The actor, who was 60, portrayed a relative of Viggo Mortensen’s bouncer Frank “Tony Lip” Vallelonga.
The film was nominated for five Oscars at the 2019 ceremony and won three, for best picture, best supporting actor for Ali and best original screenplay
The film, which divided some critics over its depictions of race and biographical elements about Shirley, counts Vallelonga Jr.’s younger brother Nick Vallelonga as a producer and co-writer
Vallelonga Sr., who died in 2013 at 82, also did some acting, with roles in The Sopranos, Goodfellas and even a don’t-blink role in The Godfather, where Nick Vallelonga also made his film debut
Nick Vallelonga also has acting credits in The Many Saints of Newark, Coyote Ugly, Prizzi’s Honor and Splash, among other roles