Dennis Parlato


Dennis Parlato is an American dancer, actor, and singer.

Early life and education

He is the son of Charlie Parlato, and the uncle of Grammy-nominated jazz singer Gretchen Parlato. Parlato taught high school English in San Francisco before realizing he wanted to perform. He was performing in chamber concert groups and teaching full-time. While on vacation with his first wife, they decided to see the ballet nearby just as something to do. He went to the Nederlands Dans Theater, a premier theatre company that, unbeknownst to him, was putting on a ballet of Carmina Burana. After watching the ballet, it inspired him when he got back home to switch to half-time teaching and study ballet. He met Austin Tichenor when Parlato joined the Metropolitan Ballet of Oakland as a featured solo dancer and Tichenor was stage manager.
He moved to New York when he was thirty years old. His fiancée at the time Maggie Caponio had a scholarship to the New York City Ballet and he decided to go with her. He auditioned for everything, even though he had no formal vocal or acting lessons. He was cast in A Chorus Line and after that was able to afford proper lessons.
Parlato is probably best known for his work in soap operas, where he played Barton Crane on All My Children, Michael Grande on One Life to Live, and Clay Alden on Loving. He also portrayed Roger Thorpe on Guiding Light, stepping in for an ailing Michael Zaslow.

Career

Broadway credits

Off-Broadway/regional credits

Films

Television