Brian Tarantina

Brian Tarantina (March 27, 1959 – November 2, 2019) was an American actor who worked across stage, film, and television throughout his career. Born in New York City to Frank William Tarantina, he grew up to attend what is now the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where he began pursuing acting. He earned a Theatre World Award in 1983.

Tarantina's Broadway career spanned from 1983 to 1995 and included four productions. He first appeared on Broadway in Angels Fall (January 22 – March 13, 1983), playing "Salvatore (Zappy) Zappala," a role he had also performed in the play's Off-Broadway run at the same theater the previous year (October 17 – November 28, 1982). He went on to play Roy Selridge in Biloxi Blues, which ran from March 28, 1985 to June 28, 1986, and appeared in The Boys of Winter (December 1–8, 1985) as "Prick." His final Broadway credit was Sacrilege (November 2–19, 1995), in which he played "Crackerjack."

His Off-Broadway work included Innocent Thoughts, Harmless Intentions (March 6–30, 1980), in which he played "Enzio 'Spats' Spadanti," as well as roles in the Young Playwrights Festival (April 13 – May 1, 1983), Balm in Gilead (May 31, 1984 – January 6, 1985), and V & V Only (May 25 – July 3, 1988).

Beyond the stage, Tarantina was recognized for his television work, including appearances on One Life to Live, Gilmore Girls, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Shortly after midnight on November 2, 2019, he was found unresponsive at his home in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, and was pronounced dead at the age of 60. A report from the New York City Chief Medical Examiner, released in December 2019, determined that his death resulted from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and diazepam.