* (2014), as Hotchkins
- *Guido* (2014), as Lorenzo De Costa
- *Assumed Killer* (2013), as Aaron Banfield
- *Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn* (2013), as Joseph Baldano Sr.
- *Dead Man Down* (2013), as Lon Gordon
- *The Night Never Sleeps* (2012), as Inspector Romanelli
- *The Return of Joe Rich* (2011), as Uncle Dom
- *Jesse* (2011), as Dominick
- *Shadows in Paradise* (2010), as Cpt. John 'Ghost' Santos
- *Human Target* (2010), series, as Joubert
- *Killer by Nature* (2010), as Eugene Branch
- *Breaking Point* (2009), as Marty Berlin
- *Magic Man* (2009), as Taper
- *The Bleeding* (2009), as Jake Plummer
- *Chicago Overcoat* (2009), as Stefano D'Agnostino
- *Smile* (2009), as Tollinger
- *The Line* (2009), as Padre Antonio
- *The Steam Experiment* (2009), as Detective Mancini
- *The Lost* (2009), as Kevin
- *Shark Swarm* (2008), as Hamilton Lux
- *The Man Who Came Back* (2008), as Amos
- *American Gangster* (2007), as Dominic Cattano
- *Chuck* (2007), series, as Premier Alejandro Fulgencio Goya — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/chuck.md)
- *When Nietzsche Wept* (2007), as Nietzsche
- *The Killing Grounds* (2007), as Kemal Aslan
- *California Dreamin'* (2007), as Captain Jones
- *Mexican Sunrise* (2007), as Salvidar
- *October Road* (2007), series, Actor
- *Dead Lenny* (2007), as Tony Thick
- *Casanova's Last Stand* (2007), as Sebastian Marr
- *Surveillance* (2006), as Harley
- *Soul's Midnight* (2006), as Simon
- *Funny Money* (2006), as Genero
- *Two for the Money* (2005), as Novian
- *Mirror Wars: Reflection One* (2005), as Henry York
- *Confessions of a Pit Fighter* (2005), as Argento
- *The Third Wish* (2005), as Benefactor
- *Dot.Kill* (2005), as Det. Charlie Daines · Executive Producer
- *Rambam - The Story of Maimonides* (2005), as Yitzchak, the Inkman (voice)
- *Tough Luck* (2004), as Ike
- *NCIS* (2003), series, as René 'La Grenouille' — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/ncis.md)
- *Consequence* (2003), as Sam Tyler / Max Tyler / Sam Burns
- *Citizen Verdict* (2003), as Sam Patterson
- *Partners in Action* (2002), as Jack Cunningham
- *Push, Nevada* (2002), series, Actor
- *Federal Protection* (2002), as Frank Carbone / Howard Akers
- *One Eyed King* (2001), as Holly
- *After the Storm* (2001), as Jean-Pierre
- *Last Run* (2001), as Frank Banner
- *Ice Age Survivors* (2001), as Narrator
- *Looking for an Echo* (2000), as Vince 'Vinnie' Pirelli
- *On the Beach* (2000), as Cmdr. Dwight Towers
- *On the Beach* (2000), series, as Cmdr. Dwight Towers
- *The Road to El Dorado* (2000), as Tzekel-Kan (voice)
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Nicolas Amaro
- *The Hunley* (1999), as Lt. George Dixon
- *Rashi: A Light After The Dark Ages* (1999), as The Inkman (voice)
- *The Odyssey* (1997), series, as Odysseus
- *Gotti* (1996), as John Gotti
- *Striptease* (1996), as Lt. Al Garcia
- *Kidnapped* (1995), as Alan Breck Stewart
- *Judge Dredd* (1995), as Rico
- *ER* (1994), series, as Richard Elliot — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Trial by Jury* (1994), as Rusty Pirone
- *Blind Justice* (1994), as Canaan
- *Fatal Instinct* (1993), as Ned Ravine
- *Hoffa* (1992), as Carol D'Allesandro
- *1492: Conquest of Paradise* (1992), as Sanchez
- *The Mambo Kings* (1992), as Cesar Castillo
- *Love at First Sight* (1992), series, as Charles Harris
- *Fever* (1991), as Ray
- *The Marrying Man* (1991), as Bugsy Siegel
- *Eternity* (1990), as Romi / Sean
- *Q & A* (1990), as Bobby Texador
- *Animal Behavior* (1989), as Mark Mathias
- *Passion and Paradise* (1989), as Alfred de Marigny
- *Jack the Ripper* (1988), series, as Richard Mansfield
- *The Penitent* (1988), as Juan Mateo
- *Napoleon and Josephine: A Love Story* (1987), series, as Napoleon Bonaparte
- *Hands of a Stranger* (1987), as Joe Hearn
- *Stranger in My Bed* (1987), as Hal Slater
- *Belizaire the Cajun* (1986), as Belizaire Breaux
- *A Deadly Business* (1986), as Charles Macaluso
- *Evergreen* (1985), series, as Joseph Friedman
- *Why Me?* (1984), as Dr. James Stallings
- *Unfaithfully Yours* (1984), as Maxmillian Stein
- *Rage of Angels* (1983), series, as Michael Moretti
- *I, the Jury* (1982), as Mike Hammer
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Belizaire Breaux
- *Love & Money* (1981), as Lorenzo Prado
- *Sophia Loren: Her Own Story* (1980), as Riccardo Scicolone
- *Private Benjamin* (1980), as Henrí Trémont — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/private-benjamin.md)
- *Little Darlings* (1980), as Gary
- *Prophecy* (1979), as John Hawks
- *Mrs. Columbo* (1979), series, Actor
- *Lady of the House* (1978), as Ernest de Paulo
- *Human Feelings* (1978), as Johnny Turner
- *Paradise Alley* (1978), as Lenny Carboni
- *The Pirate* (1977), series, as Ahmed
- *The Lords of Flatbush* (1974), as Wedding Guest
- *How to Survive a Marriage* (1974), series, as Johnny McGee
- *Kojak* (1973), series, as Tom Ryan — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/kojak.md)
- *The Streets of Little Italy: 100 Years of San Gennaro*, as Narrator (voice)
- *Land of Mercy*, as Gongba Tulku (voice)
- *Revival*, as Jean Perbost
- *The Book of Leah*, as Adam Siegal

## Gallery

- ![кинофестиваль "Лiстапад 2014" фото © <a href="http://robert.znichka.tv" rel="nofollow">robert.znichka.tv</a> Лістапад](https://film.one/media/person/1342659/gallery-a12f6bfd70b2.jpg) кинофестиваль "Лiстапад 2014" фото © <a href="http://robert.znichka.tv" rel="nofollow">robert.znichka.tv</a> Лістапад — fotorobrt from Minsk, Belarus, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/%D0%9B%D1%96%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%B4_2014-1114-1824-7194_%2816269406130%29.jpg/1280px-%D0%9B%D1%96%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%B4_2014-1114-1824-7194_%2816269406130%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![American actor Armand Assante, board member of the Bled Film Festival, interviewed by "Za misli", Slovenian media. (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/1342659/gallery-f3256dd64039.jpg) American actor Armand Assante, board member of the Bled Film Festival, interviewed by "Za misli", Slovenian media. (2014) — Za misli, http://za-misli.si/, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Armand_Assante_Za_misli.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![кинофестиваль "Лiстапад 2014" фото © <a href="http://robert.znichka.tv" rel="nofollow">robert.znichka.tv</a> Лістапад](https://film.one/media/person/1342659/gallery-4ca0a7f2a021.jpg) кинофестиваль "Лiстапад 2014" фото © <a href="http://robert.znichka.tv" rel="nofollow">robert.znichka.tv</a> Лістапад — fotorobrt from Minsk, Belarus, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/%D0%9B%D1%96%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%B4_2014-1113-1800-6477_%2816455745692%29.jpg/1280px-%D0%9B%D1%96%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%B4_2014-1113-1800-6477_%2816455745692%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![кинофестиваль "Лiстапад 2014" фото © <a href="http://robert.znichka.tv" rel="nofollow">robert.znichka.tv</a> Лістапад](https://film.one/media/person/1342659/gallery-a2b03852e17e.jpg) кинофестиваль "Лiстапад 2014" фото © <a href="http://robert.znichka.tv" rel="nofollow">robert.znichka.tv</a> Лістапад — fotorobrt from Minsk, Belarus, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/%D0%9B%D1%96%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%B4_2014-1113-1812-6561_%2816456698925%29.jpg/1280px-%D0%9B%D1%96%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%B4_2014-1113-1812-6561_%2816456698925%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Armand Assante](https://film.one/media/person/1342659/gallery-40a78633fb22.jpg) Armand Assante — Image via TMDB
- ![Armand Assante](https://film.one/media/person/1342659/gallery-b5240ede9e13.jpg) Armand Assante — Image via TMDB
- ![Armand Assante](https://film.one/media/person/1342659/gallery-9198cb60080d.jpg) Armand Assante — Image via TMDB
- ![кинофестиваль "Лiстапад 2014" фото © <a href="http://robert.znichka.tv" rel="nofollow">robert.znichka.tv</a> Лістапад](https://film.one/media/person/1342659/gallery-0d2196c2e206.jpg) кинофестиваль "Лiстапад 2014" фото © <a href="http://robert.znichka.tv" rel="nofollow">robert.znichka.tv</a> Лістапад — fotorobrt from Minsk, Belarus, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/%D0%9B%D1%96%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%B4_2014-1114-1933-7477_%2815836857413%29.jpg/1280px-%D0%9B%D1%96%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%B4_2014-1114-1933-7477_%2815836857413%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Armand Assante](https://film.one/media/person/1342659/gallery-934b547bbb47.jpg) Armand Assante — Armand Assante, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Armand_Assante_Venice_Film_Festival_2018.jpg/1280px-Armand_Assante_Venice_Film_Festival_2018.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Armand Assante](https://film.one/media/person/1342659/gallery-5f6828bfb1c9.jpg) Armand Assante — Image via TMDB
- ![Armand Assante](https://film.one/media/person/1342659/gallery-ce92f54b798f.jpg) Armand Assante — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 1997: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *Gotti*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/armand-assante