# Adam Ferrara

Adam Ferrara is an American actor and comedian known for playing the role of Chief "Needles" Nelson on the FX series Rescue Me. He was a co-host on the U.S. version of Top Gear and played NYPD Sgt. Frank Verelli opposite Edie Falco on Showtime series Nurse Jackie. He also played Detective Tommy Manetti on the television series The Job.

## Biography

Ferrara grew up in Huntington Station, New York in an Italian-American family. He is married to indie actress Alex Tyler, who is on the cover of his comedy DVD Funny as Hell. She also plays the "Beautiful She Devil" in the special's introductory sketch.

### Career

Ferrara has performed on Comedy Central Presents and has twice been nominated for the American Comedy Award for Best Male Stand-Up. Ferrara frequently performs stand-up at Caroline's and the Comedy Cellar. Ferrara also tours often, performing stand-up at the top clubs around the country.
He has performed stand-up several times on The Tonight Show, the Late Show with David Letterman, and Comedy Central. His stand-up was featured in Comedy Central's animated series Shorties Watchin' Shorties in 2004.
In 2009, Ferrara performed in an hour stand-up special which aired on Comedy Central entitled Funny As Hell, and was released on DVD the same day. Ferrara appeared on The Tony Kornheiser Show on January 24, 2013, and has made numerous in-person and telephone appearances since that time.
Ferrara co-hosted the American version of Top Gear.
He recently came up with his new podcast '30 Minutes You’ll Never Get Back', which was listed as a 'must listen' by Hidden Remote.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1993 | Flying Blind | Gerald | Episode: "The People That Time Forgot" |
| 1994 | A&E's An Evening at the Improv | Self | Season 15, episode 13 |
| 1996–1998 | Caroline in the City | Pete Spadaro | 3 episodes |
| 1997 | Social Studies | Dan Rossini | 2 episodes |
| 1997 | Dads | Carl Sr. | TV short |
| 1999 | The Love Boat: The Next Wave | Stan | Episode: "Prom Queen" |
| 2001–2002 | The Job | Tommy Manetti | 19 episodes |
| 2003 | Ash Tuesday | Greg | |
| 2003 | Law & Order | Monty Bender | Episode: "Smoke" |
| 2004 | Noise | Young Detective | |
| 2004–2007 | The King of Queens | Waiter / Jack / Nick | 3 episodes |
| 2006 | Last Request | Cousin Frank | |
| 2006 | A Merry Little Christmas | Donnie Manning | TV movie |
| 2006–2011 | Rescue Me | Chief 'Needles' Nelson | 50 episodes |
| 2008 | Definitely, Maybe | Gareth | |
| 2009 | Paul Blart: Mall Cop | Sergeant Howard | |
| 2009 | Winter of Frozen Dreams | Burr | |
| 2009 | The Unusuals | Vice Detective #2 | Pilot episode |
| 2009 | Around The Block | Sean | |
| 2009 | Ugly Betty | Sammy | Episode: "Blue on Blue" |
| 2009 | The Pack | Cassidy | |
| 2010 | Dennis Leary & Friends Presents: Douchebags & Donuts | Himself | |
| 2011 | Dirty Movie | Dr Feelgood | Comedy movie |
| 2010–2016 | Top Gear | Host | 72 episodes |
| 2013-2015 | Nurse Jackie | NYPD Sgt. Frank Verelli | 20 episodes |
| 2014 | Hell's Kitchen | Himself | Season 13 Episode 4: "15 Chefs Compete" |
| 2017 | Kevin Can Wait | Bill | Episode: "Choke Doubt" |
| 2017 | Criminal Minds | Bob Hammond | Episode: "Hell's Kitchen" |
| 2018 | The Good Fight | Officer Glasser | Episode: "Day 436" |
| 2018 | Deception | Officer Howie Maslin | Episode: "Getting Away Clean" |
| 2018 | Little Italy | Salvatore "Sal" Angioli | |
| 2019 | Why Women Kill | Leo Mosconi | Episode: "Murder Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry" |
| 2021, 2024 | NCIS | Sammy | 2 episodes |
| 2023 | FBI | Detective Nick Zito | Episode: "Privilege" |
| 2025 | Elsbeth | Gene Genetti Sr. | Episode: "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" |