Don Novello facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Don Novello
Don Novello performing as Father Guido Sarducci in 2000
Born	(1943-01-01) January 1, 1943 (age 82) Ashtabula, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation	Actor comedian singer writer film director producer
Years active	1963–present

Don Novello (born January 1, 1943) is an American actor, comedian, writer, singer, film director and producer. He is well-known for his funny character, Father Guido Sarducci, who appeared on Saturday Night Live. He also voiced Vincenzo "Vinny" Santorini in the Atlantis: The Lost Empire movies.

About Don Novello

Early Life

Don Novello was born on January 1, 1943, in Ashtabula, Ohio. His mother, Eleanor Eileen Novello, was a nurse, and his father, 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. Later, he went to the University of Dayton and graduated in 1964. He also earned a degree in Foreign Trade in 1965 from the American Graduate School of International Management.

Becoming a Comedian

In the late 1960s, Don Novello worked in advertising in Chicago. But his real passion was comedy.

Father Guido Sarducci

Don Novello created 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.

Other comedians noticed him. David Steinberg hired Novello as a writer, and then Tommy and Dick Smothers also hired him. Don Novello performed as Father Guido Sarducci on The Smothers Brothers Show in 1975.

In 1981, Don Novello, dressed as Father Guido Sarducci, visited the Vatican. He was taking photos for a magazine in an area where photography was not allowed. He was arrested by the Swiss Guards along with his photographer. The charges were later dropped, and the photos were saved.

The Lazlo Letters

In the 1970s, Novello started writing funny letters to famous people. He used the pen name Lazlo Toth. These letters were written in a serious but often confused way, meant to playfully tease politicians and big companies. Many people wrote back seriously, and Novello would continue the funny conversations. These letters and their replies were later published in books like The Lazlo Letters.

On Saturday Night Live

The Lazlo Letters caught the attention of Lorne Michaels, the producer of Saturday Night Live. Don Novello was hired as a writer for the show in 1977. He also appeared many times on the show as his character, Father Guido Sarducci, from 1978 to 1980, and again from 1985 to 1986.

Father Guido Sarducci also appeared on other TV shows like Married... with Children, Blossom, and The Colbert Report. In 1980, Don Novello, as Father Guido Sarducci, even sang lead on a Christmas song called "I Won't Be Twisting This Christmas."

Voice Acting and Films

Don Novello has also worked behind the scenes. For a short time in 1982, he was a producer for the comedy show SCTV.

In 1983, he made a quick appearance as Father Sarducci in the music video for Rodney Dangerfield's comedy rap song "Rappin' Rodney." He also narrated the Faerie Tale Theatre episode Pinocchio in 1984.

In 1989, Novello acted in the movie New York Stories. A film critic, Roger Ebert, said Novello gave a very enjoyable performance in the movie. In 1990, he played Dominic Abbandando in The Godfather Part III. He was a public relations person for Don Michael Corleone.

In the early 2000s, Don Novello became the voice of Vinny Santorini in the Disney movie Atlantis: The Lost Empire and its sequel, Atlantis: Milo's Return. He also played Galileo in a podcast called "The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd" in 2006. In 2010, he appeared again as Father Guido Sarducci on The Colbert Report.

Personal Life

Don Novello lives in San Anselmo, California. He has a brother named Joseph and 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.

What He's Been In

Movies

TV Shows

Writing

• The Smothers Brothers Show (1975) (TV)
• Van Dyke and Company (1976) (TV)
• Things We Did Last Summer (1978) (TV)
• SCTV (1982) (TV)
• Noble Rot (with John Belushi) (1982) (script that was not filmed)
• A Man Called Sporacaione (1982) (script that was not filmed)
• Blondes vs. Brunettes (with Lisa Medway) (1984) (TV)
• Our Planet Tonight (1987) (TV)

Music 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) (CD Single) (a top 20 hit in the UK, performed as Father Guido Sarducci)
• One Hundred Bulbs on the Christmas Tree Party (2006) as Father Guido Sarducci

He also appeared on music collections like Holidays in Dementia (1995) and A Classic Rock Christmas (2002). He was a guest on Handsome Boy Modeling School albums So... How's Your Girl? (1999) and White People (2004).