---
name: "Brian Tarantina"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/brian-tarantina"
fi1m_id: "brian-tarantina"
imdb_id: "nm0850211"
tmdb_id: 4890
wikidata_id: "Q3644512"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "27 March 1959"
died: "2 November 2019"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 8
average_fi1m_score: 78
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 8
updated: "2026-09-23T13:53:39.839942+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Brian Tarantina

## Identity

Brian Tarantina

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/brian-tarantina
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** brian-tarantina
- **IMDb ID:** nm0850211
- **TMDB ID:** 4890
- **Wikidata ID:** Q3644512
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Tarantina, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3644512, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0850211/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4890

Actor. Born 27 March 1959 in New York City, New York, USA. Died 2 November 2019.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 27 March 1959, New York City, New York, USA
- **Died:** 2 November 2019
- **Active:** 1989–2018
- **Also known as:** Brain Tarantina
- **Average Fi1m score:** 78, as actor, over 8 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 74 (1), 1990s 82 (4), 2000s 80 (1), 2010s 70 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 78 to 73 across 8 titles
- **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 8, Crime 5, Mystery 3, Thriller 3, Comedy 1, History 1
- **Screen time:** 13 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $598m across 6 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Tarantina, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3644512, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0850211/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4890

## Streaming the US now

- **Netflix:** [*Donnie Brasco*](https://film.one/film/donnie-brasco.md) (84)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Jacob's Ladder*](https://film.one/film/jacobs-ladder.md) (80)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Brian Tarantina was an American character actor who worked in film, television and theatre. Born in New York City, he trained at the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts and began his career on stage.

He appeared in Broadway productions including *Angels Fall* (1983) and *Biloxi Blues* (1985), for which he received a Theatre World Award and a shared Drama Desk Award for ensemble acting. His film roles include Doug in *Jacob's Ladder* (1990), Bruno in *Donnie Brasco* (1997), Speller in *Carlito's Way* (1993) and Officer Clay Mulaney in *BlacKkKlansman* (2018). On television he had recurring parts in *Gilmore Girls* as Bootsy and in *The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel* as Jackie, and appeared in series such as *One Life to Live*, *The Sopranos* and *The Blacklist*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, nytimes.com, rottentomatoes.com, ibdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (8)

- *BlacKkKlansman* (2018), Fi1m 78, as Officer Clay Mulaney — [page](https://film.one/film/blackkklansman.md)
- *The Blacklist* (2013), Fi1m 63, as The Courier's Brother — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-blacklist.md)
- *Fringe* (2008), Fi1m 80, as Photographer — [page](https://film.one/tv/fringe.md)
- *The Talented Mr. Ripley* (1999), Fi1m 80, as Fighting Neighbor — [page](https://film.one/film/the-talented-mr-ripley.md)
- *Donnie Brasco* (1997), Fi1m 84, as Bruno — [page](https://film.one/film/donnie-brasco.md)
- *Carlito's Way* (1993), Fi1m 86, as Speller — [page](https://film.one/film/carlitos-way.md)
- *Jacob's Ladder* (1990), Fi1m 80, as Doug — [page](https://film.one/film/jacobs-ladder.md)
- *Born on the Fourth of July* (1989), Fi1m 74, as Vet #2 - Miami Convention — [page](https://film.one/film/born-on-the-fourth-of-july.md)

## Complete filmography (73)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Kitchen* (2019), as Burns
- *Ask for Jane* (2019), as Angry Doctor
- *BlacKkKlansman* (2018), as Officer Clay Mulaney — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/blackkklansman.md)
- *Breaking Brooklyn* (2018), as Randy
- *The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel* (2017), series, as Jackie — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-marvelous-mrs-maisel.md)
- *Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life* (2016), series, as Bootsy
- *The Night Of* (2016), series, as Bar Patron — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-night-of.md)
- *#Lucky Number* (2015), as Blue Collar Mafia
- *Madam Secretary* (2014), series, as Motel Manager
- *Zarra's Law* (2014), as Frankie Andreoli
- *Rob the Mob* (2014), as Ronnie
- *The Blacklist* (2013), series, as The Courier's Brother — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-blacklist.md)
- *Elementary* (2012), series, as Walsh
- *Person of Interest* (2011), series, as Yorke — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/person-of-interest.md)
- *Knight and Day* (2010), as Scrap Yard Man
- *The Good Wife* (2009), series, as Frankie Peel — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md)
- *Ghost Town* (2008), as Ghost Cop
- *Fringe* (2008), series, as Photographer — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/fringe.md)
- *New Amsterdam* (2008), series, as Mick
- *The Brave One* (2007), as Gun Store Clerk
- *The Black Donnellys* (2007), series, as Vinnie Culiari
- *Heroes* (2006), series, as Weasel — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/heroes.md)
- *A Crime* (2006), as Joe
- *Unconscious* (2006), as Morelli
- *Duane Hopwood* (2005), Actor
- *Law & Order: Trial by Jury* (2005), series, as Mike Bressler
- *Jonny Zero* (2005), series, as Stick
- *The Jury* (2004), series, Actor
- *City by the Sea* (2002), as Snake
- *Personal Velocity* (2002), as Pete Shunt
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Johnny Di Rogga, Vic Bowman
- *Crossing Jordan* (2001), series, as Devlin Inmate Martinson
- *Gilmore Girls* (2000), series, as Bootsy — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls.md)
- *Deadline* (2000), series, as Jimmy the Weasel
- *The Photographer* (2000), as Camera Salesman
- *The Talented Mr. Ripley* (1999), as Fighting Neighbor — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-talented-mr-ripley.md)
- *Now and Again* (1999), series, as Tommy Madden
- *Third Watch* (1999), series, as James French
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Bill Jensen
- *Summer of Sam* (1999), as Bobby Del Fiore
- *Roberta* (1999), as Donald
- *The Sopranos* (1999), series, as Mustang Sally — Fi1m 94, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-sopranos.md)
- *Providence* (1999), series, Actor
- *Better Living* (1998), as Danny
- *Walking to the Waterline* (1998), as Lucy 'Replacement'
- *Oz* (1997), series, as Ronald Poklewaldt — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/oz.md)
- *Donnie Brasco* (1997), as Bruno — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/donnie-brasco.md)
- *The Associate* (1996), as Eddie
- *Spin City* (1996), series, as First Homeless Man
- *Vibrations* (1996), as Tough Guy #2
- *Firehouse* (1996), as Hooded Man
- *Bed of Roses* (1996), as Randy
- *Sweet Nothing* (1995), as Dee Dee
- *The Jerky Boys* (1995), as Geno
- *ER* (1994), series, as Joe Barkley — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *New York Undercover* (1994), series, as Eddie Dodge
- *Carlito's Way* (1993), as Speller — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/carlitos-way.md)
- *The Saint of Fort Washington* (1993), as Fred
- *Homicide: Life on the Street* (1993), series, as Scott Russell — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/tv/homicide-life-on-the-street.md)
- *Jacob's Ladder* (1990), as Doug — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/jacobs-ladder.md)
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Corso, Rudy, Al Manos — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *Born on the Fourth of July* (1989), as Vet #2 - Miami Convention — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/born-on-the-fourth-of-july.md)
- *Runaway Dreams* (1989), Actor
- *Uncle Buck* (1989), as E. Roger Coswell
- *The January Man* (1989), as Cone
- *Leg Work* (1987), series, as George
- *Critical Condition* (1987), as Tommy Pinto
- *Sledge Hammer!* (1986), series, as Blade (as Brain Tarantina)
- *Resting Place* (1986), as Sp4 Beyer
- *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Lenny DeWitt
- *The Cotton Club* (1984), as Vince Hood
- *Miami Vice* (1984), series, as Rickman — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md)
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Beyer

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won

- Theatre World Award 1983: Theatre World Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/brian-tarantina