Frank Vallelonga Jr. | Cocaine & Fentanyl Overdose Death

Frank Vallelonga Jr. was an American actor who participated in numerous projects, including the Oscar-Winning film Green Book. Unfortunately, he passed away from an accidental overdose involving fentanyl and cocaine.

How Frank Vallelonga Jr. Died

Green Book actor Frank Vallelonga Jr.’s cause of death was announced by the New York City Medical Examiner’s office and ruled as an accidental overdose due to acute intoxication of a combination of fentanyl and cocaine. 

In November 2022, Vallelonga Jr.’s body was found located near a sheet metal factory in the Bronx.

The 60-year old was found dead at the site, but showed no obvious signs of trauma. Once Vallelonga Jr.’s death was investigated, drugs were revealed to be in his system.

Driver Arrested

Under the suspicion of concealment of a human corpse, the New York Police Department (NYPD) arrested Vallelonga Jr.’s driver Steven Smith. Video footage showed Smith dumping Vallelonga Jr.’s body on the street.

Smith stated Vallelonga Jr. was dead before Smith left him at the scene, according to a criminal complaint filed against him.

About Frank Vallelonga Jr.

Frank Vallelonga Jr. is the son of Frank Vallelonga Sr., also known as “Tony Lip.” 

Vallelonga Jr.’s father grew up in the Bronx, a borough located in New York City (NYC), and appeared in several groundbreaking shows, including The Sopranos as Carmine Lupertazzi. The Hollywood star was well-known for his roles in television and film.

Green Book

Frank’s brother Nick Vallelonga also gained prominence in the film industry, producing and co-writing Green Book. 

The 2018 film was based on their father Vallelonga Sr.’s real-life experience driving Don Shirley, a famous composer and pianist who toured through the South during the Jim Crow era in the early 1960s.

The film starred Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali and won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor (Mahershala Ali for portraying Shirley’s character).

Vallelonga Jr. portrayed Rudy Vallelonga in Green Book as a relative of Viggo Mortensen’s character. In addition to this, Vallelonga Jr. participated in other television shows and films.

Filmography

Some of Vallelonga Jr.’s acting credits include:

• The Birthday Cake
• The Neighborhood
• All In
• The Sings of the Cross
• Gravesend
• A Brilliant Disguise

Frank Vallelonga Jr.’s History Of Substance Abuse & Rehab

Vallelonga Jr. struggled with drug use during his life, especially in his later years. However, there are no specific instances of Vallelonga Jr. seeking substance abuse treatment.

Recovery Is Possible

If you or a loved one live with drug addiction, recovery is possible. To learn how we make recovery possible for individuals with addiction and their family members, please contact Ark Behavioral Health today.