# Brian Tarantina

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

## Early and personal life

Tarantina was born in New York City on March 27, 1959, to father Frank William Tarantina and an unknown mother. 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.
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]." 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.

## 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 | |
| 1989 | Uncle Buck | E. Roger Coswell | |
| 1989 | Runaway Dreams | Jay Carver | |
| 1989 | Born on the Fourth of July | Vet #2 | |
| 1990 | Jacob's Ladder | Doug | |
| 1993 | The Saint of Fort Washington | Fred | |
| 1993 | Carlito's Way | Speller | |
| 1995 | The Jerky Boys: The Movie | Geno | |
| 1995 | Sweet Nothing | Dee Dee | |
| 1996 | Bed of Roses | Randy | |
| 1996 | Vibrations | Tough Guy #2 | Video |
| 1996 | The Associate | Eddie | |
| 1997 | Donnie Brasco | Anthony Indelicato | |
| 1997 | Firehouse | Hooded Man | TV movie |
| 1998 | Walking to the Waterline | Lucy 'Replacement' | |
| 1998 | Better Living | Danny | |
| 1999 | Roberta | Donald | |
| 1999 | Summer of Sam | Bobby Del Fiore | |
| 1999 | The Talented Mr. Ripley | Fighting Neighbor | |
| 2000 | The Photographer | Camera Salesman | |
| 2002 | Personal Velocity: Three Portraits | Pete Shunt | |
| 2002 | City by the Sea | Snake | |
| 2003 | The Introduction | Charlie | Short |
| 2005 | Duane Hopwood | Mr. Alonso | |
| 2005 | Trust the Man | Crazy Hair Driver | |
| 2006 | Unconscious | Morelli | |
| 2006 | 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 | |
| 2014 | Zarra's Law | Frankie Andreoli | |
| 2014 | Caseworker | Ducky | Short |
| 2015 | #Lucky Number | Blue Collar Mafia | |
| 2018 | BlacKkKlansman | Officer Clay Mulaney | |
| 2018 | Breaking Brooklyn | Randy Davis | |
| 2018 | Ask for Jane | Angry Doctor | |
| 2019 | The Kitchen | Burns | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1986 | The Equalizer | Lenny DeWitt | Episode: "Wash-Up" |
| 1986 | 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" |
| 1994 | Law & Order | Rudy | Episode: "Old Friends" |
| 1996 | Spin City | First Homeless Man | Episode: "The Competition" |
| 1997 | Oz | Ronald Poklewaldt | Episode: "Straight Life" |
| 1997 | Homicide: Life on the Street | Scott Russell | Episode: "Blood Ties, Part 2" |
| 1997 | NYPD Blue | Darin Gammel | Episode: "Remembrance of Humps Past" |
| 1999 | Third Watch | James French | Episode: "Responsible Parties" |
| 1999 | 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" |
| 2001 | Big Apple | Brick Top | Episode: "Follow the Blender" |
| 2001 | Law & Order | Al Manos | Episode: "Who Let the Dogs Out?" |
| 2001 | 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?" |
| 2005 | Law & Order: Trial by Jury | Officer Mike Bressler | Episode: "Blue Wall" |
| 2005 | 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" |
| 2008 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Bill Jensen | Episode: "Cold" |
| 2008 | 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" |
| 2012 | Elementary | Walsh | Episode: "One Way to Get Off" |
| 2013 | The Blacklist | The Courier's Brother | Episode: "The Courier (No. 85)" |
| 2013 | Person of Interest | Seamus Yorke | Episode: "The Devil's Share" |
| 2016 | The Night Of | Bar Patron | Episode: "The Art of War" |
| 2016 | Blue Bloods | Nick Polk | Episode: "For the Community" |
| 2016 | 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

### 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