Brian Tarantina

• Name — Brian Tarantina • Born — 27 March 1959 • Birthplace — New York City, U.S. • Died — 2 November 2019 • Place of death — New York City, U.S. • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1980–2019 • Notable Works — * Uncle Buck • One Life to Live • The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel • Gilmore Girls • The Sopranos • Education — Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School • Children — 1

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 unresponsive at his home in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, and was subsequently pronounced dead at the age of 60. 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.

• 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"

• 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

• 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

• 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