Michael DeLorenzo

Michael DeLorenzo is a multifaceted American artist whose career spans acting, directing, writing, producing, music, and dance, making him a true renaissance figure in the entertainment industry. Raised in the Bronx, New York, he is the second of four children born to Arthur DeLorenzo, an Italian‑American, and Carmen DeLorenzo, a Puerto Rican, a cultural blend that informed his artistic sensibility from an early age. He began performing as a dancer with Tina Ramirez's Ballet Hispanico and earned prestigious scholarships to the School of American Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet, and the New York School of Ballet, eventually sharing stages with legends such as Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and the National Ballet of Canada before a severe injury redirected his path toward acting. His Broadway debut in the revival of West Side Story as a Shark was followed by a breakthrough role in the 1980 film Fame and its subsequent television series, where his charisma cemented his place in popular culture. DeLorenzo later became a household name as Detective Eddie Torres on New York Undercover, a groundbreaking series that featured two people of color in leading roles and earned him multiple ALMA Awards in 1996 and 1998, as well as an Imagen Award for his later work on Resurrection Blvd.. Beyond television, he has appeared in acclaimed films such as A Few Good Men, Alive, and My Family, and received a Best Supporting Actor honor at the Los Angeles Movie Awards for his performance in The Employer. As a musician, he records under the moniker “Valentino,” released the album Rescue Me in 2009, and contributed songs to his own shows, while his directing credits include episodes of Resurrection Blvd. and various music videos. Michael DeLorenzo continues to influence the arts through his versatile talents, embodying the spirit of a true performer who bridges cultural worlds and artistic disciplines.