Summary
Danny Messer (Carmine Giovinazzo) is a major character inCSI: NYand sharp-eyed viewers may recognize Giovinazzo from previous roles.CSI: NYisone of five TV shows in theCSIfranchise, all following the different Crime Scene Investigation units of major US city police departments. InCSI: NY, the crime scene forensics unit and the police department of the NYPD were the focus of nine seasons, from 2004 to 2013.CSI: NYhas a stronger focus on the characters than other series in the franchise and the cast is one of the more deeply constructed in the universe.
Taking place in New York City soon after 9/11,the characters inCSI: New Yorkare a little more scarred and frustrated than the cast of similar shows. In the show, most members of the NYPD are forced to regularly deal with difficult personal dilemmas and experiences, making for a particularly gritty and thought-provoking tone. There are only a handful of characters who stayed with the show from start to finish and one, Danny Messer, is played by an actor whose name many fans may not know but will certainly recognize.
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Danny Messer Is A Detective Third Grade On CSI: NY
Messer Is A Talented And Empathetic Detective
Danny Messer is a Detective Third Grade and a Crime Scene Investigator in the NYPD crime lab. He works directly under Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise) andis a talented investigator, thoughhis line between lawful and lawless is often fuzzy. Messer grew up in a family that was constantly under surveillance by the police, so he has a bit of a gray understanding of the police and lawbreakers, an empathetic approach that often sees him butting heads with Mac, but also makes him an excellent detective.
Humorous in tough situations, kind to others, and generally keeping a calm demeanor, the job would be all but secured if Danny did not let his personal code of ethics often get in the way of his work.
Danny is first introduced in season 1, episode 1, and appears in every successive episode of the series. He’s highly ambitious and hopes to take over the crime lab one day. Humorous in tough situations, kind to others, and generally keeping a calm demeanor, the job would be all but secured if Danny did not let his personal code of ethics often get in the way of his work. It’s an admirable trait, but not always great for upward mobility.
Danny has had many key storylines inCSI: NY, including being blamed for an adolescent murder, being taken hostage by the Irish mob, and earning a career-changing promotion. Buthis most important storyline is his relationship with Detective Lindsay Monroe (Anna Belknap), who eventually becomes his wife and mother of his two children. Carmine Giovinazzo’s performance is multi-faceted and makes Danny a sympathetic character even when he’s doing something the audience knows is wrong.
1
Danny is introduced
2
20
Danny is accused and exonerated of a teen’s murder
3
Lindsay and Danny hug for the first time
Lindsay stands Danny up on their first date
24
Danny is abducted and beaten by the Irish mob; Lindsay reveals they drunkenly had sex the previous night
4
Danny and Lindsay begin dating
11
Danny has an affair that is never mentioned again
5
9
Danny learns Lindsay is pregnant with his child
17
Lindsay and Danny get married
23
Lindsay gives birth to a girl named Lucy
6
Danny is in a wheelchair after being shot in the season 5 finale
7
22
Danny is promoted to Sergeant
13
Danny learns Lindsay is pregnant again
Danny Messer Actor Carmine Giovinazzo Has Starred In Black Hawk Down & The Offer
Giovinazzo' Biggest Role Is Still CSI: NY
WhileCSI: NYis Giovinazzo’s most significant role, he’s had plenty of other noteworthy performances, including film appearances in thewar movieBlack Hawk Downas SGT Mike Goodale andDukeas Dare. On TV,Giovinazzo plays technical advisor Sonny Grosso inThe Offerminiseries, about the making ofThe Godfather.The actor also played Christopher Boal in an episode ofBuffy the Vampire Slayerand Sid Markham inGraceland.
Carmine Giovinazzo Notable Film And TV Roles
1997
1999
2001
Graceland (TV)
2014-2015
2018
2022
Sonny Grosso
Danny Messer onCSI: NYis really Giovinazzo’s most well-rounded performance. The part allows him to tap into a humor that his other characters in more serious works can’t show, or that he simply doesn’t have time to present it in his smaller parts. While Giovinazzo is not always the central character in the TV shows and movies he’s a part of, his confident and capable presence is a good indicator that something will be worth watching, even if he doesn’t get to play a character as fleshed out as Danny Messer onCSI: NY.
CSI: NY
Cast
A gritty spin-off set in New York City, this procedural drama follows Detective Mac Taylor and his team of forensic experts as they unravel complex criminal cases using scientific skills and evidence left behind at crime scenes. The series examines the personal and professional lives of the team members, set against the backdrop of the busy and often harsh realities of the New York City criminal justice system.
