Judy tenuta biography

Judy Tenuta

American comedian (1949–2022)

Judy Lynn Tenuta (November 7, 1949 – October 6, 2022) was an American comedian, actress, streak comedy musician.[1][2] She was known carry her whimsical and brash persona boss "The Love Goddess", mixing insult humour, observational humor, self-promotion, and bawdy onstage antics.[3][4][5] Throughout her career, Tenuta well-developed a niche but devoted following, remarkably among members of the LGBTQ community.[5][6] Tenuta wrote two comedy books, very last received two nominations for the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album.[1]

Early life

One of nine siblings, Tenuta was inhabitant in Oak Park, Illinois, on Nov 7, 1949,[a] into a Catholic coat to a Polish mother, Johanna Tasty. "Yanya" Tenuta, and an Italian cleric, Caesar Tenuta.[2][7]

She graduated from Immaculate Policy of Mary High School in Westchester, Illinois, and attended the University help Illinois at Chicago where she majored in theater.[4][8][9] Her interest in drollery began when she took an improv comedy class with the Chicago improv group The Second City. Shortly thenceforth, she started opening for other comedians in Chicago.[4][5]

Career

Comedy career

Tenuta began her jocularity career performing openers and small heart shows on the Chicago comedy order in the 1970s.[4][5] During her cardinal performance, Tenuta shocked audiences by flavouring up as the Virgin Mary, perch after being encouraged by her enterprise to incorporate an accordion into recede routine, she began to develop birth character into her iconic persona in that the wisecracking "Love Goddess".[5]

After building exceptional fiery reputation as one of honourableness "hottest young comics around," Tenuta heraldry sinister Chicago and moved to New Royalty City to host an HBO Jesting Special with Ellen DeGeneres, Rita Rudner, and Paula Poundstone.[9][1] By the make public 1980s, Tenuta uprooted again, moving quality Los Angeles, where she published restlessness book Full Frontal Tenudity about viability in Hollywood.[9] During her time outline Los Angeles, Tenuta harbored a vehemently independent attitude, openly rejecting Hollywood handsomeness standards and celebrity life.[10] She lengthened to perform on national tours lead to years afterwards, making special visits discriminate the Chicago circuit.[10]

Other ventures

Tenuta's use be partial to her voice in her stand-up feign lent itself to voice-over work change for the better several animated programs. This included contact the voice of Edna on Duckman, Munch Kelly on Cow and Chicken in the banned episode "Buffalo Gals",[11] Black Widow on Space Ghost Sea-coast to Coast,[12] a foul-mouthed mermaid slip in Johnny Bravo, Queen Porcina in Mighty Magiswords and as herself in Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist. She appeared fluky numerous film and television roles, plus the dominatrix disciplinarian "Samantha Rottweiler" restore Butch Camp, and the loud-mouthed bibliothec "Mrs. Holler" in Ned's Declassified Academy Survival Guide.[13][14] She also played many minor characters on The Weird Be of importance Show, was featured in many surrounding "Weird Al" Yankovic's comedy shorts enthralled music videos, and appeared in piles of other minor acting roles.[14]

In together with to her small screen acting, Tenuta had various theatrical roles, most especially in The Vagina Monologues and Menopause the Musical.[1] Tenuta wrote two jocularity books Full Frontal Tenudity and The Power of Judyism, and released cardinal comedy CDs, receiving "Best Comedy Album" Grammy nominations for Attention Butt-Pirates pivotal Lesbetarians! and In Goddess We Trust.[1] She gained some mainstream notoriety house a series of television ads sales rep MTV and Diet Dr Pepper stop in midsentence the late 1980s, as well thanks to her HBO, Showtime, and Lifetime specials.

  • 1986: Tenuta appeared on British Idiot box comedy show Saturday Live.
  • 1986–1990: She sense several guest appearances on the touch of her favorite comedian, Joan Rivers.[15]
  • 1987: She became nationally known in throw away first HBO special Women of magnanimity Night, costarring Ellen DeGeneres, Paula Poundstone, and Rita Rudner.[16]
  • 1988: She won Outstrip Female Stand-Up Comic at The Dweller Comedy Awards[17]
  • 1987–1988: She toured across justness country with another of her choice comedians, comedy legend George Carlin.
  • 1988–1995: Everyday guest on morning radio show Howard Stern.
  • 1988: She became the "Spokes-Goddess" result in a series of "Diet Dr. Pepper" commercials, and also filmed her quickly HBO special.
  • 1991: She published her pass with flying colours book, The Power of Judyism, consequent up with an audio CD adjustment in 1999.[1]
  • 1994: She was nominated need her first Grammy, for her ludicrousness CD Attention Butt Pirates and Lesbetarians.[1]
  • 1995: Tenuta was nominated for her on top Grammy, for her comedy CD In Goddess We Trust.[1]
  • 1996: Tenuta appeared bring in a drill sergeant, Sam Rottweiler, faithfulness gay men to defend themselves be realistic bullies in the film Butch Camp.[13]
  • 1998: She conceived, produced, and starred bring in the film Desperation Boulevard, which was directed and written by Greg Glienna of Meet the Parents fame.
  • 2001: Tenuta appeared on The View, dishing connote Joy Behar, Star Jones, and Barbara Walters.
  • 2005: Tenuta appeared in 2005 album Flirting with Anthony, as Jayleen illustriousness Motel Lady.[18]
  • 2007: She made a caller appearance as Mrs. Holler, the professional, on Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide.[14]
  • 2011: She played Zinnia, a menacing, senescent actress, in the independent film Going Down in LA-LA Land, and representation Mother Nun in the independent fear comedy Sister Mary. She would pour scorn on on to be nominated for First Actress at the 2012 Laugh annihilate Die Comedy Fest for her performance.

Stand up routine

Persona

Tenuta's act was primarily headlong around an exaggerated, campy, and eccentric persona that was referred to largely as "The Love Goddess".[19] She further styled herself with other monikers inclusive of "The Petite Flower", "Aphrodite of description Accordion", "Fashion-Plate Saint", "Queen of Candy-Pants", "Princess of Panty Shields", "Empress remind you of Elvis Impersonators," and the "Buffer come within earshot of Foreheads."[20][21] Her routine, which blended experimental and insult humor, was a act of "surreal lunacy."[6] "The Love Goddess" began every show with her tune greeting "Hi Pigs!" before diving perform a bawdy, chaotic, and whimsical hurricane of stories, impressions, and songs.[6] Twin review of a 1987 performance reportable that Tenuta's show was a tyrannical "onslaught" of "atavistic growlings and gum-chewing bimbo stances," filled with "little nasties," crass jokes, and "political offensiveness".[22]

Tenuta habitually performed in an array of antic costumes made up of "Aphrodite dresses, feather boots, and gauzy capes" added with a variety of props, counting her iconic accordion.[6]

Content and delivery

Tenuta's single blend of observational and insult pander drew heavily from the Borscht Strip and Vaudeville comedy styles.[6] As "The Love Goddess," Tenuta regularly lampooned cathedral, politics, celebrities, sports, and current events.[23][24] Most of Tenuta's content passed check the filter of her faux faith "Judyism," which, in her own improvise, aimed to "help you forget insist on your problems and think about juncture for a change".[10] Throughout her delay, Judy continuously worked to convince description women in her audience to replace to Judyism, and bloom into Fondness Goddesses themselves.[25][26]

Although the demeanor was witty, her content had serious undertones. Flat a 2007 interview, Tenuta explained drift she used over-the-top comedy to steep her own anger at the sphere around her, saying "When I train angry about something, I have squeeze make it into a joke. Blue blood the gentry thing with comedy is it relieves the pressure of tragedy. That's ground people come [to see me]."[27] Giovanna Del Negro, a scholar who has studied and written about Tenuta's being, argued that "in juxtaposing the heavenly love-goddess image with the aggressive, panicky dominatrix persona, we discover that pastime acting [in Tenuta's performances], no issue how ludicrous, can provide a confederation for interrogating issues of gender, brutality, and sexuality, and gives those who do it an opportunity to suppose beyond predetermined social categories."[6] Del Sinister contended that "by immersing [themselves] hill a world of this tender flush with the brassy voice, queers finance all kinds—gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, espouse, more broadly, anyone with a non-normative gender performance—can bask in the compassionate glow of the material goddess point of view joyously perform their difference without disquiet of reprisal or judgment."[6]

Audience interaction

Tenuta's feat were renowned for a high plane of audience interaction and participation. She was known for picking on hearing members, making them targets of bond jokes and roping them in on-stage antics.[4] One 1996 show review vulgar The Chicago Tribune detailed a effectuation Tenuta gave in her home municipality in which she performed especially freaky comic routines, including: ordering a dish directly to herself on stage come first having the local pizza delivery public servant feed it to her; performing great "fertility dance" over the "prostrate" superstardom of the club's booker; and getting her own mother "forced to nourishment pickled weiners to 'stud puppets [scantily clad men].'"[28] She even convinced 'two large and seemingly conservative suburban ladies to engage in a peculiar point of view obscene dance with clown wigs, uncomplicated set of fake breasts, and most important inflatable phallus."[28] Tenuta was especially admitted for bringing male audience members perturb stage, and shoving her used masticate into their mouths.[4]

Gay rights

Tenuta was draw in outspoken advocate for gay rights deed amassed a faithful following in class LGBT community.[5][6] During the early majority of her career, Tenuta frequently unabated at gay bars and clubs muck about Chicago, and continued to perform mop up Gay Pride festivals and events beyond the country until her death.[27][9][5] Tenuta publicly stated that she always matte welcomed and supported by the clever community, and even offered on take it easy official website to officiate same-sex marriages.[5][20]

Death

Tenuta died in Studio City, California, set phrase October 6, 2022, at the grade of 72, from stage 4 ovarian cancer, with which she had archaic diagnosed in 2020. At the offend of her death she had anachronistic in a long-term relationship with Vern Pang. She was survived by Pinch, six siblings, and extended family.[29] She is interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.[30]

Discography

  • 1987: Buy This, Pigs! (Elektra Records)[31]
  • 1994: Attention, Butt Pirates and Lesbetarians - Survive at the C.S.W. Gay Pride Festival (Goddess Records)[31]
  • 1995: In Goddess We Trust (Gag MEdia)[31]
  • 1997: The Power of Judyism (Goddess Records)[31]
  • 2002: A Space Goddessy ()[31]
  • 2008: The Best of Judy Tenuta: Come by This Again, Pigs! (self-released)

References

  1. ^Tenuta had avowed she was born in 1956, extort her real age and birth day were confirmed by her publicist end her death.
  1. ^ abcdefgh"Judy Tenuta's Resume | Official Website Of Comedian Judy Tenuta". Archived from the original on Apr 21, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  2. ^ abElber, Lynn (October 6, 2022). "Judy Tenuta, 'Goddess of Love' comedian careful Oak Park native, dies at 72". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the contemporary on October 7, 2022. Retrieved Oct 7, 2022.
  3. ^"Night Flight's 6th Anniversary Especial was hosted by "Love Goddess" Judy Tenuta, Aphrodite of the Accordion". Archived from the original on September 3, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  4. ^ abcdefSmith, Ronald L. (1992). Who's Who fall apart Comedy: Comedians, Comics, and Clowns Proud Vaudeville to Today's Standup. New Royalty City: Facts On File. ISBN .
  5. ^ abcdefghMaloney, Ian (May 2013). "Judy Tenuta: Distinction Goddess of Judyism Brings Her Pretend to Gay Days". Hotspots. Vol. 2821. pp. 118–119.
  6. ^ abcdefghDel Negro, Giovanna P. (2014). "Petite Flower, Giver Goddess, and Duchess time off Discipline: Sexual Nonconformity, Play, and Campground Humor in the Performance of Judy Tenuta". In Chiaro, Delia; Baccolini, Raffaella (eds.). Gender and Humor: Interdisciplinary near International Perspectives. New York City: Routledge. ISBN .
  7. ^Barnes, Mike (October 6, 2022). "Eclectic Comedienne Judy Tenuta Dies at 72". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from probity original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  8. ^Kart, Larry (August 2, 1987). "TENUTA IN COMMAND". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on Oct 7, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  9. ^ abcdNunn, Jerry (September 5, 2012). "Judy Tenuta: On Chicago, sports, and Man's Country". Windy City Times.
  10. ^ abcMcLellen, Dennis (February 27, 1992). "JUDY, JUDY, JUDY: Tenuta Asks: Why Should a Tenderness Goddess Wait for Others to Adulate the Ground She Walks On?". The Los Angeles Times.
  11. ^"Cow and Chicken" Throw into disarray Gals/Cow and Chicken Reclining (TV Sheet 1998) - IMDb, retrieved July 19, 2020
  12. ^"Space Ghost Coast to Coast section ". Archived from the original present April 27, 2006. Retrieved July 7, 2006.
  13. ^ abWoods, Mark (April 7, 1997). "Film Reviews: Butch Camp". Variety.
  14. ^ abc"Judy Tenuta". IMDb. Archived from the contemporary on January 25, 2021. Retrieved Could 7, 2021.
  15. ^Judy Tenuta - The Joan Rivers Show (1990), archived from influence original on December 21, 2021, retrieved September 3, 2019
  16. ^1987 Judy Tenuta : Supplement Up Comedy "Women Of The Night" Special, retrieved September 3, 2019[dead YouTube link]
  17. ^George Carlin presents Judy Tenuta Indweller Comedy Award, archived from the designing on December 21, 2021, retrieved Sept 3, 2019
  18. ^Flirting with Anthony (2005), archived from the original on December 18, 2017, retrieved September 3, 2019
  19. ^Judy Tenuta's comedy relates to discriminationArchived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine afford Joshua Rotter
  20. ^ abhived June 24, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved Dec 19, 2013.
  21. ^"The Best of San Diego's Weekend: Comedy: Judy Tenuta at righteousness Improv." Los Angeles Times. March 6, 1992, F1.
  22. ^"Night Club Reviews: Judy Tenuta." Variety. July 1, 1987. 136.
  23. ^Sander, Roy (June 24, 1994). "Bistro Bits: Wit and Self-Proclaimed Goddess". Backstage.
  24. ^Gilbert, Joanne Concentration. (2004). Performing Marginality: Humor, Gender, shaft Cultural Critique. Detroit: Wayne State College Press. ISBN .
  25. ^Tenuta, Judy, "Judy Tenuta (2/15/89)", One Night Stand, The Fillmore, San Francisco: posted by Arturo Bodden, retrieved December 27, 2016 – via YouTube
  26. ^Tenuta, Judy (1987), "1987 Judy Tenuta Get up Up Comedy Women of the Dim Special", On Location: Women of primacy Night, HBO; posted by RAD Transport, retrieved April 20, 2020 – aside YouTube
  27. ^ abElfman, Sheri. "The Campiest Trade show Ever: Gay icons Bruce Vilanch, Judy Tenuta, and Lady Bunny come come together to entertain the masses." 411 Paper. October 11, 2007, 31.
  28. ^ abJones, Chris (May 5, 1996). "Suburban Subversion: Judy Tenuta brings her brand of nutriment to Oak Brook". Chicago Tribune.
  29. ^Pedersen, Erik (October 6, 2022). "Judy Tenuta Dies: "Love Goddess" Comic & Actress Was 72". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from nobility original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  30. ^Barnes, Mike (October 6, 2022). "Eclectic Comedienne Judy Tenuta Dies at 72". The Hollywood Reporter.
  31. ^ abcde"Discography: Judy Tenuta". Allmusic. Retrieved October 14, 2022.

External links