Versatile lead and supporting player once dubbed the 'Ethnic Everyman', Armand Assante made his Off-Broadway debut opposite Hal Holbrook in Steve Tesich's "Lake of the Woods" (1971) before appearing in a bit role as a wedding guest in "Lords of Flatbush" (1974). One of that film's stars, Sylvester Stallone, following the phenomenal success of "Rocky" (1976), gave Assante a significant part in his directorial debut, "Paradise Alley" (1978), playing Stallone's bitter, crippled war veteran brother. Assante's breakthrough role came soon after as the sophisticated Frenchman whom Goldie Hawn almost
