He was brave on screen and his sharp suits defined the character he played for a decade.
But as exclusive photos from DailyMail.com show, 11 years after his sudden retirement from show business, he doesn’t have to worry so much about how he looks anymore.
His signature red hair, always short and neat in two iconic police dramas, has now grown out, the suits have been replaced by a hoodie and sweatpants and the sunglasses he used as a prop to devastating effect are gone in favor of round glasses took its place.
Even the fast cars are history. A practical Ford Flex SUV is now his favorite wheel.
So who is this former star of TV police dramas who gave up stage and screen for a new life in the art world?
DailyMail.com spotted this actor near his home in LA’s San Fernando Valley while running errands
His signature red hair, always short and neat in two iconic police dramas, has now been grown out
The actor burst onto the scene in NYPD Blue and then spent ten years as another cop on CSI: Miami
It is none other than David Caruso, the actor who played Lieutenant Horatio Caine for ten years in CSI: Miami
It’s none other than David Caruso, the actor who burst onto the scene as Detective John Kelly in NYPD Blue and then spent ten years as another cop, Lieutenant Horatio Caine in CSI: Miami.
Caruso, 67, decided he had enough fame when his CSI spinoff was canceled in 2012. His act of disappearance was so successful that he has not been photographed publicly since 2016.
He had appeared in all 232 episodes of CSI: Miami and was known for his sharp one-line jokes, his sharp clothing and – of course – his knack for crime detection.
He also became famous for the way he used his sunglasses, thanks to his habit of taking them off or putting them on while saying a funny line.
It became so striking that the New York Times called him “the eyewear business’s most dedicated modern practitioner,” adding, “he had spent a decade donning sunglasses to punctuate his crude puns about fresh corpses.”
The actor – who has been married several times – was dressed casually and accompanied by a female companion
The actor has given up fast cars and now a practical Ford Flex SUV is his wheel of choice
Donning a black T-shirt and a denim jacket, the actor was seen heading out to meet friends close to his home
After acting, Caruso briefly opened an art gallery in the LA suburb of Westlake Village, but has since closed it and now lives off the $35 million fortune he amassed through his acting career. He also opened a clothing store in Miami.
But although he is no longer acting, Caruso hasn’t completely said goodbye to his acting past, with a source telling DailyMail.com that he has photos of himself in character framed in his garage.
The insider said: ‘He has a photo of himself from his time on CSI Miami and another from Proof of Life – two of his biggest hits. They’re both hanging in his garage.’
DailyMail.com met Caruso near his home in LA’s San Fernando Valley while running errands.
Later that same day, a spruced up Caruso – now wearing a black T-shirt and denim jacket – was seen heading out to meet friends near his home.
He is best known for his TV cop roles – his short-lived NYPD Blue role opposite Dennis Franz won him a Golden Globe in 1994.
He had appeared in all 232 episodes of CSI: Miami and was known for his sharp one-line quips, his sharp clothing and – of course – his knack for crime-fighting.
After his acting career, Caruso briefly opened an art gallery in the LA suburb of Westlake Village, but has since closed it and now lives off his $35 million fortune.
His acting career was not all success. Two of his early film appearances in the 1995 thrillers Kiss of Death and Jade won him the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst New Star.
But he put that setback aside to appear alongside Russell Crowe and Meg Ryan in 2000’s Proof of Life before making his mark on the small screen.
He is best known for his TV police roles – his short-lived NYPD Blue role won him a Golden Globe in 1994 as Best Actor in a TV Drama Series. He was also nominated for an Emmy for the same role.
He only appeared in the first season and four episodes of the second before his character was written out due to Caruso demanding more money.
Off the silver screen, Caruso has led an interesting personal life with three divorces to his name.
He first married in 1979 to actress Cheri Maugans, best known for her roles in Dallas and Friday the 13th Part III, but that ended in 1984.
The same year he married another actress Rachel Ticotin and their daughter Greta, now 39, arrived, but the marriage broke down within three years and they divorced in 1987.
Greta is now an author and co-wrote The Secret Society of Aunts and Uncles – a picture book for children about the power of aunts and uncles – with actor Jake Gyllenhaal, which was released in August this year.
Caruso’s longest marriage came in 1996 when he tied the knot with producer Margaret Buckley, but by 2004 the couple had split.
The actor was in a relationship with Liza Marquez, the mother of his two youngest children, Marquez and Paloma. That relationship ended with a lawsuit
Caruso’s longest marriage came in 1996 when he tied the knot with producer Margaret Buckley, but by 2004 the couple had split and the actor was dating Liza Marquez – the mother of his two youngest children, Marquez and Paloma.
That relationship ended with a lawsuit – which had since been settled – and Marquez claimed she was subjected to a “barrage of tirades” during their “marital relationship.”
She also alleged that after she gave birth to their second child in October 2007, Caruso dumped her by making her file a paternity claim, accompanied by a note from his lawyer saying “reconciliation is not an option.”
She also accused him of cheating on her during their relationship – Caruso denied all allegations.
In a statement released to Access Hollywood after the lawsuit was filed, he said: “Last month, David became concerned about the welfare of his children and sought legal help to redefine David and Liza’s custodial arrangements.
‘It now appears that Liza has decided to retaliate by making false claims against David, which David finds unfortunate as these claims will distract the attention of the parties and the court from the best interests of the children.’
Caruso then began dating Amina Tyrone, and the couple made their relationship public in May 2008.
