Vanessa Ferlito (born December 28, 1980) She is an Italian-American actress. Ferlito is known for roles on television shows: 24, CSI: NY, and Graceland. Subsequently, she appeared in other films including: Spider-Man 2 (2004), Shadowboxer (2005), Man of the House (2005), Grindhouse (2007), Death Proof (2007), Nothing Like the Holidays (2008), Madea Goes to Jail (2009), Julie & Julia (2009), Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), and Stand Up Guys (2014).
Career
Ferlito is a Brooklyn, NY native who developed acting aspirations early in her life and broke into the entertainment business through a series of guest spots and recurring roles. On the small screen, Ferlito was a series regular on CBS’s enormously successful CSI: NY as a member of the forensic investigation team led by Gary Sinise. Ferlito has also appeared in other highly acclaimed series, including HBO’s The Sopranos, NBC’s Law & Order and Third Watch, and a recurring role as ‘Claudia’ in FOX’s smash hit series 24.
Ferlito also starred in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Nora Ephron’s Julie & Julia opposite Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci and Amy Adams; Tyler Perry’s hit film Madea Goes to Jail for Lionsgate, as well as in Alfredo De Villa’s Nothing Like the Holidays with Alfred Molina, John Leguizamo and Jay Hernandez.
Prior to that, Ferlito starred in Quentin Tarantino’s Deathproof opposite Kurt Russell. Tarantino wrote the role specifically for Vanessa, whose name means “Butterfly,†identical to the character in the film; Lee Daniel’s Shadowboxer with Helen Mirren and Cuba Gooding Jr., and in Stephen Herek’s Man of the House opposite Tommy Lee Jones.
Vanessa can be seen on Graceland, the hit series on the USA network from writer Jeff Eastin which was recently renewed for a third season. She also most recently appeared in the Lionsgate feature film, Stand Up Guys, opposite Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin. In 2013, Ferlito starred as ‘Lizette Sanchez’ in John Leguizamo’s acclaimed boxing drama Undefeated, which earned her an NAACP nomination for Outstanding Actress in a TV Movie.
Personal life
Ferlito was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her mother and stepfather own a hair salon in Brooklyn. Ferlito is a single mother who gave birth to her son Vince in September 2007.
Filmography
References
External links
- Vanessa Ferlito at the Internet Movie Database
- Vanessa Ferlito at TV.com
