Jerry Ferrara

Born in Brooklyn, New York,[1] and raised in Bensonhurst,[2] Ferrara is of Italian descent. His father, Gennaro Ferrara, was born and raised in Naples, Italy and moved to Brooklyn as a teenager and his mother, Mariana Lautato, is an American of Italian descent born and raised in Brooklyn by parents who were born in Ischia, Italy.[3] Jerry’s father died when he was 5 years old and he was raised by his mother and stepfather, Michele Lautato. He has one older brother.

He graduated from New Utrecht High School.[2] Ferrara began studying theater in college, where he was inspired by a teacher to pursue a career in acting. An agent he met at a talent showcase encouraged him to move to Los Angeles, where he quickly landed his first role on The King of Queens. Other television parts soon followed. Jerry was then cast in the independent feature Cross Bronx, which premiered at the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival.[4]

In an interview about his breakout role on Entourage, Ferrara revealed that when he told his friends he had landed a major part in a television pilot, they asked, "How about you get a dog who becomes your best friend and you name him Awnold??"[5] Kevin Connolly has said of his Entourage co-star that "Jerry’s very domesticated. He’s probably the most different from his character. He’s like 180 degrees in the opposite direction."[6]

Ferrara once made an appearance in character as Turtle for a DirecTV commercial. His dialogue was mixed with a clip from an Entourage episode for humorous effect.

Ferrara is also co-founder of Fat Sal's deli in West Hollywood, California.[7] In 2010, Ferrara dropped weight and lost 60 pounds with a new outlook on health and fitness.[8]

Ferrara is a diehard New York Yankees, New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Giants and Juventus fan, a topic referenced in several episodes of Entourage.

He remains very close friends with all of his “Entourage” co-stars, especially Kevin Dillon and Saigon.

• OK!: Jerry Ferrara Interview with Staff (July 7, 2008)
• PR.com: Jerry Ferrara Interview with Allison Kugel (July 7, 2011)

• Jerry Ferrara at IMDb