by Mary Clark

Created on: January 18, 2009   Last Updated: November 09, 2009

David Caruso, best known for his role as Horatio Caine on the hit television series CSI: Miami was born in Queens, New York on January 7, 1956. The Irish and Italian Caruso was raised Catholic and attended Our Lady Queen of Martyrs and Archbishop Molloy High School, both in Queens, New York. In his youth, David had a tendency to be the attention seeking class clown. One of Caruso's old classmates reports that David once completed his homework on a roll of toilet paper simply because the teacher told him that all of his work was crap.

In the 1980's Caruso began to pursue a career in film appearing in the movies Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, An Officer and a Gentleman, Hudson Hawk and Twins. However, his supporting roles in these films were not memorable enough to land him the leading man roles or the fame and fortune that went with them and that is what Caruso craved.

During the 1980's David Caruso also tried his hand on television. He appeared on Hill Street Blues as Tommy Mann, the gang leader of the Shamrocks.

In the early 1990's David portrayed a sardonic street-smart cop in the movies King of New York and Mad Dog and Glory. Theses roles led to his first hit role on NYPD Blues where Caruso played Detective John Kelly. David enjoyed the success of this series during 1993 and 1994. However, four episodes into the filming of the 1994 season David Caruso thumbed his nose at his own success and walked away from the hit show while it was fast becoming one of televisions top rated shows to pursue a career in film. Many questioned his decision and angry fans dropped him due to his abandonment.

From 1994 through 2002, David Caruso tried and failed to make it big in the movies. When it comes to the silver screen, you either have what it takes, or you do not, and even David Caruso had to admit that he does not have what it takes.

In 2002, the television show CSI enjoyed tremendous success and looked to expand the series. The original show, based in Las Vegas, brought play-by-play crimes scene investigation into the living room. CSI and a handful of similar shows began to forge a new genre of shows for television viewers. For David Caruso, the role of Horatio Caine revived a career that was nearly extinct.

Each week Caruso's character Horatio Caine will work with his team of investigators to solve a new crime and no episode would be complete without the close up, complete with sunglasses that prepares David to present America with another somber one-liner. These scenes are Caruso's trademark signature on the series. I believe this is David's way of mocking the movies with a weekly version of Gloria Swanson's famous line "I'm ready for my close-up Mr. DeMille." It is almost as if David is thumbing his nose back at the movie industry for not wanting him.

Over the past six years, Caruso carved his niche in the industry and wormed his way back into the hearts of his television viewing fans. David should stay put this time and enjoy his success or the niche he carved with CSI Miami may become the final resting place for his career.

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