DET. JAMES MARTINEZ
Played by Nicholas
Turturro: Originally assigned to the detective's squad as a
temporary fill-in after Sipowicz was shot
two years ago, Martinez demonstrated great enthusiasm for the job and
willingness to learn, and quickly earned his detective's gold
shield. His tenure on the job hasn't always been fun - he
witnessed the OD death of his junkie brother, and watched his idol
John Kelly get driven off the force.
James is neither the brightest nor the most charismatic detective
in the 15th squad, but he makes up for his occasional lack of savvy with a
lot of heart and hard work. He recently transferred out of the squad after
receiving a promotion to sergeant.
Nicholas Turturro
Born in Queens on January 29, 1962, Nick Turturro was working as a
doorman at the St. Moritz Hotel for a while before older brother John
introduced him to Spike Lee, who was directing John in "Do the Right
Thing." Nick got to do some voice-over work for the film, and Lee wrote a
part for the brothers Turturro in his next picture, "Mo' Better Blues,"
as
two obnoxious Jewish club owners.
Nick would go on to appear in a few more Lee films, as well as "Mac,"
which brother John starred in and also directed. Nick moved out to
Hollywood and began auditioning for TV parts, doing guest spots on "L.A.
Law" and "Law & Order" before being cast as rookie detective James
Martinez on "NYPD Blue."
Since Martinez was created solely as a foil for David Caruso's Det. Kelly,
the writers seemed at a loss for what to do with the character once Caruso
quit after the first season. Nick lingered in the background for the
better part of five years (taking a lengthy break during season five to
star in an NBC movie about Sammy "The Bull" Gravanao) before leaving the
show early in season seven -- a decision that served both him and the show
well. Though most of his film and TV work has been in drama (including an
excellent indie flick called "Federal
Hill"), since leaving "Blue," Nick's
been focusing on comedy, first appearing in a WB sitcom pilot that didn't
get picked up, and recently playing a New York chef in a pilot that failed
to make CBS' fall schedule.
Nick has a daughter, Erica, from his marriage to Jami Biunno. In addition
to
his brother, his cousin Aida acts (she's Janice on "The Sopranos"), his
brother Ralph is a musician, and
his
mother Katherine is an amateur jazz singer, with whom he once did a duet
on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien."
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