Few TV stars have left Hollywood as decisively as David Caruso. After a decade as the sunglasses-and-one-liner icon Horatio Caine on CSI: Miami, he simply walked away when the show ended in 2012 and has rarely been seen since.
Born: January 7, 1956 ·
Years Active: 1979 – 2012 ·
Net Worth: $35 million (estimated) ·
Known For: NYPD Blue, CSI: Miami ·
Spouse: Liza Marquez (m. 2007) ·
Children: 4
Quick snapshot
- Born January 7, 1956 in Forest Hills, Queens (Wikipedia, the open encyclopedia)
- Starred as Detective John Kelly on NYPD Blue (1993–1994) and Lieutenant Horatio Caine on CSI: Miami (2002–2012) (Wikipedia)
- Has not acted since 2012; lives privately in Florida (Market Realist, financial media)
- Exact reason for his complete withdrawal from public life (no official statement) (Yahoo Entertainment, a major news aggregator)
- Precise net worth — estimates range from $30–40 million (TheRichest, celebrity wealth tracker)
- Whether the famous head tilt originated from the actor himself or his character (Yahoo Entertainment, a major news aggregator)
- 1979: First acting roles (Wikipedia)
- 1993–1994: Breaks out on NYPD Blue (Wikipedia)
- 2002–2012: Ten seasons on CSI: Miami (Wikipedia)
- 2012: Retires from acting (Wikipedia)
- Caruso appears to be fully retired; no public appearances, no acting projects (Legit.ng, African news outlet)
- Rumored residual income from CSI: Miami reruns (~$100,000/year) (Entertainment Tonight via YouTube, showbiz news)
Eight key details offer a quick reference for Caruso’s profile:
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | David Stephen Caruso |
| Born | January 7, 1956 |
| Place of Birth | Forest Hills, Queens, New York |
| Occupation | Actor, producer |
| Years Active | 1979 – 2012 |
| Spouse | Liza Marquez (m. 2007) |
| Children | 4 |
| Net Worth | $35 million (estimated) |
Why did David Caruso let himself go?
What caused his change in appearance?
- Caruso retired from acting in 2012 and has not made public appearances since (Legit.ng).
- His appearance changed due to natural aging and a private lifestyle; no evidence of health issues (Yahoo Entertainment).
Is David Caruso in poor health?
No reliable source has reported any significant health problems. The shift in his look is consistent with a man in his late 60s who simply stepped out of the public eye. Multiple outlets confirm that he was seen looking well in recent years, albeit very rarely (Entertainment Tonight via YouTube).
The pattern: There is no story beyond a man who chose privacy. Fans expecting a dramatic explanation will be disappointed; the most likely answer is the simplest one.
What does David Caruso do for a living now?
Does David Caruso still act?
- He is retired and has no acting projects since 2012 (Wikipedia).
- He briefly owned an art gallery in Westlake Village, California, but it closed (Yahoo Entertainment).
What is his net worth?
Multiple entertainment-finance outlets estimate his net worth at about $35 million (Legit.ng, Market Realist, TheRichest). A 2026 Entertainment Tonight report claimed he still receives around $100,000 per year in residuals from CSI: Miami reruns (Entertainment Tonight).
Does he have any business ventures?
Caruso is listed as founder of DavidCarusoTelevision.tv and LexiconDigital.tv, and is co-owner of Steam on Sunset, a clothing store in South Miami (Wikipedia). However, there are no recent updates on the active status of these businesses.
Caruso no longer works in Hollywood. His wealth is comfortable but not extravagant for a former TV lead: enough to live privately on residuals and prior earnings.
The trade-off: He traded a continued acting career for financial independence and anonymity. For someone who didn’t want to be a “TV cop forever,” it paid off.
What happened to David Caruso’s acting career?
Why did he leave NYPD Blue?
- Caruso left the hit show after one season (1993–1994) due to a contract dispute; he wanted to pursue film (Wikipedia).
How did his film career fare?
He took roles in films like Kiss of Death (1995) and Jade (1995), but neither achieved critical or commercial success (Wikipedia).
Why did CSI: Miami end?
After ten seasons and 232 episodes, CBS canceled CSI: Miami in 2012 (Wikipedia). Caruso chose not to pursue other acting work afterward.
Why this matters: His career arc is a cautionary tale about betting on movies too early, but also a story of redemption through a second TV role that defined him.
Why does David Caruso always tilt his head?
Is it a personal habit or character trait?
- It was a signature move of his character Horatio Caine on CSI: Miami, often followed by a one-liner. No evidence suggests Caruso does it in real life (Wikipedia).
What is the significance of the head tilt?
The gesture became a pop-culture meme and was frequently parodied. It effectively defined the character’s cool, detached demeanor. Caruso himself never publicly explained whether he invented it or it was a directorial choice.
The head tilt is so iconic that it overshadowed his acting range. For many viewers, Caruso is that head tilt — limiting his post-CSI brand.
The implication: A simple mannerism became a career-defining trademark, for better and worse.
Where is David Caruso now?
What is David Caruso doing today?
- He maintains a private life in Florida with his wife Liza Marquez (Wikipedia).
- No known public appearances or social media presence (Legit.ng).
Where does he live?
He resides in South Florida, reportedly in the Miami area, where he co-owns the clothing store Steam on Sunset (Wikipedia).
Is he married?
He married Liza Marquez in 2007. This is his third marriage; he was previously married to actress Rachel Ticotin (1984–1987) and Margaret Buckley (1996–2007) (Wikipedia, Legit.ng).
The pattern: Caruso’s life after fame is deliberately quiet. He chose family over spotlight, and that choice appears final.
Timeline
Here are the key dates in David Caruso’s life and career:
- January 7, 1956 – Born in Forest Hills, Queens, New York (Wikipedia)
- 1979 – Begins acting career with minor roles (Wikipedia)
- 1993–1994 – Stars as Detective John Kelly on NYPD Blue; leaves after one season (Wikipedia)
- 1990s – Film career with limited success (Kiss of Death, Jade) (Wikipedia)
- 2002–2012 – Portrays Horatio Caine on CSI: Miami; 10 seasons, 232 episodes (Wikipedia)
- 2007 – Marries Liza Marquez (Wikipedia)
- 2012 – Final episode of CSI: Miami; Caruso retires from acting (Wikipedia)
- 2020s – Lives privately in Florida; no public appearances (Legit.ng)
What we know for sure — and what’s still uncertain
Confirmed facts
- David Caruso was born on January 7, 1956 (Wikipedia)
- He left NYPD Blue after one season (Wikipedia)
- He played Horatio Caine on CSI: Miami from 2002 to 2012 (Wikipedia)
- He has been married to Liza Marquez since 2007 (Wikipedia)
- He has four children (Wikipedia)
- He has not acted since 2012 and lives a private life (Market Realist, financial media)
What’s unclear
- Exact reason for his departure from public life (no official statement) (Yahoo Entertainment)
- Precise net worth (estimates range from $30–40 million) (TheRichest, celebrity wealth tracker)
- Whether the head tilt originated from the actor or the character
- Active status of his business ventures (DavidCarusoTelevision.tv, LexiconDigital.tv, Steam on Sunset) (Wikipedia)
- Exact amount of residual income from CSI: Miami reruns (Entertainment Tonight)
- Details of his day-to-day life in Florida — no confirmed reports since 2020
Notable quotes
“I didn’t want to be a TV cop forever.”
David Caruso, 1994 TV Guide interview (widely cited)
“Caruso opened an art gallery in Westlake Village after quitting acting, but it later closed.”
Yahoo Entertainment, 2025 report
A deliberate exit
David Caruso walked away from Hollywood at the height of his popularity and never looked back. His post-CSI silence is not a mystery to be solved, but a boundary he drew — one that preserved his wealth, his family life, and his peace. For fans still waiting for a comeback, the choice is clear: accept the retirement, or let the head tilt remain a memory.
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Frequently asked questions
Is David Caruso still alive?
Yes, David Caruso is alive as of 2025. He lives privately in Florida.
How old is David Caruso?
He was born on January 7, 1956, making him 69 years old in 2025.
What is David Caruso’s net worth?
Multiple sources estimate his net worth at around $35 million (Legit.ng, Market Realist).
How many times has David Caruso been married?
He has been married three times: to Rachel Ticotin (1984–1987), Margaret Buckley (1996–2007), and Liza Marquez (2007–present) (Wikipedia).
Does David Caruso have any children?
Yes, he has four children, including two with his current wife Liza Marquez (Wikipedia).
What was David Caruso’s first movie?
His early film credits include small roles in the 1980s; his first notable film was First Blood (1982) as a deputy (Wikipedia).
Why did David Caruso leave NYPD Blue?
He left after one season due to a contract dispute; he wanted to pursue film roles (Wikipedia).
Does David Caruso still get paid for CSI Miami reruns?
Yes, reportedly he earns about $100,000 per year in residuals from syndication (Entertainment Tonight via YouTube).
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Arthur Oliver Howard Fletcher is a staff writer for NationalReport.uk, covering UK national news, politics, the economy and public services. He works under Editor-in-Chief Andreas Christodoulou and UK Managing Editor Rebecca Morgan, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.