Tony Lip | |
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Born | Frank Anthony Vallelonga July 30, 1930 |
Died | January 4, 2013 Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S. | (aged 82)
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1972–2008 |
Spouse | Dolores Venere (died 1999) |
Children | 2, including Nick Vallelonga |
Frank Anthony Vallelonga Sr. (July 30, 1930 – January 4, 2013), better known by his stage name Tony Lip, was an American actor. He was best known for his portrayal of crime boss Carmine Lupertazzi in the HBO series, The Sopranos. Lip portrayed real-life Bonanno crime family mobster Philip Giaccone in Donnie Brasco, and real-life Lucchese crime family mobster Francesco Manzo in Goodfellas. It was at the Copacabana nightclub that he first met Francis Ford Coppola and Louis DiGiaimo, leading to a small role in The Godfather, his film debut. He also co-wrote the book Shut Up and Eat! (2005).
His life in the early 1960s, when he was the driver and bodyguard for the black classical pianist Don Shirley, was dramatized in the 2018 film Green Book, in which he was portrayed by Viggo Mortensen.[1] The film won numerous accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Picture.[2]
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