Farina became an actor in 1981 as Carl in "Thief". He would later appear in Steven Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan" (as Army Lieutenant Colonel Walter Anderson), "Striking Distance", "Another Stakeout", "Little Big League", "Snatch", "The Mod Squad", "Big Trouble" and "Out of Sight". He co-starred with Bette Midler in the romantic comedy "That Old Feeling".