A Cornell University graduate, Class of '72, Ed Marinaro went on to play professional football with the Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks. Turning to acting in the late 1970s, Marinaro landed the supporting role of Sonny St. Jacques on the ratings-grabbing sitcom Laverne and Shirley.
He was then cast as Officer Joe Coffey, partner to policewoman Lucy Bates (Betty Thomas) in Hill Street Blues, a role he played from 1981 to 1986. He later appeared as Mitch Margolis in the weekly dramedy Sisters (1991-94). Like many athletes-turned-actors, he has at least one eponymous hero action flick to his credit: in his case, he played Mace in the 1987 film of the same name. In 1992, Ed Marinaro managed to survive playing Joey Buttafucco in the TV biopic Amy Fisher: My Story with both his career and dignity intact. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide. 