As a New York City native with big screen dreams, Jersey City resident George Pogatsia found a perfect fit playing a corrupt court officer on season 15 of the hit crime drama Law and Order.
With over 20 independent films to his name, Pogatsia returned to Law and Order on Nov. 5 in the season 19 premiere, “Rumble.”
Law and Order is now the longest-running crime drama and the second-longest running TV drama in TV history. According to Pogatisa, the Nov. 5 episode brought in close to 8 million viewers.
Critics say Law and Order’s success is partly due to the native New York actors and locations used to create an authentic New Yorker attitude.
“It was really exciting shooting the episode,” Pogatsia said. “It was a challenge for the director too, who had a huge cast – I know the make-up people had a lot of work to do.”
According to Pogatsia, the episode was slated to be the third in the new season that was originally scheduled to begin in January. But with recent success, TV executives decided to push up the season and chose “Rumble” as the season premiere.
“We’ve had really great feedback,” Pogatsia said about the episode.
Playing a tough-guy construction worker, Pogatsia worked on the streets of the financial district, at Law and Order’s studio at Chelsea Piers, and at New York Downtown Hospital.
“People do stop and look,” Pogatsia said. “I had imagined myself being [on set as a kid], and now it feels really rewarding.”
All in the family
Pogatsia first became interested in acting through his cousin Gregory Rozakis, who was nominated for a Golden Globe for his work in the 1963 movie, “America America.”
“I grew up looking up to him,” Pogatsia said, “and I started to become interested in the craft.” But, it wasn’t until the movie “Lords of Flatbush” was shot on the corner of his childhood home in Brooklyn that Pogatsia knew he wanted to pursue a career in acting.
“My mother still tells the story to this day,” Pogatsia said. “She tried dragging me inside the house, but I wouldn’t budge.”
The young actor watched the lights and cameras for hours. “It’s funny, anytime I see a set in New York or Jersey,” Pogatsia said, “I always stop and ask – I’m always interested.”
After working odd jobs, Pogatsia decided to study acting.
“I wanted to jump right in and hone my craft,” Pogatsia said, “and continue to work and learn, and get better day by day.” To further his acting, Pogatsia decided to work with the talented acting coach Shelia Gray.
Sheila has worked with numerous actors including Robert DeNiro and Julianne Nicholson. After spending years learning from Gray, Pogatsia landed a part as a corrupt court officer in season 15 of Law and Order.
“”[The episode] was a challenge for the director too, who had a huge cast – I know the make-up people had a lot of work to do.”
– George Pogatsia
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Brooklyn roots Now, Pogatsia is working on funding for his new comedic screenplay, “The Pizza Tapes,” documenting the lives of Italian-American pizzeria owners in Brooklyn. With pledged participation from Frank Vincent and Vincent Pastore of the Sopranos, the movie mocks preconceptions of Italian-American life. Pogatsia even secured participation from the well-known actor/model Tyson Beckford.
In addition to “The Pizza Tapes,” Pogatsia is also looking to work on the Martin Scorsese’s new HBO project “Boardwalk Empire” documenting the underworkings of Atlantic City’s rise and fall.
For more information about Pogatsia and “The Pizza Tapes,” visit: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1784765/.