Brian Tarantina

Brian Tarantina
Born(1959-03-27)March 27, 1959
New York City, U.S.
DiedNovember 2, 2019(2019-11-02) (aged 60)
New York City, U.S.
EducationFiorello H. LaGuardia High School
OccupationActor
Years active1980–2019
Notable work
Children1

Brian Tarantina (March 27, 1959 – November 2, 2019) was an American stage, screen, and television character actor.[1] He was known for his roles on such shows as One Life to Live, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and Gilmore Girls.

Personal life

Tarantina was born in New York City on March 27, 1959, to father Frank William Tarantina and an unknown mother.[2] He attended what is now the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where he then began to pursue an acting career.[3]

Shortly after midnight on November 2, 2019, Tarantina was found dead at his home in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan. At the time of his death, his publicist attributed the cause to "complications from a severe health crisis he experienced a few months [prior]."[3] However, New York City Chief Medical Examiner report released in December 2019, stated that he died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and diazepam.[4]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1984 The Cotton Club Vince Hood
1986 Resting Place Sp4 Beyer TV movie
1987 Critical Condition Tommy Pinto
1989 The January Man Cone
Uncle Buck E. Roger Coswell
Runaway Dreams Jay Carver
Born on the Fourth of July Vet #2
1990 Jacob's Ladder Doug
1993 The Saint of Fort Washington Fred
Carlito's Way Speller
1995 The Jerky Boys: The Movie Geno
Sweet Nothing Dee Dee
1996 Bed of Roses Randy
Vibrations Tough Guy #2 Video
The Associate Eddie
1997 Donnie Brasco Anthony Indelicato
Firehouse Hooded Man TV movie
1998 Walking to the Waterline Lucy 'Replacement'
Better Living Danny
1999 Roberta Donald
Summer of Sam Bobby Del Fiore
The Talented Mr. Ripley Fighting Neighbor
2000 The Photographer Camera Salesman
2002 Personal Velocity: Three Portraits Pete Shunt
City by the Sea Snake
2003 The Introduction Charlie Short
2005 Duane Hopwood Mr. Alonso
Trust the Man Crazy Hair Driver
2006 Unconscious Morelli
A Crime Joe
2007 The Brave One Gun Store Clerk
2008 Ghost Town Ghost Cop
2009 Motherhood Opera Lover in Car
2010 Knight and Day Scrap Yard Man
2013 Resilience for Veterans I, II, III - Short
2014 Rob the Mob Ronnie
Zarra's Law Frankie Andreoli
Caseworker Ducky Short
2015 #Lucky Number Blue Collar Mafia
2018 BlacKkKlansman Officer Clay Mulaney
Breaking Brooklyn Randy Davis
Ask for Jane Angry Doctor
2019 The Kitchen Burns

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1986 The Equalizer Lenny DeWitt Episode: "Wash-Up"
Sledge Hammer! Blade Episode: "To Sledge, with Love"
1987 Leg Work George Episode: "The Best Couple I Know"
1988 Miami Vice Rickman Episode: "Honor Among Thieves?"
1990 One Life to Live Lucky Lippman Regular Cast
1991 Law & Order Corso Episode: "Out of Control"
1994 New York Undercover Eddie Dodge Episode: "After Shakespeare"
Law & Order Rudy Episode: "Old Friends"
1996 Spin City First Homeless Man Episode: "The Competition"
1997 Oz Ronald Poklewaldt Episode: "Straight Life"
Homicide: Life on the Street Scott Russell Episode: "Blood Ties, Part 2"
NYPD Blue Darin Gammel Episode: "Remembrance of Humps Past"
1999 Third Watch James French Episode: "Responsible Parties"
Now and Again Tommy Madden Episode: "Pulp Turkey"
2000 ER Joe Barkley Episode: "Loose Ends"
2000–01 Deadline Jimmy the Weasel Recurring Cast
2001 The Sopranos Mustang Sally Episode: "Another Toothpick"
Big Apple Brick Top Episode: "Follow the Blender"
Law & Order Al Manos Episode: "Who Let the Dogs Out?"
Crossing Jordan Devlin Inmate Martinson Episode: "The Ties That Bind"
2001–02 Gilmore Girls Bootsy Recurring Cast: Season 2
2002 Providence Plumber Episode: "The Wedding Planner"
2003 Queens Supreme Bobby Saferas Episode: "Things Change"
2004 The Jury Joe Glapinski Episode: "Mail Order Mystery"
2005 Jonny Zero Stick Episode: "Who's Your Daddy?"
Law & Order: Trial by Jury Officer Mike Bressler Episode: "Blue Wall"
Law & Order: Criminal Intent Vic Dayton Episode: "Prisoner"
2006 Heroes Weasel Recurring Cast: Season 1
2007 The Black Donnellys Vinnie Culiari Recurring Cast
2008 New Amsterdam Mick Episode: "Keep the Change"
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Bill Jensen Episode: "Cold"
Fringe Nice Guy Episode: "The Ghost Network"
2009 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Johnny Di Rogga Episode: "Playing Dead"
2011 The Bay Lucky Episode: "Far from the Bay: Part 4"
2012 The Good Wife Frankie Peel Episode: "The Penalty Box"
Elementary Walsh Episode: "One Way to Get Off"
2013 The Blacklist The Courier's Brother Episode: "The Courier (No. 85)"
Person of Interest Seamus Yorke Episode: "The Devil's Share"
2016 The Night Of Bar Patron Episode: "The Art of War"
Blue Bloods Nick Polk Episode: "For the Community"
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life Bootsy Recurring Cast
2017 Madam Secretary Motel Manager Episode: "The Essentials"
2017–19 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Jackie Recurring Cast: Season 1–3
2018 Half Life Jackie Randazo Episode: "Pilot"

Video Games

Year Title Role
1996 Ripper Addict
2008 Grand Theft Auto IV The Crowd of Liberty City
2009 Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned Angus Martin

Stage appearances

Off-Broadway

  • Innocent Thoughts, Harmless Intentions (March 6, 1980 – March 30, 1980) - "Enzio 'Spats' Spadanti"
  • Angels Fall (October 17, 1982 – November 28, 1982) – "Salvatore (Zappy) Zappala"
  • Young Playwrights Festival (April 13, 1983 – May 1, 1983) – "Frank" (Third Street) / "TV Host" (The Birthday Present)
  • Balm in Gilead (May 31, 1984 – January 6, 1985) - "David"
  • V & V Only (May 25, 1988 – July 3, 1988) – "Donny"

Source[5]

Broadway

  • Angels Fall (January 22, 1983 – March 13, 1983) – "Salvatore (Zappy) Zappala"
  • Biloxi Blues (March 28, 1985 – June 28, 1986) – "Roy Selridge"
  • The Boys of Winter (December 1, 1985 – December 8, 1985) – "Prick"
  • Sacrilege (November 2, 1995 – November 19, 1995) – "Crackerjack"

Source[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Internet Broadway Database
  2. ^ John, Caroline (November 4, 2019). "Brian Tarantina's Family: The "Mrs. Maisel" Star Leaves behind a Loving Family". Earn the Necklace. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Diaz, Johnny (November 3, 2019). "Brian Tarantina, Actor on 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,' Dies at 60". The New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  4. ^ McCarthy, Tyler, "'Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' actor Brian Tarantina's cause of death revealed", Fox News, December 17, 2019
  5. ^ Internet Off-Broadway Database