Los Angeles, May 12 (Xinhua) Veteran American film and televison actor Dennis Farina was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Sunday for carrying a gun as he attempted to board an airplane, the police said.

The gun was spotted by federal Transportation Safety Administration agents as they searched Farina's briefcase, according to the police.

The 64-year-old actor is levelled with a misdemeanour weapons charge and was taken to a police station and later his bail was set at $25,000.

Farina played detective Joe Fontana in more than 40 episodes of 'Law And Order' on the NBC television network, as well as regular roles in the TV series 'Miami Vice,' 'In-Laws' and 'Crime Story'.

He had also acted in 'Saving Private Ryan' and numerous other movies.

Farina was handcuffed at the United Airlines terminal, where he was to board a flight to to Chicago.

The actor said he was a former Chicago police officer, but admitted he did not have a permit to carry a concealed weapon at the time of his arrest, the police said.