So, you're sitting on your couch, maybe a rerun of CSI: Miami is playing in the background, and you see Horatio Caine do "the thing." You know the one. He puts on his sunglasses, delivers a line that’s somehow both incredibly cheesy and deeply profound, and the The Who starts screaming "YEAHHHHH!" in the theme song. Naturally, you wonder: how old is David Caruso now?
It's been a minute since he was the king of the Tuesday night ratings. Honestly, it feels like a lifetime.
The Short Answer: David Caruso’s Current Age
Let's get the math out of the way immediately. David Caruso turned 70 years old on January 7, 2026.
He was born in 1956 in Forest Hills, Queens. That’s a long way from the neon-soaked streets of Miami or the grit of an NYPD precinct. For a guy who spent decades being the most recognizable redhead on television, he's spent his late 60s and early 70s doing something almost unheard of for a former A-lister: he actually stayed retired.
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Most actors say they’re retiring and then show up in a pharmaceutical commercial or a random Netflix cameo three years later. Not Caruso. Since CSI: Miami got the axe back in 2012, he’s been a ghost in the industry.
Why 70 Hits Different for a TV Icon
When we talk about how old David Caruso is, we aren't just talking about a number on a driver’s license. We’re talking about the passage of time for an actor who basically defined two different eras of "Prestige TV."
Remember NYPD Blue?
In 1993, Caruso was the biggest thing on the planet. He was Detective John Kelly. He was moody, he was intense, and he was the reason people tuned in. But then he did the unthinkable. He walked away after just one season and a handful of episodes into the second. He wanted movie stardom. He wanted the $100 million blockbusters.
Instead, he got Jade and Kiss of Death.
Critics weren't just mean; they were vicious. The industry basically treated him like a cautionary tale for about five years. People thought he was done. Washed up at 40.
Then, 2002 happened.
The Horatio Caine Renaissance
By the time Caruso landed the role of Horatio Caine, he was 46. Most lead actors are starting to look for "dad" roles at that age, but Caruso reinvented himself as a meme before memes were even a thing. He took the procedural drama and turned it into performance art.
The sunglasses.
The side-on stance.
The dramatic pauses.
He played that character for ten years. 232 episodes. When the show finally ended in 2012, Caruso was 56. He had made his money—reportedly clearing $375,000 per episode at his peak—and he decided that was enough.
Where is He Now at 70?
You won't find David Caruso on Instagram. You won't see him at the Oscars or doing "Life Lessons" on TikTok.
Honestly, it’s kinda refreshing.
Since leaving Hollywood, he shifted his focus to the art world and business. He co-owned a clothing store called Steam on Sunset in South Miami for a while. He’s been involved in LexiconDigital.tv. But mostly, he just lives his life.
Recent paparazzi photos—which are rare because he stays out of the spotlight—show a man who looks exactly like you’d expect a 70-year-old retired New Yorker to look. He's ditched the designer suits for hoodies and tees. He’s grown his hair out. He looks... relaxed.
The Financial Reality of Retirement
People often ask about his age because they wonder if he's "forced" to work. The answer is a hard no.
- Estimated Net Worth: Roughly $35 million.
- Residuals: CSI: Miami is still in heavy syndication globally.
- Lifestyle: He splits time between Florida and California, staying low-profile.
He doesn't need the "one last job" trope. He won the game. He took the heat for leaving NYPD Blue, survived the movie flops, became a global icon in his 50s, and checked out in his 60s.
The Legacy of the Redhead from Queens
It is easy to poke fun at the sunglasses or the one-liners. But Caruso’s career is actually a masterclass in resilience. If he had stayed on NYPD Blue, would he have lasted? Maybe. But he wouldn't have become Horatio Caine.
He’s 70 now, and while the "CSI Effect" has faded from the nightly news, his impact on how we watch TV hasn't. He proved that you could be a "difficult" actor (as his former bosses often called him) and still be indispensable.
If you’re looking to catch up with his work, your best bet isn't a new movie. It’s digging into the archives.
Next Steps for the David Caruso Fan:
- Watch the Early Stuff: Go back and find his small role in First Blood (1982) or An Officer and a Gentleman. It’s wild to see him so young.
- The NYPD Blue Pilot: It’s still one of the best hours of television ever produced.
- Embrace the Cringe: Watch a "Horatio Caine One-Liner" compilation on YouTube. It’s a great way to spend ten minutes.
David Caruso at 70 is a man who seems perfectly content with the world forgetting he was ever a superstar, even if the reruns ensure we never actually do.