Jackie Payton's love interest is sticking around on Showtime's Nurse Jackie.
Adam Ferrara has been promoted to series regular on the upcoming sixth season of the Showtime dramedy, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The Rescue Me alum first joined the Edie Falco starrer as a recurring player in season five, playing Jackie's new love interest Officer Frank Verelli.
STORY: 'Nurse Jackie's' Edie Falco Gets Candid About Jackie's Evolution
In the upcoming season, Frank will learn that getting more involved with Jackie -- who was last seen popping a pill to go to her one-year sober party -- comes with its consequences and he begins to wonder if he's in over his head.
The actor/stand-up comedian's credits include features Definitely Maybe and Paul Blart: Mall Cop as well as hosting BBC's Top Gear U.S. He's a two-time nominee for best male stand-up by the American Comedy Awards after starting his small-screen career on NBC's Caroline in the City.
Showrunner Clyde Phillips told THRafter the season five finale that Jackie falling off the wagon will not be an isolated incident.
STORY: 'Nurse Jackie' Boss Talks Jackie's Surprising Decision
"There needs to be consequences; you can't just do it as a one-time thing and say to the audience, 'Hey, come back and watch year six and she's on the wagon again,' " Phillips said in June. "I don't think that's fair to the dynamic of authentic story telling. Her struggles will be even deeper next year."
Nurse Jackie, renewed in June for its sixth season, returns in April, when it will be paired with David Duchovny's Californication.
Ferrara is repped by Gersh and the Conversation Co.
E-mail: Lesley.Goldberg@THR.com
Twitter: @Snoodit
