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| Joe Piscopo | |
|---|---|
| Name | Joe Piscopo |
| Caption | Joe Piscopo in 2014 |
| Birth date | 17 June 1951 |
| Birth place | Passaic, New Jersey |
| Occupation | actor, comedian, impressionist, radio personality |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Spouse | Nancy Jones (m. 1983–2006) |
Joe Piscopo
Joseph Charles Piscopo (born June 17, 1951) is an American actor, comedian, impressionist, and radio personality known for his work on Saturday Night Live and roles in film and television. He gained national prominence during the early 1980s for a series of celebrity impressions and sketch performances that connected him to New Jersey media markets and national entertainment institutions. His career spans live television, feature films, talk radio, and public political commentary involving figures and organizations across the United States.
Piscopo was born in Passaic, New Jersey and raised in Fair Lawn, New Jersey and North Caldwell, New Jersey. He attended Fair Lawn High School and later studied at Pennsylvania State University before moving to New York City to pursue acting and comedy. Early influences included regional performance venues, The Improv and Catch a Rising Star, where he encountered established comedians and performers who had worked with institutions like The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and The Ed Sullivan Show.
Piscopo's career began with stand-up appearances and roles on television variety programs, aligning him with contemporaries who appeared on Saturday Night Live, The Muppet Show, and late-night talk shows such as Late Night with David Letterman. He became a regular on national tours and comedy festivals alongside performers from Def Comedy Jam-era stages and comedy circuits connected to venues like Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall. His trajectory included transitions between film opportunities offered by studios such as Universal Pictures and 20th Century Fox, guest roles on series distributed by NBC and ABC, and later work in syndicated radio distributed via networks like Westwood One.
Piscopo joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1980 during the show's transition following the departure of John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, and Gilda Radner. Working under producer Jean Doumanian and later Dick Ebersol, he developed high-profile impressions of public figures linked to American politics, entertainment industry celebrities, and sports personalities who frequented networks such as CBS Sports and ESPN. His celebrity impressions placed him in the company of other SNL alumni including Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal, Joe Mantegna, and Robin Williams-era contemporaries, helping solidify SNL's role as a launching pad for performers who later worked on projects with HBO, Paramount Pictures, and network sitcoms on ABC and FOX.
Following SNL, Piscopo appeared in films that connected him to casts featuring actors from The Godfather-era and Saturday Night Fever alumni, working with directors and producers associated with Columbia Pictures and independent production companies. His filmography includes comedies and roles in productions screened at festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival and aired on cable channels like TNT and USA Network. On television, Piscopo hosted specials and made guest appearances on programs tied to MTV, VH1, and variety revivals, and later established a presence in talk radio with programs syndicated to markets including New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago via affiliations with stations modeled after WFAN and networks such as SiriusXM.
Piscopo's public commentary and activism have involved endorsements and advocacy linked to Republican Party figures and candidates, and appearances at events featuring personalities from Conservative Political Action Conference-style gatherings and political media outlets. He has publicly supported policies and candidates associated with leaders from New Jersey and national politics, appearing on networks such as Fox News and participating in benefit events for causes connected to institutions like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and local charitable organizations in Bergen County, New Jersey. His political involvement intersected with campaigns and public endorsements that engaged statewide and national media.
Piscopo married Nancy Jones in 1983; the couple had two children before divorcing in 2006. He has been active in community events in New Jersey and maintains residences tied to the Garden State region. Piscopo has also been associated with fitness and bodybuilding communities, engaging with venues and trainers linked to organizations like Gold's Gym and participating in celebrity charity sports events connected to entities such as Madison Square Garden and regional athletic commissions.
Piscopo received recognition for his contributions to comedy and entertainment through honors from regional arts organizations in New Jersey and citations from broadcast industry groups. He has been acknowledged in retrospectives about Saturday Night Live alumni and featured in publications and record lists compiled by outlets such as Entertainment Weekly, Variety, and The New York Times archives covering television history.
Category:American male comedians Category:American impressionists (entertainers) Category:People from Passaic, New Jersey