Nick Vallelonga won two Academy Awards and two Golden Globes for Original Screenplay and Best Picture for “Green Book”. Nick wrote and produced “Green Book” with Peter Farrelly and Brian Hayes Currie, based on the true story of Nick’s father Tony Lip, who went on tour of the south with the brilliant pianist Dr. Donald Shirley in 1962. Directed by Peter Farrelly, Green Book stars Viggo Mortensen as Nick’s Dad, Tony Lip, Academy Award-winner Mahershala Ali as Donald Shirley and Linda Cardellini as Nick’s Mom, Dolores. Director Peter Farrelly cast real family members to play roles in the film. Nick’s brother, Frank Vallelonga, plays Rudy, Tony Lip’s brother. The real Rudy Vallelonga, plays his and Tony’s father, Nicola, and Lou Venere plays his and Dolores’ father, Anthony. Nick Vallelonga also plays the role of Mob Boss Augie in the film. Tony Lip went on to become an actor, appearing in many films and TV shows including The Godfather, The Pope of Greenwich Village, and Goodfellas. Lip is best known for his role as New York Crime Boss Carmine Lupartazzi in the HBO series “The Sopranos”. To date, “Green Book” has grossed over $315 million worldwide. It was distributed by Universal and Steven Spielberg’s Dreamworks.
Nick Vallelonga developed his cinematic visions at an early age – at twelve years old he appeared in the wedding scenes of The Godfather. It was here that his love for filmmaking was born. He studied acting in New York with highly acclaimed teachers Tom Brennan of Circle in the Square, William Hickey of HB Studios and Julie Bovasso of the Actors Studio, and appeared in many off-Broadway productions, as well as small acting roles in films and television. During this time, Nick also worked running the teleprompter and editing scripts at CBS News for many shows, including CBS This Morning, The NFL Today, The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather and 60 Minutes. His first script, “Deadfall”, co-written with director Christopher Coppola, was made into a feature film starring Nicolas Cage, Michael Biehn, James Coburn, Charlie Sheen, Peter Fonda, Talia Shire, Angus Scrimm, Clarence Williams III and Micky Dolenz. Nick then went on to write and direct several independent films including “In the Kingdom of the Blind, the Man with One Eye Is King”. The excellent ensemble cast included William Petersen, Michael Biehn, Paul Winfield, Leo Rossi, Kristian Alfonso and Nick’s dad, Tony Lip. “Kingdom” was an official selection in the Nortel Palm Springs International Film Festival and the Santa Barbara Film Festival.
After the 9/11 tragedy, Nick wrote, performed and recorded a Christmas CD, “New York City Christmas”, dedicated to the New York City Police and Firemen. It is available on iTunes. During this time Nick starred with Dan Aykroyd in the Charter Communication commercial directed by John Landis. For his next film, Nick produced and directed, “All In”, a drama about a father and daughter who get caught up in the world of championship poker. It stars Dominique Swain, Michael Madsen, Louis Gossett Jr., James Russo, Colleen Porch, Leo Rossi, Scott Whyte, Michelle Lombardo, Kristen Miller, Christopher Backus, Johann Urb, Hayley DuMond, Leo Rossi and Tony Lip. In the fall of 2006, Nick produced “A Modern Twain Story: The Prince and the Pauper”, for Executive Producer, Academy Award Winner Bobby Moresco. It starred Cole and Dylan Sprouse, Vincent Spano, DeDee Pfeiffer, Sally Kellerman and Ed Lauter and is distributed by Sony Pictures.
In the spring of 2007, Nick produced and directed, the crime drama, “Stiletto”, written by Paul Sloan. “Stiletto” stars Tom Berenger, Michael Biehn, Stana Katic, Paul Sloan, William Forsythe, James Russo, Tom Sizemore, Diane Venora, Kelly Hu, Amanda Brooks, Dominique Swain and D.B. Sweeney. “Stiletto” was an official selection of the Newport Beach Film Festival and the Charleston Film Festival. In 2010, Nick Produced and directed the indy western “Yellow Rock”, starring Michael Biehn, James Russo, Christopher Backus and writer/producer Lenore Andriel. Yellow Rock went on to win several film festival awards, including the prestigious Wrangler Award for Best Director and Best film at the Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
In 2016, Nick line-produced “Chocolate City”, starring Michael Jai White and Vivica Fox. He then produced “I Am Wrath”, starring John Travolta, Christopher Meloni and Paul Sloan. He also was a producer on “Vigilante Diaries”, starring Paul Sloan, Michael Madsen, James Russo and Rampage Jackson. In 2017 Nick directed and produced the pilot “Unorganized Crime” starring Chazz Palminteri, which has won numerous film festival awards for Best Director and Best Crime Drama. In 2018 Nick acted in the film “Poison Rose” starring John Travolta and directed by George Gallo. In 2019, Nick added to his acting credits with a role in David Chase’s highly anticipated prequel film to The Sopranos, “The Many Saints of Newark,” to be released in the fall of 2020.
Nick’s Vallelonga Productions has several film and television projects in development, including, That’s Amore!, The Reunion, Men at Sea, 10 Double Zero, American Noir, Brute Force, New York City Christmas and Copacabana.
