Vincent D'Onofrio passes out on "Law & Order" set
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VINCENT D'Onofrio, the star of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," passed out while
shooting the hit TV series yesterday morning — prompting insiders to gossip
that the actor is "losing it."
"Ever since John Kerry lost the election, [D'Onofrio] has lost his [bleep,]"
said our on-set insider.
"He has been getting into fistfights with people, and when he passed out today,
we all thought he was faking it. But then he insisted they call 911."
An ambulance raced to the Queens studio, where paramedics found nothing wrong
with the gifted actor, who became a star in 1987 with his searing performance
as a misfit Marine in "Full Metal Jacket."
Tensions on the "Criminal Intent" set are running high. "No one thinks Vincent
will last for much longer," the insider said.
"He is so hard to work with — a total freak. He constantly complains about
the scripts and has held up production a lot."
D'Onofrio, a big Kerry supporter, was said to be devastated over President
Bush's re-election. "When PAGE SIX [last week] wrote about 'Law & Order'
putting up signs forbidding political discussions on set, it was funny," our
source said. "Those signs were put up because of [D'Onofrio]."
About a month before the election, D'Onofrio "insisted" on putting up anti-Bush
posters and fliers, "and would attack anyone who disagreed with him," the spy
added.
In response, "Law & Order" producers posted signs banning political discussions
or anything else that would impede work on set, implying that D'Onofrio had
held up taping of the show with his political zealotry.
D'Onofrio's co-stars, Kathryn Erbe, Jamey Sheridan and Courtney B. Vance, are
said to be fed up with his antics.
"No one — and I do mean no one — talks to him anymore," the insider added.
A rep for the show insisted there had been no "fistfights."
D'Onofrio does not have a rep. But show creator Dick Wolf said via a rep: "The
stress of being the first among equals on a one-hour television drama is the
most exhausting job in show business. Hours are long and stress levels are
high.
"Any actor who has been in Vincent's position knows how tough it is. It is
unfortunate that Vincent's health has become the topic of gossip and
speculation under these circumstances."