The son of Mediterranean immigrants, Ozzie grew up the multicultural and often violent Australian neighbourhood of Richmond, Victoria. Originally destined for a career as a professional AFL player before injury struck, his physical fitness was later channelled into a variety of sports and skills that would prove invaluable in his career as an actor, including barefoot water skiing, racing and stunt skills. Within five years of entering the acting profession he was able to devote himself to his career on a full time basis, and has earned himself a reputation as being an enigmatic and likeable character off screen and strong credit worthy character on screen.