Crime Story

1 9 8 6 – 1 9 8 8 (USA)
43 x 60 minute episodes

The saga of a Chicago police detective’s efforts to stop young mobster Ray Luca (Anthony Denison) – a small-time jewel thief with a genius for organisation – ruthlessly rising through the ranks of organised crime during the 1960s.

On hand to stem the criminal element is Lieutenant Mike Torello (Dennis Farina, a former real-life detective in the burglary division of the Chicago Police Department) of the Major Crime Unit, who is cut from the same no-nonsense cloth as Eliot Ness from The Untouchables and Lt. Frank Ballinger in M Squad.

Stephen Lang plays dedicated prosecutor David Abrams, a lawyer who is the son of former gangster, Izzy “the Dancer” Abrams.

The series summoned the cars and fashions and culture of the pre-Beatles sixties, accompanied by the music of the time which was keyed effectively into the action. Setting the tone and mood was the opening theme, the melancholy Runaway, sung – with slightly retooled lyrics – by Del Shannon himself.

Crime Story was one of the most eagerly-anticipated shows of the 1986 TV season but the innovative and stylish show failed to make its expected ratings splash – although it did win a second season and an enthusiastic cult following. Later episodes were set in Las Vegas and began to resemble a Vegas-based version of Miami Vice.

Lieutenant Mike Torello
Dennis Farina
Ray Luca
Anthony Denison
David Abrams
Stephen Lang
Julie Torello
Darlanne Fluegel
Sgt. Danny Krychek
Bill Smithrovich
Frank Holman
Ted Levine
Pernell Randall
John Snyder
Max Goldman
Andrew Dice Clay
Pauli Taglia
John Santucci
Inger Thorson
Patricia Charbonneau
Noah Ganz
Ray Serra
Phil Bartoli
Jon Polito
Hector Lincoln
Ving Rhames
June Lincoln
Kim Staunton
Susan Terry
Pam Grier
Det. Walter Clemmons
Paul Butler
Det. Joey Indelli
William Campbell
Det. Nate Grossman
Steve Ryan
Steve Kordo
Jay O. Sanders
Chief Kramer
Ron Dean