Vincent Laresca

• Name — Vincent Laresca • Born — 21 January 1974 • Birthplace — New York City, New York, U.S. • Occupation — * Actor • restaurant owner • Years Active — 1992–present

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.

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.

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.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1992; 2004 — Law & Order — Danny / Feo Ruiz — 2 episodes • 1994 — The Cosby Mysteries — Fuenta Partage — Episodes: "The Lottery Winner Murders" • 1994–1996 — New York Undercover — Hector Belaflores — 2 episodes • 1997–1998 — 413 Hope St. — Carlos Martinez — Recurring role • 1998 — Touched by an Angel — Pvt. Tomás Parades — Episode: "God and Country" • 2000 — Chicago Hope — Dr. Alverez — Episode: "Letting Go" • 2001 — The District — Reggie Garland — Episode: "Foreign Affair" • 2002 — NYPD Blue — Tito Perez — Episode: "Humpty Dumped" • The Twilight Zone — Buddy — Episode: "The Lineman" • 2003–2004 — 24 — Hector Salazar — 12 episodes • 2003 — Tru Calling — Marco — 2 episodes • 2005 — Law & Order: Criminal Intent — Antonio Morales — Episodes: "Saving Face" • Weeds — Alejandro — 4 episodes • 2006 — CSI: Miami — Antonio Riaz — 3 episodes • 2007 — Numbers — Che Lobo — Episode: "One Hour" • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation — Gino Aquino — Episode: "Lying Down with Dogs" • 2009 — Dollhouse — Mr. Sunshine — Episode: "Ghost" • CSI: NY — Al Santiago — Episode: "Battle Scars" • 2010 — NCIS: Los Angeles — Memo Torres — Episode: "Borderline" • 2011 — The Good Wife — Detective Navarro — Episode: "Breaking Up" • Blue Bloods — Salazar — Episode: "To Tell the Truth" • Hawthorne — 3 episodes • Suits — Kenny Verdasco — Episode: "Undefeated" • Person of Interest — Detective Molina — Episode: "Mission Creep" • 2012 — The Unknown — C.O. Belial — Episode: "Life Sentence" • 2013 — Graceland — Jangles Cortes — 5 episodes • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — State Senator Alejandro Muñoz — Episode: "October Surprise" • Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. — Tony Diaz — Episode: "FZZT" • 2015 — Better Call Saul — Detective #2 — Episode: "Nacho" • 2016 — The Night Of — Episode: "A Dark Crate" • 2016–2018 — Shades of Blue — Carlos Espada — Main role • 2023 — Bosch: Legacy — Agent Lucas Jones — Recurring role • 2024 — American Sports Story — Dennis Hernandez