James Farentino was a renowned American actor, whose extensive career spanned multiple decades and numerous film and television appearances. One of his most notable roles was that of fisherman and apostle Simon Peter in the critically acclaimed miniseries "Jesus of Nazareth" (1977),which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie.
Farentino's early career was marked by frequent guest-star roles in television, with his first recurring role being that of lawyer Neil Darrell in the legal drama "The Bold Ones: The Lawyers" (1968-1972),in which he appeared in 19 of the series' 29 episodes.
He gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of Simon Peter in "Jesus of Nazareth", and later found a notable recurring role in the soap opera "Dynasty" as psychiatrist Dr. Nick Toscanni. Initially introduced as an old friend of protagonist Blake Carrington, Toscanni's vengeful plots were a central part of the series' second season, although he was eventually written out.
Throughout the 1990s, Farentino continued to work as an actor, but it was his personal life that garnered more attention. In 1991, he was arrested for cocaine possession, and in 1993, he was charged with stalking his former girlfriend Tina Sinatra. His subsequent marriage to his fourth wife, Stella Farentino, was also marked by turmoil.
In the 2000s, Farentino retired from acting due to health problems. In 2010, he was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor battery after attempting to physically remove a man from his home. He was released after posting a $20,000 bond.
Sadly, Farentino passed away in January 2012 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, at the age of 73, due to complications resulting from a right hip fracture.
