Brian Tarantina (March 27, 1959 â 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.
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.
Source
Source