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Dominick LaRuffa Jr. (born November 30, 1989, Brooklyn, New York) has built a career defined by hard work, perseverance, and gratitude, achieving milestones across stage and screen that reflect both relentless effort and deep appreciation for every opportunity. He is an actor of instinctive power, a Tony-nominated Broadway producer, a writer and dramaturg, and the founder of a creative studio that has become a lifeline for emerging voices.
On screen, LaRuffa has recently drawn attention with two commanding supporting performances. In The Florist, opposite Dennis Quaid, his grounded presence deepens the film's emotional core. In The Leader, opposite Vera Farmiga and Tim Blake Nelson, his work holds its own beside two of cinema's most nuanced performers. Television audiences also recognize him from his memorable guest role on Peacock's hit series Poker Face, in an episode featuring Justin Theroux and Haley Joel Osment. His additional credits include Bull on CBS and Paramount+, Gravesend on Amazon, and Martin Scorsese's The Irishman.
LaRuffa's stage work has been equally distinguished. In late 2023 he starred in the Abingdon Theatre Company's Off-Broadway premiere of 'Til Death, acting opposite Tony Award winners Judy Kaye and Robert Cuccioli, where critics noted the emotional ferocity of his performance as Jason. He also led the world premiere of Powerhouse at A.R.T./NY, adding to a résumé that already included long-running performances in My Big Gay Italian Wedding and its sequels. Behind the scenes, he has helped shape Broadway through producing credits that include All the Way, You Can't Take It With You, On the Town, An American in Paris, Spring Awakening with Deaf West, The Realistic Joneses, China Doll, Six Degrees of Separation, American Son, The Lifespan of a Fact, and Betrayal. Collectively, these projects earned six Tony Award nominations. His partnership with Brian Anthony Moreland on the record-breaking revival of Othello, starring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal, has been regarded as a career-defining achievement.
Perhaps LaRuffa's most personal legacy is Blue Collar Artist Studio, the company he founded in a Brooklyn bedroom during the 2020 lockdown. It has since become a vibrant hub for artists across the theatre, film, and television industries. The Studio provides audition coaching, script development, dramaturgical support, and production consulting, offering clarity and practical strategy in an often opaque business. Known for its honesty, rigor, and empathy, Blue Collar Artist Studio also sponsors United States military veterans, integrating their discipline and resilience into the craft of storytelling. For LaRuffa, the Studio is not only a business but also a philosophy that affirms his belief that great art should be accessible, demanding, and deeply human.
Outside of his professional work, LaRuffa remains grounded by his family and his roots. Married since 2019 and a devoted father of two, he brings the same Brooklyn-bred work ethic to his New Jersey living family life that defines his artistic career. In an industry that often celebrates spectacle, he has built something more enduring: a body of work and a creative community that embody resilience, mentorship, and an unwavering belief in the transformative power of storytelling.
