Actor James Farentino died of heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Hospital on Tuesday after a lengthy illness, a family spokesman told the Associated Press. He was 73.
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Brooklyn-born Farentino, who appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows and even earned an Emmy nod for his performance as Saint Peter.
In 1967, he won a Most Promising Newcomer Golden Globe for his performance in the comedy “The Pad and How to Use It.”
He also had recurring roles on “Dynasty,” “Melrose Place,” “The Bold Ones: The Lawyers” and even played George Clooney’s estranged father on “ER.”
In 1994, Farentino pleaded no contest after being charged with 24 misdemeanor counts of stalking Tina Sinatra, making harassing phone calls and violating a restraining order to stay away from her. “Sometimes they were the perfect couple,” a friend of Farentino’s told PEOPLE at the time, “and other times there’d be raging fights – yelling, screaming, name-calling, throwing things.”
In 2010, Farentino was booked on suspicion of misdemeanor battery after a citizen’s arrest was made against the actor. Police were called to Farentino’s Hollywood home. He was taken into custody and booked at the LAPD’s Hollywood-area station. Farentino was released two days later after posting $20,000 bond. Police said the actor was trying to physically remove a man from his house. The man, who police said suffered visible bruising, made a citizen’s arrest on Farentino for battery.
