Nick Vallelonga

Nicholas Anthony Vallelonga, commonly known as Nick Vallelonga, is an esteemed American actor and filmmaker. Born on September 13, 1959, in the Bronx, New York City, Vallelonga's affinity for cinema sparked at an early age and has since remained upon an unwavering ascent. He is best remembered for co-writing and producing the critically acclaimed film Green Book, a stunning feat that earned him two Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture. Complementing the Academy accolades are the two Golden Globe and the PGA Awards he bagged for the same film in the same magnificent year. Also, an adept director, Vallelonga has skillfully directed films like In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man with One Eye Is King, Choker, and Stiletto, and also co-wrote the screenplay for Deadfall.

Born to Tony Lip and Dolores Venere, Vallelonga traces back his roots to a family deeply immersed in the arts. He followed his father's footsteps into acting, beginning with minor roles in classic films like The Godfather, Splash, Goodfellas, and Prizzi's Honor. Vallelonga made his screenwriting debut with the film Deadfall, directed by Christopher Coppola. Over the years, he has continued to contribute to the industry not only as a notable actor but also as a writer and director for various independent films, such as A Brilliant Disguise, The Corporate Ladder, Choker, Stiletto, and Yellow Rock. Green Book played a significant role in Vallelonga's rise to prominence. However, the film also faced controversy as Don Shirley's family accused Vallelonga of falsifying information in the movie. In 2019, he apologized for a 2015 tweet in agreement with Donald Trump's claim about Muslims in Jersey City.