'Green Book' actor Frank Vallelonga Jr. found dead outside Bronx factory

Frank Vallelonga Jr. was found dead outside a sheet metal fabrication plant in the Bronx.

Vallelonga's body was dumped outside the plant and later identified by the NYPD, as reported by Deadline. The corpse was found on November 28, with the identification announced on December 1 via the . Vallelonga Jr., 60, was thrown from a car at 3:50 a.m. and allegedly overdosed on drugs. The investigation is ongoing.

Vallelonga starred in 2018's Best Picture-winning "Green Book," in which he played a relative of Viggo Mortensen's character, Frank "Tony Lip" Vallelonga. Based on a true story, "Green Book" tells the story of bouncer Vallenlonga who befriends a black pianist, Dr. Don Shirley, played by Mahershala Ali. Vallelonga Jr. is the real son of Mortensen's character. He also had a small role in a 2004 episode of "The Sopranos."

Steven Smith, a 35-year-old man, has been arrested and charged with concealment of a human corpse in connection with the death of Vallelonga Jr.

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Vallelonga's brother, Nick Vallelonga, co-wrote "Green Book" with director Peter Farrelly and screenwriter Brian Hayes Currie.

“Well, growing up, he told the story,” Vallelonga told radio in 2018. “We were sitting around the table and he was telling us the journey, the story, Don Shirley. .it's a story we knew and my brother [Nick] put it down on paper and the rest is history. We've heard these stories for many years."

He added: "That was 100% accurate. Nick has interviewed Dr. Don Shirley at Carnegie Hall many times, maybe more, I'm not 100% sure…He got it word for word of Don Shirley."

The controversial 'Green Book' has drawn criticism for its portrayal of race in 1960s America. Actor Mortensen told The Independent that the reaction was "not only unreasonable, but also inaccurate, misleading and irresponsible".

"It's based on a bunch of bullshit and an ax to grind and nothing else," Mortensen said at the time. “Does this affect what I do or how people view me as an actor? Maybe yes. But I can't do anything about it."

Mortensen added, "It's become a cliché to say, 'Is this movie going to be this year's 'Green Book'?", 'Green Book' has become derogatory."

Former pianist Shirley's family publicly criticized the film as a misrepresentation of their relative, while other critics condemned "Green Book" as a bigot's redemption story. Shirley's brother, Maurice Shirley, went so far as to call the film "a symphony of lies".

"Green Book" won Best Picture and won Ali the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Mortensen was nominated for Best Actor.

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