John Pinette facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John Pinette |
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Pinette in 2010
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| Born | March 23, 1964 Boston, Massachusetts, US |
| Died | April 5, 2014 (aged 50) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US |
| Medium | Stand-up, television, film |
| Nationality | American |
| Genres | Observational comedy |
| Subject(s) | Impressions, self-deprecation, everyday life, obesity, world travel, food |
John Paul Pinette (/pɪˈnɛt/ PI-net) (March 23, 1964 – April 5, 2014) was a funny American stand-up comedian, actor, and Broadway performer. He was known for his observational comedy, often talking about everyday life, food, and his travels. John Pinette was also great at doing impressions of famous people and characters.
He started performing in comedy clubs in the 1980s. Later, he appeared in movies and on TV shows. Besides stand-up, he could do impressions of Michael Jackson, The Chipmunks, Elvis Presley, and even Gollum from The Lord of the Rings. He also did impressions of Hervé Villechaize (who played Tattoo on Fantasy Island) and actor Marlon Brando. Sometimes, he would even sing in his comedy shows!
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Early Life and Education
John Pinette was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 23, 1964. His parents were Robert Pinette Sr. and Louise Pitre. His mother's family came from New Brunswick, a province in Canada.
He went to Malden Catholic High School and finished in 1982. After high school, he studied accounting at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He graduated from there in 1986.
Comedy and Acting Career
After college, John Pinette worked in accounting for about six months. But his friends told him he was really funny, so he decided to try a career in comedy instead!
Early Successes
One of his first big breaks was getting to tour with the famous singer Frank Sinatra. John Pinette also became a regular guest on popular TV shows like The Tonight Show and The View.
Film and Television Roles
John Pinette appeared in several movies. Some of these include Duets, Simon Sez, and Junior. In 2004, he played a character named Bumpo in the movie The Punisher, which starred Thomas Jane and John Travolta.
On TV, he was a regular on the show Parker Lewis Can't Lose. You might also remember him from the very last episode of the famous sitcom Seinfeld in 1998, where he played a carjacking victim.
Awards and Records
John Pinette was recognized for his talent. In 1999, he was named Stand-Up Comedian of the Year by the American Comedy Awards. He also received a Gemini Award nomination in 2000 for his performance at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. He even held a record there for selling the most tickets for a one-person show in the festival's history!
Broadway and Comedy Specials
In 2004, John Pinette joined the touring cast of the musical Hairspray, playing the role of Edna Turnblad. He then moved to the Broadway production in 2005 and continued in the role until May 2006. He mentioned in one of his comedy shows that Hairspray was his first musical since high school!
His stand-up comedy was also featured in Comedy Central's animated series Shorties Watchin' Shorties in 2004. In 2011, he had his own Comedy Central special called John Pinette: Still Hungry. This show was filmed at the Vic Theatre in Chicago.
John Pinette also hosted a TV series called All You Can Eat in 2013. This show took a funny look at American cuisine and debuted on the H2 network.
Later Life and Passing
John Pinette passed away on April 5, 2014, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was 50 years old. His doctor stated that the cause of death was a pulmonary embolism, which is a serious blood clot in the lung. His funeral services were held near his home in Springfield, Pennsylvania.
Comedy Albums and DVDs
John Pinette released several comedy albums and DVDs during his career:
- Show Me the Buffet (CD, 1998)
- I Say Nay Nay (DVD, 2005)
- I'm Starvin'! (DVD, 2006)
- Making Lite of Myself (CD, 2007)
- Still Hungry (DVD/CD, 2011)
Film and TV Appearances
Here are some of the movies and TV shows John Pinette appeared in:
- ALF - played Howie Anderson (1990)
- The Grudge Match - played himself, the Referee (1991)
- Parker Lewis Can't Lose - played Coach Hank Kohler (1993)
- Junior - played a Clerk (1994)
- Dear God - played Junior (1996)
- Seinfeld - played Howie in "The Finale" (1998)
- Simon Sez - played Micro (1999)
- Duets - played a Finale Singer (2000)
- Hairspray - played Edna Turnblad (2004-2006)
- The Punisher - played Bumpo (2004)
- The Last Godfather - played Macho (2010)
- All You Can Eat - Host of the television series (2013)
See also
In Spanish: John Pinette para niños
- List of stand-up comedians
