Denis Leary is in pain.

“I tore my left shoulder rotator cuff playing hockey,” the comedy king told The Post. “It feels like someone drew a knife into the edge of my shoulder . . . it hurts . . . but it’s a first, so I’m proud of that.”

This 45-year-old actor is not one to go down without a fight.

Most recently, along with actors James Gandolfini and Steve Buscemi,” he’s pushed Mayor Bloomberg’s buttons for an FDNY pay raise.

“It means the world to me,” Leary said. “These guys are getting paid nothing. The mayor knows what the reality is and the facts are and he wants to balance his budget and that’s fine. But I worry about us and the future.”

Firefighters have always held a place in Leary’s heart; he lost his cousin, Jeremiah, in a fire years ago. (He has since formed two Firefighters’ Foundation funds).

Leary got his big break in 1992, when he performed in HBO special “No Cure for Cancer,” an obscene take on smoking, drinking and sex. The Massachusetts-born actor has since performed in “Wag the Dog,” “True Crime,” and “The Thomas Crown Affair.” Most recently, he was a voice on “Crank Yankers” and starred in the ABC series “The Job.” The 6-foot-3 actor lives in New York with his wife, Ann, and their two children (ages 11 and 13), and is hoping to do another stand-up tour soon.

By FARRAH WEINSTEIN

Q: What will be the theme of your next comedy tour?

A: I don’t know, I haven’t thought about it yet. I don’t write it out in advance. I just go out and start talking and it just comes out of my head. I’m dying to do it.

Q: Describe your personal style.

A: Bottom-line: sweat pants, sneakers and an old hockey shirt or an old football shirt. But I’m surrounded by women – my sisters, an old girlfriend of mine named Rochelle Joseph, who’s my stylist, my wife. All these women yell at me and say, “Take this off!” and “Put this on!”

Q: Do you enjoy letting the women in your life dress you up?

A: I’ve got to say that when I wear a nice suit with a turtleneck or an open-neck shirt underneath, I feel pretty good.

Q: Do you have any favorite designers?

A: This Italian guy Gianluca Isaia – he’s a new guy and he’s been making me these suits lately, which are great. And Calvin Klein. Kenneth Cole does most of my shoes and belts. But if it was up to me, I’d be wearing sweat pants.

Q: What are some staple items that you wear?

A: I have a collection of 75 different hockey shirts from various celebrity charity events. Only a few guys, even in the guy universe, are proud of that fact. My main team is the Boston Bruins.

Q: Would you like to own a hockey team?

A: No. I like control, but I’d like to own the franchise but then turn it over to a guy who runs it and then explain to me how good it’s going.

Q: Do you work out?

A: I play street hockey and ice hockey at Chelsea Piers, and I have a rink out in Connecticut on my farm that I play on in the winter.

Q: Do you follow a special diet?

A: I eat a sensible old-fashioned diet. I’m not a big dessert guy. But I eat like a horse. I eat a lot of meat and potatoes.

Q: What do you do to relax?

A: I hang out with my kids, which isn’t really relaxing because they’re all over the place running. For real bottom-line relaxation, I’ll watch “Seinfeld” reruns and “SportsCenter,” from 11-12 at night. That’s my big thing.

Q: What gives you substance?

A: My kids. They bring you right back to the beginning of time everyday.

Q: How do you accessorize?

A: I haven’t worn a watch since Sept. 11, 2001. I just took off my watch the next day because everything was so crazy.

Q: Whose style do you most admire?

A: George Clooney is pretty cool looking. He’s about my age and he looks pretty cool.

Q: Have you ever had a fashion faux pas?

A: Wearing a dress onstage- it was for this TV show in Britain. I wore high heels, a miniskirt, pantyhose and a bra.

Q: What do you love to see women wear?

A: I like everything. But I really like high heels. And short skirts. But I also like big long coats in the wintertime.

Q: What was your last splurge?

A: A giant SUV – I didn’t need it, but what the hell? I like big trucks.

Q: What don’t you ever leave home without?

A: Sunglasses. I like Calvin Klein – but even the cheap ones off the street. I love to have sunglasses on.