Don Novello facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Don Novello
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Don Novello performing as Father Guido Sarducci in 2000
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| Born | January 1, 1943 Ashtabula, Ohio, U.S.
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| Years active | 1963–present |
Don Novello (born January 1, 1943) is an American comedian, actor, writer, singer, film director and producer. He is best known for his funny character, Father Guido Sarducci. He played Father Guido Sarducci on the TV show Saturday Night Live and in many other shows and movies. Don Novello also voiced the character Vincenzo "Vinny" Santorini in the Atlantis: The Lost Empire animated movies.
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Early Life and Education
Don Novello was born on January 1, 1943, in Ashtabula, Ohio. His mom, Eleanor Eileen Novello, was a nurse, and his dad, Augustine Joseph Novello, was a doctor. His family has roots in both Italy and Ireland.
When Don was a child, his family moved to Lorain, Ohio. He finished high school there in 1961. After that, he went to the University of Dayton and graduated in 1964. He also earned a special degree in foreign trade in 1965 from a school that is now part of Arizona State University.
Don Novello's Career
In the late 1960s, Don Novello worked in advertising in Chicago. He wrote creative ideas for commercials.
Creating Father Guido Sarducci
Don Novello came up with his famous character, Father Guido Sarducci, in 1973. He found a priest's outfit at a thrift store for a very low price. He added sunglasses, a mustache, a cigarette, and a strong Italian accent. This character quickly became popular in a San Francisco nightclub.
Father Guido Sarducci appeared on a local TV comedy show. A famous comedian, David Steinberg, saw him and hired Don Novello as a writer. This led to Don Novello working with the Smothers Brothers and performing as Father Guido Sarducci on their TV show in 1975.
The Lazlo Letters
In the 1970s, Don Novello started writing funny letters to famous people. He used the fake name Lazlo Toth. These letters were written to seem serious but were actually a bit silly and confused. They were meant to playfully tease politicians and big companies. Many people wrote back seriously, and Don Novello sometimes kept the funny conversations going. These letters and their replies were later published in books like The Lazlo Letters.
Saturday Night Live and Other Roles
The Lazlo Letters caught the eye of Lorne Michaels, the producer of Saturday Night Live. Don Novello was hired as a writer for the show in 1977 and stayed for several seasons. He also appeared many times on the show as Father Guido Sarducci.
In 1980, as Father Guido Sarducci, he sang on a Christmas song called "I Won't Be Twisting This Christmas." He also sang an Italian version of the song "MacArthur Park."
Don Novello made headlines around the world in 1981. He visited the Vatican dressed as Father Guido Sarducci. He was taking pictures for a magazine in an area where photography was not allowed. He was arrested by the Swiss Guards, but the charges were later dropped.
For a short time in 1982, Don Novello worked as a producer for the comedy show SCTV. He also had a small role as Father Sarducci in Rodney Dangerfield's funny rap music video "Rappin' Rodney" in 1983.
In 1989, Don Novello acted in the movie New York Stories. A famous movie critic, Roger Ebert, said Don Novello gave "the most engaging performance" in that film. In 1990, he played Dominic Abbandando in the movie The Godfather Part III.
In the early 2000s, Don Novello used his voice talents for the Disney animated movies Atlantis: The Lost Empire and Atlantis: Milo's Return. He voiced the character Vinny Santorini, an expert in explosives.
He continued to appear as Father Guido Sarducci on TV shows like The Colbert Report. He also appeared on The Late Show on May 6, 2025, to talk about a papal election.
Personal Life
Don Novello lives in San Anselmo, California. He has a sister named Eileen. His former sister-in-law, Antonia Novello, was the Surgeon General of the United States from 1990 to 1993. His niece, Holly Wiersma, is a film producer.
Selected Works
Don Novello has been involved in many films, TV shows, and albums.
Film Roles
- 1980: Gilda Live as Father Guido Sarducci
- 1989: New York Stories as Hector
- 1990: The Godfather Part III as Dominic Abbandando
- 1995: Casper as Guido Sarducci
- 2001: Atlantis: The Lost Empire as Vinny Santorini (voice)
- 2003: Atlantis: Milo's Return as Vinny Santorini (voice)
Television Appearances
- 1978–1980, 1985–1986: Saturday Night Live as Father Guido Sarducci
- 1993: Blossom as Father Guido Sarducci
- 1995: Married... with Children as Father Guido Sarducci
- 1998–2000: Histeria! as Leonardo da Vinci (voice)
- 2010: The Colbert Report as Guido Sarducci
- 2025: The Late Show With Stephen Colbert as Father Guido Sarducci
Albums
- Father Guido Sarducci Live at St. Douglas Convent (1980)
- Breakfast in Heaven (1986) as Father Guido Sarducci
- Everybody's Free to Wear Camouflage (2000) as Father Guido Sarducci
