Vincent Laresca (born January 21, 1974) is an American actor and restaurant owner.
Contents
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.
