Farina spent 18 years as a Chicago police officer before beginning an acting career that spanned decades on television shows such as "Law & Order" and "Miami Vice."
Many members of his family, as well as former police colleagues, were at his wake Monday on the Northwest Side.
Chicago lost a great Chicagoan, a great guy, a wonderful police officer. The thing that was at his core was that he was a Chicagoan and he was a police officer," said Joe Ahern, 100 Club of Chicago.
Governor Pat Quinn declared Monday, July 29, Dennis Farina Day to honor his contributions in public service and entertainment.
"For as much as my father-in-law was a wonderful actor and policeman, he was just a wonderful dad and father-in-law," said Joy Farina, daughter-in-law.
In lieu of flowers, Farina's family asks that donations go to the 100 Club, which helps families of fallen officers. His family says Farina planned his funeral in great detail years ago, though his death last week was unexpected.
The Chicago native died last week in Arizona after suffering a blood clot in his lung. He was 69.
