'Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' actor Brian Tarantina died of accidental overdose, medical examiner says

Hannah Yasharoff | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption 'Marvelous Mrs. Maisel' actor Brian Tarantina dies at 60 Brian Tarantina played memorable characters on "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" and "Gilmore Girls." He also appeared on many other shows.

"Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" actor Brian Tarantina's death was the result of an accidental drug overdose, according to the New York City Medical Examiner's office.

Tarantina died Nov. 3 at 60 from acute intoxication by combined effects of fentanyl, heroin, diazepam and cocaine, Executive Director of the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Aja Worthy-Davis confirmed to USA TODAY.

Laurie Smith, Tarantina's representative, told USA TODAY at the time that the actor died "just after midnight" while recovering from complications of a "severe health crisis he experienced a few months ago."

The New York Police Department told The Associated Press that officers responded to his Manhattan apartment on West 51st Street shortly before 1 a.m. that morning. They found Tarantina on his couch, fully clothed but unconscious and unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Smith called him a "gifted New York born and bred character actor" who lived in the same Hell's Kitchen neighborhood apartment he grew up in.

Tarantina was best known as Bootsy on "Gilmore Girls" and Jackie on "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." He joined the cast of the latter onstage at the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards, when the show won for best comedy series ensemble.

He also appeared on Broadway and in Spike Lee's "BlacKkKlansman. He had an extensive list of guest appearances on popular TV series, including the "Law & Order" franchise, "Madam Secretary," "The Good Wife," "ER," "The Sopranos" and "Miami Vice."

'Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,' 'Gilmore Girls' cast and creators mourn actor Brian Tarantina, dead at 60