---
name: "Tony Darrow"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/tony-darrow"
fi1m_id: "tony-darrow"
imdb_id: "nm0201700"
tmdb_id: 11482
wikidata_id: "Q937922"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "1 October 1938"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 81
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-05T01:47:48.183672+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."
---

# Tony Darrow

## Identity

Tony Darrow

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/tony-darrow
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** tony-darrow
- **IMDb ID:** nm0201700
- **TMDB ID:** 11482
- **Wikidata ID:** Q937922
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Darrow, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q937922, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0201700/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11482

Actor. Born 1 October 1938 in Brooklyn, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 1 October 1938, Brooklyn, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1990–1999
- **Also known as:** Anthony Borgese
- **Average Fi1m score:** 81, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 81 to 76 across 5 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Crime 4, Comedy 3, Drama 3, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $150m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Darrow, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q937922, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0201700/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11482

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Mickey Blue Eyes*](https://film.one/film/mickey-blue-eyes.md) (66)

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

## Fi1m on Tony Darrow

> Tony Darrow brings an unforced delivery and a useful comic instinct to familiar tough-guy parts. We value his ease in supporting roles, while wishing more films gave him something beyond another gangster to play.

Tony Darrow can make a tough man’s dialogue sound like ordinary conversation. In Martin Scorsese’s *GoodFellas* (1990), he plays Sonny Bunz, owner of the Bamboo Lounge, with the unstudied delivery that makes him useful in this company. We were disturbed by how hard it was to leave the film’s appalling gangsters, because the performances made their company so persuasive. Darrow belongs to that ensemble without needing to be its centre. It is the first film we would recommend for him.

Scorsese cast him after seeing *Street Trash* (1987), his film debut as a mobster. *Bullets Over Broadway* (1994) then began a run of six films with Woody Allen, giving the tough-guy casting a comic outlet. Darrow has improvised lines that directors preferred to the script, and the appeal is easy to understand: dialogue delivered without strain can make a small part feel less like an interruption. We rate that ease, but it is no substitute for being given something to do.

*Mickey Blue Eyes* (1999) shows what can happen when the part is too thin. Darrow plays Angel, one of the supporting roles that the film never develops sufficiently. Hugh Grant’s awkward gangster impersonations provide the laughs, and James Caan supplies steady support, but slack pacing keeps the farce from gathering speed. We find it amiable rather than fully satisfying. Watch it for Grant; it gives us little reason to single Darrow out.

Playing Larry Barese in *The Sopranos* (1999–2007) kept the crime work prominent, but *Small Time Crooks* (2000) gave him one of his larger Allen parts, as the hapless Tommy. His own preference is clear: “My real love is comedy, and Woody gave me the opportunity to do that in ‘Small Time Crooks.’” We would not claim that familiar casting has allowed him to show everything he can do. After *GoodFellas*, try the comedy before assuming the tough-guy parts tell the whole story.

## Biography

Tony Darrow, born Anthony Borgese on 1 October 1938 in the East New York section of Brooklyn, New York, is an American actor. He began his career as a lounge singer, performing in nightclubs and resorts for around ten years before entering acting.

Darrow made his film debut in the cult horror *Street Trash* (1987). Director Martin Scorsese, having seen the performance, cast him as Sonny Bunz, the owner of the Bamboo Lounge, in *GoodFellas* (1990). He subsequently appeared in several Woody Allen films, including *Bullets Over Broadway* (1994), *Mighty Aphrodite* (1995), *Deconstructing Harry* (1997), *Sweet and Lowdown* (1999) and *Small Time Crooks* (2000).

In 1999 he played Moony in *Analyze This*. From 1999 to 2007 he portrayed mobster Larry Barese in the HBO series *The Sopranos*. Other credits include *Mickey Blue Eyes* (1999) and *Kill the Irishman* (2011).

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

## On Fi1m (5)

- *Mickey Blue Eyes* (1999), Fi1m 66, as Angel — [page](https://film.one/film/mickey-blue-eyes.md)
- *The Sopranos* (1999), Fi1m 94, as Larry Barese — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-sopranos.md)
- *Deconstructing Harry* (1997), Fi1m 72, as Camera Operator — [page](https://film.one/film/deconstructing-harry.md)
- *Bullets Over Broadway* (1994), Fi1m 80, as Aldo — [page](https://film.one/film/bullets-over-broadway.md)
- *GoodFellas* (1990), Fi1m 93, as Sonny Bunz — [page](https://film.one/film/goodfellas.md)

## Complete filmography (37)

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

- *Once a Week for Life* (2026), as Nicola Narduccio
- *Micki* (2023), as Pops
- *The Families Feud* (2023), as Nicky Knuckles
- *Killin Smallz* (2022), as Tony Capone
- *Made in Chinatown* (2021), as Al Capella
- *Gravesend* (2020), series, Actor
- *Offstage Elements* (2019), as Carlo Capozzoli
- *The Brawler* (2019), as Tommy, head of the family
- *The Uncle Gerry Show* (2017), as Bobby Rocco
- *Friends and Romans* (2014), as Frankie Fusso
- *Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn* (2013), as Patsy Pirati
- *Person of Interest* (2011), series, as Caparelli — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/person-of-interest.md)
- *Kill the Irishman* (2011), as Mikey Mendarolo
- *Lynch Mob* (2009), as Boss Giavanni
- *Searching for Bobby D* (2005), as Ralph Argano
- *Crooked Lines* (2003), as Jimmy
- *Small Time Crooks* (2000), as Tommy
- *Sweet and Lowdown* (1999), as Ben
- *Mickey Blue Eyes* (1999), as Angel — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/mickey-blue-eyes.md)
- *Analyze This* (1999), as Moony
- *The Sopranos* (1999), series, as Larry Barese, Larry Boy Barese — Fi1m 94, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-sopranos.md)
- *Celebrity* (1998), as Moving Man in Loft
- *The North End* (1998), as Nunzio
- *Deconstructing Harry* (1997), as Camera Operator — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/deconstructing-harry.md)
- *On Seventh Avenue* (1996), Actor
- *Swift Justice* (1996), series, as Vietor
- *Mighty Aphrodite* (1995), as Boxing Trainer
- *Bullets Over Broadway* (1994), as Aldo — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/bullets-over-broadway.md)
- *Who Do I Gotta Kill?* (1994), as Tony Bando
- *New York Undercover* (1994), series, as Vinnie
- *Men Lie* (1994), as Hot Dog Customer
- *Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story* (1992), as Nardi
- *The Good Policeman* (1991), Actor
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Joey Giabone, Bobby Vignerelli, Mario Forcelli — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *GoodFellas* (1990), as Sonny Bunz — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/goodfellas.md)
- *Swirlee* (1989), as Don Tofutti
- *Street Trash* (1987), as Nick Duran

---
© 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/tony-darrow