U.S. actor Tony Darrow, known for playing mobsters, attempted to extort money from a man several years ago, federal prosecutors allege.

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The New York Daily News reported Saturday the actor, who was born Anthony Borgese but uses Darrow as his stage name, has pleaded innocent to charges he attempted to extort cash from an unidentified man who owed an undisclosed amount of money to a loan shark.

Darrow was arrested at New York's LaGuardia Airport Thursday in relation to the alleged 2004 incident, unidentified sources said.

"I can't comment until I find out what this is about," Darrow, 70, said while leaving federal court in Brooklyn on a $750,000 bond Friday.

Also charged in the 2004 incident were convicted extortionist Joseph "Joey Boy" Orlando and Giovanni Monteleone, an alleged associate in organized crime.

The Daily News said Darrow is best known for playing Larry Boy Barese in "The Sopranos" and Bamboo Lounge owner Sonny Bunz in "Goodfellas." His other movie credits include "Analyze This,""Small Time Crooks" and "Bullets Over Broadway."