In the second season of HBO's The Sopranos, Brancato, 32, played Matt Bevilaqua, who carried out a series of low-level crimes for the New Jersey mob before being gunned down by Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) and his sidekick as he tearfully begged for his life.
'SVU' redux
Stephanie March will return in her role as New York prosecutor Alexandra Cabot for a six-episode story arc on Law & Order: SVU beginning Feb. 17.
The actress said Thursday that she looks forward to spending time with a production that has been rewarding for her, and compared it to "an old flame."
March starred on the show for four seasons, leaving in 2003 and returning for one episode in 2005.
Extra innings
Filmmaker Ken Burns is adding a 10th inning to his nine-part Baseball documentary series, which aired in 1994 on public television.
PBS said Wednesday that the new film, titled The Tenth Inning, will air in spring 2010, along with a rebroadcast of the original nine-part Baseball documentary series. It will track baseball history from 1993 through 2008, beginning where the original series ended, and feature interviews with Felipe Alou, Joe Torre and other baseball figures.
From Sun news services
today's birthdays
Rock singer Ronnie Hawkins, 74.
Movie director Walter Hill, 69.
Singer Rod Stewart, 64.
Boxer George Foreman, 60.
Singer Pat Benatar, 56.
Actor Evan Handler, 48.
Actress Sarah Shahi, 29.
