Mario Opinato was born in Catania (Italy) July 26, 1964.

He began his career as a dancer (Martha Graham technique) in a contemporary Dance Theatre Company, in Sicily.

After a year spent in Rio de Janeiro (Brasil) where he studied Latin American dances such as salsa, merengue and samba, in July 1990 he moved to Los Angeles (California) where he studied at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Actor's Studio in Hollywood.

Since then, Mario has played leading and supporting roles in over 15 American theatre productions, including 'The three penny Opera' by Bertolt Brecht, 'Cecè' by Luigi Pirandello, 'Camino Real' and '27 wagons full of cotton' by Tennessee Williams, 'The necklance' and 'The forbidden fruit' by Guy de Maupassant.

In 1994 he got his first part in a movie called 'The Dangerous', starring Oscar winner Joel Grey ('Cabaret') and Elliott Gould ('Bugsy', 'Ocean's Eleven').

He has appeared in over 20 films ranging from large budget Hollywood Studios Pictures to Independent, TV and short films in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

His Studio Pictures include 'Double Team' (as James, a Greek terrorist) starring Jean Claude Van Damme and Mickey Rourke, directed by Hong Kong director Tsui Hark, and 'The Muse' (as the European Man) starring Sharon Stone, Albert Brooks, Andie MacDowell and Jeff Bridges, directed by Albert Brooks.

He played Lieutenant Carlo Ticinà in the RAI Cinema international co-production 'Texas '46' starring Oscar nomination Roy Scheider ('All that Jazz', 'Jaws').

He was also co-starring in 'My Brother Jack', an independent film directed by Anthony Caldarella, starring Marco Leonardi ('Cinema Paradiso', 'Like water for chocolate').

In May 2001, Mario moved back to Italy to co-star with Caterina Murino (Casino Royale) in the hit television series "Orgoglio" for italian national television Rai Uno.

To see Mario's latest works since he moved back to Europe please click on Filmography and Photos.