Frank Vallelonga Jr., who appeared in the Best Picture winner Green Book, was found dead this week outside of a factory in the Bronx. He was 60.
According to police, “Upon arrival, police observed an unidentified adult male, unconscious and unresponsive, on the ground at the location…The male had no obvious signs of trauma observed. EMS responded to the location and pronounced the male deceased at the scene. The Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death. The investigation is ongoing.” An individual was arrested for concealing the actor’s corpse.
In a statement, Vallelonga Jr.’s manager said, “This is a sad and completely shocking tragedy…Frank was a great guy, father, brother, actor and friend. He will be missed terribly.” Vallelonga Jr.’s family cited November 28th as the day of the actor’s death.
Frank Vallelonga Jr.’s father, also known as Tony Lip, was portrayed by Viggo Mortensen in Green Book, which was “inspired by the true story of a tour of the Deep South by African American classical and jazz pianist Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) and Italian American bouncer Frank “Tony Lip” Vallelonga (Mortensen) who acted as Shirley’s drive and bodyguard.”
In addition to winning Best Picture, Green Book also took home Best Supporting Actor (Ali) and Best Original Screenplay (Nick Vallelonga–Frank’s brother–Brian Hayes Currie and Peter Farrelly).
Frank Vallelonga Jr. didn’t have too many other credits, appearing on an episode of the CBS sitcom The Neighborhood, 2021’s The Birthday Cake and as an unnamed mourner in an episode of The Sopranos. His father portrayed Carmine Lupertazzi on the HBO series, in addition to performances in The Pope of Greenwich Village, Year of the Dragon and Donnie Brasco, not to mention uncredited turns in classics like The Godfather and Raging Bull.
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