Vanessa Ferlito is an American actress, born December 28, 1977, in Brooklyn, New York. She is best known for CSI: NY, Graceland and NCIS: New Orleans (Wikipedia).
This guide covers her early life, key roles, recent projects and the facts people often get wrong. Each claim links to a source, so you can check our homework.
Vanessa Ferlito at a Glance
| Detail | Verified fact |
|---|---|
| Full name | Vanessa Ferlito |
| Born | December 28, 1977, Brooklyn, New York |
| Age | 48 (as of October 2026) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2001 to present |
| Best-known roles | Aiden Burn (CSI: NY), Charlie DeMarco (Graceland), Tammy Gregorio (NCIS: New Orleans) |
| Recent credits | Bookie (Max, from 2023) and Griselda (Netflix, 2024) |
| Children | One son |
How Old Is Vanessa Ferlito? Clearing Up the Birth Year
Wikipedia and several film databases list her birth year as 1977. Many content-farm sites say 1980 instead.
We use 1977, because it matches the most widely cited reference. That makes her 48 today, and she turns 49 on December 28, 2026.
Early Life and First Steps Into Acting
Ferlito grew up in Brooklyn in an Italian-American family. She was raised by her mother and stepfather, who owned a hair salon (Wikipedia).
She has described her neighborhood as rough and said she had to fight her way through school, according to ACED Magazine. Brooklyn clearly built a thick skin.
- Early on, she modeled for Wilhelmina Models.
- She became a fixture on New York's late-night scene in the 1990s.
- She then moved into acting through guest spots and recurring roles.
Those early TV credits include The Sopranos (Tina Francesco), Third Watch (2002) and Law & Order (2003).
The Breakthrough Years: 2002 to 2006
Her résumé grew quickly in these years. Here is the order of events:
- 2002: Her earliest film credits include On Line and 25th Hour.
- 2003: She starred in Undefeated, a TV movie that earned an NAACP nomination for outstanding actress.
- 2003 to 2004: She played Claudia Hernandez in 11 episodes of 24.
- 2004: She appeared in Spider-Man 2 as Louise.
- 2004 to 2006: She played Detective Aiden Burn in CSI: NY.
In Man of the House (2005), Variety's Joe Leydon called her the standout of that cast. Not bad when you share the screen with Tommy Lee Jones.
On CSI: NY, she worked beside Gary Sinise's Mac Taylor for the show's first two seasons. She appeared in 26 episodes.
Vanessa Ferlito Movies: Selected Roles
Her film list is long, so here are the titles most readers search for.
| Year | Film | Role | Notable co-stars or director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Spider-Man 2 | Louise | Not listed in our sources |
| 2005 | Man of the House | Heather | Tommy Lee Jones |
| 2006 | Gridiron Gang | Lisa Gonzales | Not listed in our sources |
| 2007 | Death Proof | Arlene "Butterfly" | Quentin Tarantino, Kurt Russell |
| 2008 | Nothing Like the Holidays | Roxanna Rodriguez | Alfred Molina, John Leguizamo |
| 2009 | Julie & Julia | Cassie | Meryl Streep, Amy Adams |
| 2010 | Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps | Audrey | Not listed in our sources |
| 2012 | Stand Up Guys | Sylvia | Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, Alan Arkin |
Source: the filmography on Wikipedia. Her co-star list reads like a casting director's fantasy draft.
Her TV Career: Graceland and NCIS: New Orleans
Television made her a household name. Two series stand out:
- Graceland (USA Network, 2013 to 2015): She played FBI agent Catherine "Charlie" DeMarco across 38 episodes. Entertainment Weekly reported the show ended after three seasons.
- NCIS: New Orleans (CBS, 2016 to 2021): Deadline reported she joined for season three. She arrived as an FBI agent sent to investigate the NCIS team, then stayed through season seven as Tammy Gregorio.
Recent Work: Bookie and Griselda
Her newest verified credits are comedy and crime drama. Both show her range.
Bookie (Max)
Ferlito plays Lorraine Colavito, sister of lead character Danny. The Hollywood Reporter described Lorraine as a very smart, stone-cold criminal who also runs Danny's office.
Chuck Lorre and Nick Bakay created the series, which premiered on Max on November 30, 2023. Warner Bros. Discovery later renewed it for a second season.
Griselda (Netflix)
In this six-episode limited series, she plays Carmen Gutiérrez. Dexerto's cast guide describes Carmen as a former associate who wants no part of Griselda's Miami business.
The series launched on January 25, 2024. Some early casting reports listed her character as Isabel, so even casting news needs a second draft.
What Her Roles Have in Common
This is our editorial read, not a sourced claim. It comes from the credits above.
- Crime worlds: CSI: NY, Graceland, NCIS: New Orleans, Bookie and Griselda all sit in crime or law enforcement.
- Tough, sharp characters: Agents, investigators and hustlers appear again and again.
- Strong ensembles: She often shares the screen with well-known leads.
Personal Life
Ferlito gave birth to a son in September 2007. According to Parade, she raised him as a single mother.
In her free time, she enjoys yoga, hiking and cycling, per People.
Common Myths About Vanessa Ferlito
Search results about her contain plenty of noise. Watch for these errors:
- Wrong birth year: Many sites print 1980. The better-cited year is 1977.
- Phantom credits: Some pages list shows like Cobra Kai or The Deuce. Neither appears in the Wikipedia filmography or cast guides we checked.
- Net worth claims: Estimates vary by site and rarely explain their method. We skip them.
Vanessa Ferlito FAQs
How old is Vanessa Ferlito?
She is 48 as of October 2026. She was born December 28, 1977.
What is Vanessa Ferlito best known for?
She is best known for playing Aiden Burn in CSI: NY and Charlie DeMarco in Graceland. She also played Tammy Gregorio in NCIS: New Orleans.
Was Vanessa Ferlito in Death Proof?
Yes. She played Arlene, nicknamed "Butterfly," in Quentin Tarantino's 2007 film.
Where was Vanessa Ferlito born?
She was born in Brooklyn, New York, to an Italian-American family.
What has Vanessa Ferlito done recently?
She plays Lorraine in Bookie on Max. She also appeared as Carmen Gutiérrez in Netflix's Griselda.
Explore More Celebrity Biographies
Like fact-checked profiles? Try these from our blog:
- Kevin Selleck: The journey of Tom Selleck's son
- Tyla's age, early life and global rise
- How old is Morgan Wallen? Age, birthday and life story
Sources
- Wikipedia: Vanessa Ferlito
- ACED Magazine: An Interview with Vanessa Ferlito
- Variety: Review of Man of the House
- Entertainment Weekly: Graceland canceled after three seasons
- Deadline: Ferlito cast in NCIS: New Orleans
- The Hollywood Reporter: Bookie cast announcement
- Wikipedia: Bookie (TV series)
- Warner Bros. Discovery: Bookie renewed for season two
- Dexerto: Griselda cast guide
- Tom's Guide: Griselda trailer and release date
- Parade: Vanessa Ferlito on NCIS: New Orleans
- People: TV's Glamorous Gals
Vanessa Ferlito is an American actress, born December 28, 1977, in Brooklyn, New York. She is best known for CSI: NY, Graceland and NCIS: New Orleans (Wikipedia).
This guide covers her early life, key roles, recent projects and the facts people often get wrong. Each claim links to a source, so you can check our homework.
Vanessa Ferlito at a Glance
| Detail | Verified fact |
|---|---|
| Full name | Vanessa Ferlito |
| Born | December 28, 1977, Brooklyn, New York |
| Age | 48 (as of October 2026) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2001 to present |
| Best-known roles | Aiden Burn (CSI: NY), Charlie DeMarco (Graceland), Tammy Gregorio (NCIS: New Orleans) |
| Recent credits | Bookie (Max, from 2023) and Griselda (Netflix, 2024) |
| Children | One son |
How Old Is Vanessa Ferlito? Clearing Up the Birth Year
Wikipedia and several film databases list her birth year as 1977. Many content-farm sites say 1980 instead.
We use 1977, because it matches the most widely cited reference. That makes her 48 today, and she turns 49 on December 28, 2026.
Early Life and First Steps Into Acting
Ferlito grew up in Brooklyn in an Italian-American family. She was raised by her mother and stepfather, who owned a hair salon (Wikipedia).
She has described her neighborhood as rough and said she had to fight her way through school, according to ACED Magazine. Brooklyn clearly built a thick skin.
- Early on, she modeled for Wilhelmina Models.
- She became a fixture on New York's late-night scene in the 1990s.
- She then moved into acting through guest spots and recurring roles.
Those early TV credits include The Sopranos (Tina Francesco), Third Watch (2002) and Law & Order (2003).
The Breakthrough Years: 2002 to 2006
Her résumé grew quickly in these years. Here is the order of events:
- 2002: Her earliest film credits include On Line and 25th Hour.
- 2003: She starred in Undefeated, a TV movie that earned an NAACP nomination for outstanding actress.
- 2003 to 2004: She played Claudia Hernandez in 11 episodes of 24.
- 2004: She appeared in Spider-Man 2 as Louise.
- 2004 to 2006: She played Detective Aiden Burn in CSI: NY.
In Man of the House (2005), Variety's Joe Leydon called her the standout of that cast. Not bad when you share the screen with Tommy Lee Jones.
On CSI: NY, she worked beside Gary Sinise's Mac Taylor for the show's first two seasons. She appeared in 26 episodes.
Vanessa Ferlito Movies: Selected Roles
Her film list is long, so here are the titles most readers search for.
| Year | Film | Role | Notable co-stars or director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Spider-Man 2 | Louise | Not listed in our sources |
| 2005 | Man of the House | Heather | Tommy Lee Jones |
| 2006 | Gridiron Gang | Lisa Gonzales | Not listed in our sources |
| 2007 | Death Proof | Arlene "Butterfly" | Quentin Tarantino, Kurt Russell |
| 2008 | Nothing Like the Holidays | Roxanna Rodriguez | Alfred Molina, John Leguizamo |
| 2009 | Julie & Julia | Cassie | Meryl Streep, Amy Adams |
| 2010 | Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps | Audrey | Not listed in our sources |
| 2012 | Stand Up Guys | Sylvia | Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, Alan Arkin |
Source: the filmography on Wikipedia. Her co-star list reads like a casting director's fantasy draft.
Her TV Career: Graceland and NCIS: New Orleans
Television made her a household name. Two series stand out:
- Graceland (USA Network, 2013 to 2015): She played FBI agent Catherine "Charlie" DeMarco across 38 episodes. Entertainment Weekly reported the show ended after three seasons.
- NCIS: New Orleans (CBS, 2016 to 2021): Deadline reported she joined for season three. She arrived as an FBI agent sent to investigate the NCIS team, then stayed through season seven as Tammy Gregorio.
Recent Work: Bookie and Griselda
Her newest verified credits are comedy and crime drama. Both show her range.
Bookie (Max)
Ferlito plays Lorraine Colavito, sister of lead character Danny. The Hollywood Reporter described Lorraine as a very smart, stone-cold criminal who also runs Danny's office.
Chuck Lorre and Nick Bakay created the series, which premiered on Max on November 30, 2023. Warner Bros. Discovery later renewed it for a second season.
Griselda (Netflix)
In this six-episode limited series, she plays Carmen Gutiérrez. Dexerto's cast guide describes Carmen as a former associate who wants no part of Griselda's Miami business.
The series launched on January 25, 2024. Some early casting reports listed her character as Isabel, so even casting news needs a second draft.
What Her Roles Have in Common
This is our editorial read, not a sourced claim. It comes from the credits above.
- Crime worlds: CSI: NY, Graceland, NCIS: New Orleans, Bookie and Griselda all sit in crime or law enforcement.
- Tough, sharp characters: Agents, investigators and hustlers appear again and again.
- Strong ensembles: She often shares the screen with well-known leads.
Personal Life
Ferlito gave birth to a son in September 2007. According to Parade, she raised him as a single mother.
In her free time, she enjoys yoga, hiking and cycling, per People.
Common Myths About Vanessa Ferlito
Search results about her contain plenty of noise. Watch for these errors:
- Wrong birth year: Many sites print 1980. The better-cited year is 1977.
- Phantom credits: Some pages list shows like Cobra Kai or The Deuce. Neither appears in the Wikipedia filmography or cast guides we checked.
- Net worth claims: Estimates vary by site and rarely explain their method. We skip them.
Vanessa Ferlito FAQs
How old is Vanessa Ferlito?
She is 48 as of October 2026. She was born December 28, 1977.
What is Vanessa Ferlito best known for?
She is best known for playing Aiden Burn in CSI: NY and Charlie DeMarco in Graceland. She also played Tammy Gregorio in NCIS: New Orleans.
Was Vanessa Ferlito in Death Proof?
Yes. She played Arlene, nicknamed "Butterfly," in Quentin Tarantino's 2007 film.
Where was Vanessa Ferlito born?
She was born in Brooklyn, New York, to an Italian-American family.
What has Vanessa Ferlito done recently?
She plays Lorraine in Bookie on Max. She also appeared as Carmen Gutiérrez in Netflix's Griselda.
Explore More Celebrity Biographies
Like fact-checked profiles? Try these from our blog:
- Kevin Selleck: The journey of Tom Selleck's son
- Tyla's age, early life and global rise
- How old is Morgan Wallen? Age, birthday and life story
Sources
- Wikipedia: Vanessa Ferlito
- ACED Magazine: An Interview with Vanessa Ferlito
- Variety: Review of Man of the House
- Entertainment Weekly: Graceland canceled after three seasons
- Deadline: Ferlito cast in NCIS: New Orleans
- The Hollywood Reporter: Bookie cast announcement
- Wikipedia: Bookie (TV series)
- Warner Bros. Discovery: Bookie renewed for season two
- Dexerto: Griselda cast guide
- Tom's Guide: Griselda trailer and release date
- Parade: Vanessa Ferlito on NCIS: New Orleans
- People: TV's Glamorous Gals