Tony Rosato
Tony Rosato | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | 10 January 2017 | (aged 62)
Occupation(s) | Actor, comedian |
Years active | 1975–2017 |
Spouse |
Leah Murray
(m. 2003; div. 2010) |
Children | 1[1] |
Antonio Rosato[1] (26 December 1954 – 10 January 2017) was an Italian-Canadian actor and comedian, who appeared in television and films. He was best known as a cast member on both SCTV and Saturday Night Live, and for voicing Luigi in The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World.
Early life and career beginnings
Rosato was born in
Career
Rosato first gained attention when he and Robin Duke joined the cast of the first incarnation of SCTV in its third season during the fall of 1980. His most well-known character on the program was the TV chef Marcello Sebastiano (a parody of Chef Pasquale).[3] Rosato then moved with Duke to the cast of Saturday Night Live for the 1981–82 season. Following Jean Doumanian's tenure during the sixth season and Dick Ebersol trying to retool the show (and relying on Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo to spice up the sketches),[1] Rosato only appeared on the show for one year before leaving due to differences with Ebersol and an expired contract.[4]
Rosato is one of three SCTV cast members (along with Duke and, later, Martin Short) to appear on Saturday Night Live and the first SNL cast member to not be born in either the United States or Canada.
In 1983, he starred as Aldo, the busboy in the short-lived Bea Arthur series, Amanda's. The show was based on Fawlty Towers but was not well-received by audiences and was cancelled after 10 episodes.[citation needed]
Rosato next appeared on the Canadian police drama Night Heat, playing Arthur "Whitey" Morelli,[7] from 1985 through 1989. He continued to appear in television and film throughout the 1990s.[citation needed]
Voice work
In autumn of 1990, Rosato portrayed
Rosato also provided voices for many other animated series including
Personal life
Rosato married Leah Murray on 31 December 2003; together they have a daughter.[1] After seven years together, Rosato and Murray's marriage ended in a divorce in 2010.[1]
Legal and mental health issues
On 5 May 2005, Rosato was
Death
Rosato died of a
Tributes
Saturday Night Live paid tribute to Rosato at the end of its 14 January 2017 episode.[12] Also, a re-animated version of the Super Mario World episode "Mama Luigi", commissioned and directed by animation artist Andrew Dickman within a year with over 227 animators and artists participating, was dedicated to Rosato and his coworker Harvey Atkin (King Koopa), who had also died later on July that year. The video was released on 29 August 2017.[13]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1978 | The Silent Partner | Person Standing Outside Bank Door Being Unlocked | |
1979 | Running | Italian Athlete | |
1980 | Nothing Personal | Truck Driver | |
1980 | Hog Wild | "Bull" | |
1981 | Improper Channels | Dr. Arpenthaler | |
1983 | Utilities | Wendell | |
1985 | Shellgame | Chuck | Television film |
1986 | Separate Vacations | Harry Blender | |
1986 | Busted Up | Irving Drayton | |
1986 | Popeye Doyle | Wise-Ass Reporter | Television film |
1986 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Shooting Star | Joe Devito (uncredited) | Television film |
1986 | One Police Plaza | Sol | Television film |
1987 | Nightstick | Tony | Television film |
1987 | Sadie and Son | Morris | Television film |
1987 | Hearts of Fire | Woody | |
1987 | City of Shadows | Rosie | |
1988 | Switching Channels | "Joker" | |
1989 | Brown Bread Sandwiches | Older Michaelabgelo Buonanotto (voice) | |
1989 | Friends, Lovers & Lunatics | Mat's Boss |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1980–1981 | SCTV | Various Characters | Season 3 |
1981–1982 | Saturday Night Live | Various Characters | |
1983 | Amanda's By The Sea |
Aldo | 13 Episodes (3 unaired) |
1985–1989 | Night Heat | Whitey | 54 episodes |
1987–1989 | Diamonds | Lou Gianetti | |
1990 | The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 | Luigi (voice) | 26 episodes |
1991 | Sweating Bullets | Malto | Episode: "The Mariah Connection" |
1991 | Super Mario World | Luigi (voice) | 12 episodes |
1994 | RoboCop: The Series |
Kevin Frosh | Episode: "Trouble in Delta City" |
1996–1998 | Stickin' Around | Additional Voices (voice) | |
1996–2003 | Monster by Mistake | Dad (voice) | |
1998–1999 | Mythic Warriors | Orpheus, Male Peasant (voice) | |
1999–2000 | George and Martha | Duke (voice) | |
1999–2000 | Relic Hunter | Stewie Harper | Season 1 (3 episodes) |
2000–2002 | Pelswick | Quentin Eggert (voice) | |
2001–2004 | Doc | Don / Jake | (2 episodes) |
2002 | The Ripping Friends | Goat Waiter / Minister of War | Episode: "The Infernal Wedding" |
2003 | Odd Job Jack | Sheriff Ironsides (voice) | Episode: "Odd Job John" |
2003 | Lucky | Tony | Episode: "Up the Steaks" |
2004–2005 | Da Boom Crew | Namdra (voice) | |
2005 | 6Teen |
Zane (voice) | Episode: "Unhappy Anniversary" |
2005–2006 | Get Ed | Crouch (voice) | |
2011–2013 | Scaredy Squirrel | Additional Voices (voice) | |
2014–2016 | Odd Squad |
Sabatino Confalone |
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Resident Evil 3: Nemesis | Dario Rosso / Nemesis |
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Tony Rosato, of 1981-82 'Saturday Night Live' Cast, Dies at 62". The New York Times. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
- ^ a b Freed, Dale Anne (13 May 2007). "From jokester to jailbird". Toronto Star. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
- ^ "Tony Rosato, Canadian 'Saturday Night Live' and 'SCTV' alum, dead at 62". Global News. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ISBN 978-1611877090.
- ^ "Tony Rosato, cast member on both SNL and SCTV, dead at 62". CBC News. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ^ "Tony Rosato, former "Saturday Night Live" cast member passes at 62". The Laugh Button. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ^ Freed, Dale Anne (4 May 2008). "Tragedy continues for comic Tony Rosato". Toronto Star. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ^ a b Plunkett, Luke (11 January 2017). "Tony Rosato, The Cartoon Voice Of Luigi, Dead At 62". Kotaku. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ^ Rouner, Jef (30 October 2013). "10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Luigi of Mario Brothers Fame". Houston Press. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ^ "A legend returns from his long season in hell". Toronto Star. 5 December 2009.
- ^ Beeston, Laura (11 January 2017). "Tony Rosato, veteran of SCTV and Saturday Night Live, dead at 62". Toronto Star. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
- ^ Carra, Mallory (15 January 2017). "'SNL' Salutes Comedian Tony Rosato". Bustle. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ https://www.destructoid.com/this-super-mario-world-cartoon-is-a-great-tribute-to-mama-luigi/
External links
- Tony Rosato at IMDb
- Tony Rosato at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Tony Rosato at Find a Grave
- Tony Rosato at Behind The Voice Actors