Vincent Laresca (born January 21, 1974) is an American actor and restaurant owner.
Early life Laresca is from Queens, New York. He is of Panamanian and Italian descent. At eight years old, he was spotted on the street by an acting coach after doing an impression of a gangster. The coach subsequently offered him free acting lessons for four years. He studied at Purchase College for two years before dropping out and moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting.
Career
Acting Laresca made his film debut at seventeen years old in the 1992 film Juice as Radames.
In 1996, he appeared in Baz Luhrmann's film William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet. In 1997, he had a supporting role in the short-lived Fox ensemble drama 413 Hope St. In 2004, he appeared in the epic biographical film The Aviator. He has also had major supporting roles on 24, CSI: Miami and Weeds.
From 2016 to 2018, Laresca had a main role in the Jennifer Lopez-led NBC series Shades of Blue as NYPD Detective Carlos Espada. Following the show's conclusion, Laresca was attached to the procedural crime drama Blood Ties, although no updates have been made since 2018. In 2019, he appeared in the crime drama film Mob Town. He starred in the independent crime thriller Inside Man in 2023. The following year, he appeared as Dennis Hernandez, the father of Aaron Hernandez, in the series American Sports Story.
Restaurants Laresca has owned many bars and restaurants in the Los Angeles area.
In 2007, he opened the lounge bar Villa in West Hollywood, which later became known as a hangout for Hollywood celebrities. He opened the Spanish-inspired supper club Premiere in 2010. In 2012, he opened the Western-themed Outpost Restaurant. The following year, he opened the American bar and restaurant Rusty Mullet. He founded the cocktail bar Blue Collar Pub on Fairfax Avenue in 2014. In 2023, Laresca opened the speakeasy bar Cold Shoulder, a sister location to Blue Collar Pub, as well as the Mexican restaurant Roadside Taco in Studio City. In 2025, he opened Bar Jubilee, a carnivalesque neighborhood bar, on the Sunset Strip.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotes1992JuiceRadames 1992 Bad Lieutenant J.C. 1994 I Like It Like That Angel 1995 Money Train Subway Robber #1 1996 The Substitute Rodriguez Basquiat Vincent Ripe Jimmy Extreme Measures Patches The Associate José, Plaza Waiter William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet Abra I'm Not Rappaport Renaldo 1997 Arresting Gena Bopo Cop Land Medic #2 The Real Blonde Trey The Devil's Advocate Big Guy #1 1998 Music from Another Room Jesus 1999 Forever Mine Javier Cesti Just One Time Nick Flawless Raymond Camacho 2000 Animal Factory Ernie Before Night Falls Jose Abreu 2001 K-PAX Navarro 2002 Empire Jimmy Hard Cash Nikita 2003 Hollywood Homicide Correction Officer Rodriguez 2004 The Aviator Jorge 2005 Coach Carter Renny Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Aurelio Lords of Dogtown Chino 2006 The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Case Worker El Cantante Ralph .45 Jose National Lampoon's TV: The Movie Jose Carlos, Drug Lord 2007 Gardener of Eden Pavon 2008 Drillbit Taylor Fence The Longshots Pop Warner Official #1 Lakeview Terrace Second Officer 2010 Unthinkable Agent Leandro Devil Henry 2011 Gun Hill Road Hector 2012 The Amazing Spider-Man Construction Worker 2013 Runner Runner Sergeant BarrancasFairfield CountyHectorShort 2014 Asthma Painter 2015 Hot Pursuit Felipe Riva 2019 Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Land PirateMob TownBenny the Meat Guy2023Inside ManJames Curtis
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1992; 2004Law & OrderDanny / Feo Ruiz2 episodes1994The Cosby MysteriesFuenta PartageEpisodes: "The Lottery Winner Murders"1994–1996New York UndercoverHector Belaflores2 episodes1997–1998413 Hope St.Carlos MartinezRecurring role1998Touched by an AngelPvt. Tomás ParadesEpisode: "God and Country"2000Chicago HopeDr. AlverezEpisode: "Letting Go"2001The DistrictReggie GarlandEpisode: "Foreign Affair"2002NYPD BlueTito PerezEpisode: "Humpty Dumped"The Twilight ZoneBuddyEpisode: "The Lineman"2003–200424Hector Salazar12 episodes2003Tru CallingMarco2 episodes2005Law & Order: Criminal IntentAntonio MoralesEpisodes: "Saving Face"WeedsAlejandro4 episodes2006CSI: MiamiAntonio Riaz3 episodes2007NumbersChe LoboEpisode: "One Hour"CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationGino AquinoEpisode: "Lying Down with Dogs"2009DollhouseMr. SunshineEpisode: "Ghost"CSI: NYAl SantiagoEpisode: "Battle Scars"2010NCIS: Los AngelesMemo TorresEpisode: "Borderline"2011The Good WifeDetective NavarroEpisode: "Breaking Up"Blue BloodsSalazarEpisode: "To Tell the Truth"Hawthorne3 episodesSuitsKenny VerdascoEpisode: "Undefeated"Person of InterestDetective MolinaEpisode: "Mission Creep"2012The UnknownC.O. BelialEpisode: "Life Sentence"2013GracelandJangles Cortes5 episodesLaw & Order: Special Victims UnitState Senator Alejandro MuñozEpisode: "October Surprise"Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.Tony DiazEpisode: "FZZT"2015Better Call SaulDetective #2Episode: "Nacho"2016The Night OfEpisode: "A Dark Crate"2016–2018Shades of BlueCarlos EspadaMain role2023Bosch: LegacyAgent Lucas JonesRecurring role2024American Sports StoryDennis Hernandez
References
External links