Tarantina, Brian 1959- (Brain Tarantina)

PERSONAL

Born March 27, 1959, in New York, NY. Avocational Interests: Playing pool and black jack and rooting for the New York Yankees.

Career:

Actor.

Awards, Honors:

Theatre World Award, 1983, for Angels Fall; Drama Desk Award (with others), outstanding ensemble acting, 1985, for Balm in Gilead.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

Vince Hood, The Cotton Club, Orion, 1984.

Tommy Pinto, Critical Condition, 1987.

Jay Carver, Runaway Dreams, 1989.

Cone, The January Man, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1989.

E. Roger Coswell, Uncle Buck, Universal, 1989.

Veteran number two at Miami convention, Born on the Fourth of July, Universal, 1989.

Doug, Jacob's Ladder (also known as Dante's Inferno), TriStar, 1990.

Fred, The Saint of Fort Washington, Warner Bros., 1993.

Speller, Carlito's Way, Universal, 1993.

Geno, The Jerky Boys, Buena Vista, 1995.

Randy, Bed of Roses, 1996.

Dee Dee, Sweet Nothing, Warner Bros., 1996.

Eddie, The Associate, Buena Vista, 1996.

Tough guy number two, Vibrations (also known as Cyberstorm), 1996.

Bruno, Donnie Brasco, TriStar, 1997.

Lucy "Replacement," Walking to the Waterline, 1998.

Danny, Better Living, 1998.

Donald, Roberta, 1999.

Bobby Del Fiore, Summer of Sam, Buena Vista, 1999.

Fighting neighbor, The Talented Mr. Ripley (also known as The Mysterious Yearning Secretive Sad Lonely Troubled Confused Loving Musical Gifted Intelligent Beautiful Tender Sensitive Haunted Passionate Talented Mr. Ripley), Paramount, 1999.

Camera salesman, The Photographer, 2000.

Pete Shunt, Personal Velocity: Three Portraits (also known as Personal Velocity), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 2002.

Snake, City by the Sea (also known as The Suspect), Warner Bros., 2002.

Charlie, The Introduction (short), 2003.

Mr. Alonso, Duane Hopwood, IFC Films, 2005.

Crazy hair driver, Trust the Man, Fox Searchlight, 2005.

Morelli, Unconscious, Maiden Voyage Pictures, 2006.

Joe, A Crime (also known as Un crime), 2006.

Gun store clerk, The Brave One, Warner Bros., 2007.

Television Appearances; Series:

Lucky Lippman, One Life to Live, ABC, 1990-91.

Bootsy, Gilmore Girls, The WB, 2001-2002.

Vinnie Culiari, The Black Donnellys, NBC, 2007.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Sp4 Beyer, Resting Place, CBS, 1986.

Book vendor, The Cosby Mysteries (also known as Guy Hanks I), NBC, 1994.

Hooded man, Firehouse, 1997.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Lenny DeWitt, "Wash-Up," The Equalizer, CBS, 1986.

(As Brain Tarantina) Blade, "To Sledge, with Love," Sledge Hammer! (also known as Sledge Hammer: The Early Years), 1986.

George, "The Best Couple I Know," Leg Work, 1987.

Rickman, "Honor Among Thieves?," Miami Vice, CBS, 1988.

Corso, "Out of Control," Law & Order, NBC, 1991.

Rudy, "Old Friends," Law & Order, NBC, 1994.

Eddie Dodge, "After Shakespeare," New York Undercover (also known as Uptown Undercover), Fox, 1994.

Homeless man number one, "The Competition," Spin City, ABC, 1996.

Ronald Poklewaldt, "Straight Life," Oz, HBO, 1997.

Scott Russell, "Blood Ties: Part 2," Homicide: Life on the Street (also known as Homicide), NBC, 1997.

Darin Gammel, "Remembrance of Humps Past," NYPD Blue, ABC, 1997.

James French, "Responsible Parties," Third Watch, NBC, 1999.

Tommy Madden, "Pulp Turkey," Now and Again, CBS, 1999.

Joe Barkley, "Loose Ends," ER, NBC, 2000.

Jimmy the Weasel, "Daniel in the Lion's Den," Deadline, NBC, 2000.

Jimmy the Weasel, "Red Herring," Deadline, NBC, 2001.

Mustang Sally, "Another Toothpick," The Sopranos, HBO, 2001.

Brick Top, "Follow the Blender," Big Apple, 2001.

Al Manos, "Who Let the Dogs Out?," Law & Order, NBC, 2001.

"The Ties that Bind," Crossing Jordan, NBC, 2001.

"The Wedding Planner," Providence, NBC, 2002.

The Jamie Kennedy Experiment, The WB, 2003.

Joe Glapinski, "Mail Order Mystery," The Jury, Fox, 2004.

Stick, "Who's Your Daddy," Jonny Zero, Fox, 2005.

Officer Mike Bressler, "Blue Wall," Law & Order: Trial by Jury, NBC, 2005.

Vic Bowman, "Prisoner," Law & Order: Criminal Intent (also known as Law & Order: CI), NBC, 2005.

Weasel, "Chapter One ‘Genesis’," Heroes, NBC, 2006.

Weasel, "Chapter Two ‘Don't Look Back’," Heroes, NBC, 2006.

Bobby Saferas, "Things Change," Queens Supreme, CBS, 2007.

Mick, New Amsterdam, Fox, 2007.

Stage Appearances:

Enzio "Spats" Spadanti, Innocents, Thoughts, Harmless Intentions, Circle Repertory Company, New York City, 1980.

Salvatore "Zappy" Zappala, Angels Fall, Circle Repertory Company, 1982.

Frank, "Third Street" and TV host, "The Birthday Present, Young Playwrights Festival, Circle Repertory Company, 1983.

David, Balm in Gilead, Circle Repertory Company, 1984.

Prick, The Boys of Winter, Biltmore Theatre, New York City, 1985.

Roy Selridge, Biloxi Blues, Neil Simon Theatre, New York City, 1985-86.

Donny, V & V Only, Circle Repertory Company, 1988.

Crackerjack, Sacrilege, Belasco Theatre, New York City, 1995.

Also appeared in House of Arrest; What Is This Everything?.

RECORDINGS

Video Games:

Addict, Ripper, 1996.