Biography
Brooklynite Wass Stevens was renowned in a variety of on and off-screen fields, although perhaps the job which gathered him most media attention was as one of the most recognizable doormen of high society nightclubs in New York City. This job put him on first-name terms with much of the city's entertainment community and often placed him directly in the eye of the tabloids. His ability to play hard-bitten New Yorkers also brought him an eclectic and lengthy acting career, with his most famous roles being the brother of Nicolas Cage's character in Oliver Stone's "World Trade Center" (2006) and the recurring role of shipyard union leader Paul Capra in David Fincher's political thriller "House of Cards" (Netflix 2013), an Americanized updating of a British series. A boxer in his teenage years and a former assistant district attorney in the Bronx, Stevens first appeared on screen in a bit part in Stone's "Nixon" (1995), in which he appeared briefly as a protestor against the Vietnam War. From then on, Stevens worked regularly as a character actor, taking either small roles in larger projects or larger parts in limited-release films. Among his highest-profile early appearances were a small part in the drama "The Family Man" (2000) and a recurring voice role as Max Tyler, drummer of the struggling suburban rock band Mystik Spiral in the Generation X animated series "Daria" (MTV 1997-2002). Parts in "Law & Order" (NBC 1990-2010) and the direct-to-video gangster sequel "Carlito's Way: Rise to Power" (2005) would stand out amidst a busy but largely under the radar work schedule over the next few years, until Stone would once again call on him to play Pat McLoughlin in "World Trade Center." This high-profile part was quickly followed by a brief but memorable appearance as Nick Volpe in Darren Aronofsky's "The Wrestler" (2008), raising his profile as a hard-bitten and dangerously rugged character actor even further. Subsequent roles included appearances in Antoine Fuqua's "Brooklyn's Finest" (2009), the television show "Ugly Betty" (2009), and, following in the footsteps of most New York City-based character actors, various small roles across the multiple series of the "Law & Order" franchise.
