Jerry Della Salla (b. 1969)
Born:
May 7, 1969
Gerald Anthony Della Salla was born in Livingston, New Jersey at Saint Barnabas Hospital. He studied with acting coach Stella Adler, and is a 1992 graduate of NYU's Tisch Drama Program. After graduation, he began performing in the New York theater scene, and in several Off-Broadway productions. During his early career, he shared the stage with such future A List actors as Edward Norton, Peter Dinklage, and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman to name a few. In 2002, he enlisted in the US Army- Reserves as a direct response to the attacks on September 11, and would deploy to Iraq as a Military Police Sergeant during OIF3. While on tour with his unit, the 306th Military Police Battalion, he would become an integral part in the securing of their base in what was then the largest attack on any US Installation. Known as the Battle of Abu Ghraib, it was an offensive that lasted over four hours and reached global news coverage from MSNBC and anchor Brian Williams. For his actions in service, Della Salla was awarded the distinguished Combat Action Badge. It was the first year of the medals commendation by the US Army. He continues to serve as a lead Military Advisor and Consultant for Studio and Independent Film Productions, both in Hollywood and New York. His first contract job was in 1995, being cast in the supporting role of Villebosse 'the Lover' in an Off-Broadway production of the Jean Anouilh dark comedy The Rehearsal, at The Beckett Theater on Theater Row (New York City). The play was headlined by veteran Soap Opera actress Fiona Hutchison and received rave reviews from legendary NY Post theater critic Clive Barnes. In 2001, he was part of the lead ensemble for the NY Times critically acclaimed Off-Broadway revival of the Sophie Treadwell classic Machinal, produced at the original Ohio Theater in Greenwich Village. Cherry Jones served as an Associate Producer to the show. In 2004, his performance as Piero in the Theater for the New City Manhattan premiere of the Charles L. Mee classic Big Love, was described as "strong" and "debonair". The production would co-star popular TV actress Yara Martinez. He eventually made his Los Angeles stage debut in 2012, starring in a critically acclaimed revival of the British farce What the Butler Saw, as Sergeant Match, at the famed Odyssey Theater Ensemble. He was also featured in the Pacific Resident Theatre award nominated production of Arthur Miller's classic A View From the Bridge (2013). The company would receive nominations for Best Revival from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award and the LA Weekly. Most recently he created the dual roles of Mafia Chief Carlos Marcello and Movie Producer Jack Valenti, in the highly touted and anticipated 2016 Blank Theatre Company production of The Tragedy of JFK: as told by Wm. Shakespeare. A Los Angeles Times Critic's Pick, It won several awards from broadwayworld.com and was Directed and Conceived by Daniel Henning and Artistically Produced by company Co- Founder Noah Wyle. A Filmed version of the play was awarded a TELLY for Best Original Adaptation in 2017.