By Ernio Hernandez
09 Jul 2007

Daniel Sunjata
Photo by Aubrey Reuben

Stage stars Daniel Sunjata, John Turturro and Oliver Platt head the cast of the new ESPN mini-series "The Bronx is Burning," which begins July 9 on the cable network.

Adapted from Jonathan Mahler's non-fiction book, the eight-episode drama debuts at 10 PM (ET) following Major League Baseball's Home Run Derby. The remaining episodes will air Tuesday evenings at 10 PM. Check your local listings.

Taking its name from the famous Howard Cosell quote, "The Bronx is Burning" follows the tumultuous and ultimately victorious season for the 1977 New York Yankees and the city's eventful summer, which included the search for "Son of Sam," a blackout and more.

Daniel Sunjata ("Rescue Me" and Tony Award nominee for his baseball player turn in Take Me Out) stars as Reggie Jackson opposite John Turturro ("Quiz Show" and Life x 3) as former New York Yankees manager Billy Martin and Oliver Platt ("Huff" and Tony nominee for Shining City) as Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.

The cast also includes a slew of actors previously seen on stage: Kevin Conway (Dinner at Eight, "Oz") as Gabe Paul, Dan Lauria (The Guys, "The Wonder Years") as Joseph Borelli, Michael Rispoli (Magic Hands Freddy, "The Sopranos") as Jimmy Breslin, Erik Jensen (The Exonerated, "Love Monkey") as Thurman Munson, Charles S. Dutton (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, "Roc") as Bill White, Alan Ruck (Absurd Person Singular, "Spin City") as Steve Jacobson, Loren Dean (Four Dogs and a Bone, "Enemy of the State") as Fran Healy, Seth Gilliam (Iphigenia and Other Daughters, "The Wire") as Paul Blair, Joe Grifasi (Dinner at Eight, "*61") as Yogi Berra, Bill Buell (Urinetown) as Art Fowler, Nestor Serrano (The Tempest, "24") as Detective Kavanaugh, Max Casella (The Music Man, "The Sopranos") as Dick Howser, Josh Pais (I'm Not Rappaport) as Phil Pepe, John Bedford Lloyd (Tartuffe) as Bowie Kuhn, Terry Serpico (Edith Stein) as Mickey Mantle and Stephen Lang (Beyond Glory, "Gods and Generals") as Inspector Dowd.

Also featured are Alex Cranmer (as Graig Nettles), Evan Bryce Hart (Bucky Dent), Ed Jewett (Ballistics Expert), Louis Mustillo (Maury Allen), Leonard Robinson (Mickey Rivers), Casey Siemaszko (Detective Walker), Nick Turturro (Ralph Destino), Robert Ward (self) and Mather Zickel (Lou Piniella).

Jeremiah Chechik ("Benny and Joon") directed the entire mini-series, which was penned by James Solomon and Gordon Greisman. ESPN Original Entertainment produces in association with Tollin/Robbins Productions.

For more information, visit the official website at bronxisburning.com.