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BORN: Judy Lynn Tenuta on November 7, 1949 in Oak Park,
IL, USA
DIED: 2:24pm on October, 6th, 2022, Studio City, CA of Ovarian
Cancer
Judy Tenuta was the most famous person who ever lived … and if you don'tbelieve it, all you had to do was ask her.
Now, the woman known to fans as "The Love Goddess" and
"Aphrodite of the Accordion," Comedienne Judy Tenuta,
has passed away in her home in Studio City. One of nine
siblings, Judy (after Judy Garland), was born in Oak Park, Illinois
(a suburb of Chicago), on November 7, 1949, into a Catholic family to a
Polish mother, Johanna, and an Italian father, Caesar. She grew up in
a staunchly Irish-Catholic neighborhood, and attended the University of
Illinois at Chicago, where she majored in theatre. A straight A student
her entire life, Judy was the first of the Tenuta family to graduate
college. Her interest in comedy began when she took an improv comedy
class with the Chicago improv group The Second City and shortly after
began opening for other comedians in Chicago throughout the 70s.
During her first ever solo performance, Tenuta shocked audiences by
dressing up as the Virgin Mary, and after being encouraged by her friends
to incorporate an accordion into her routine (an instrument her mother, a
fan of Lawrence Welk, encouraged her to learn), she began to develop
the character into her iconic persona as the wisecracking
"Love Goddess." After building a fiery reputation as one of
the “hottest young comics around,” Tenuta left Chicago and moved to New
York City in the late 80s to host an HBO Comedy Special with Ellen
DeGeneres, Rita Rudner, Martin Short and Paula Poundstone. By the
mid 1980s, Tenuta had gained some mainstream notoriety for a
series of television ads for MTV and Diet Dr Pepper and moved to Los
Angeles, where she harbored a fiercely independent attitude, openly
rejecting Hollywood beauty standards and celebrity, while
she continued to perform on national tours for years afterwards, making
special visits to the Chicago circuit. Tenuta's act introduced
the public to many exaggerated, campy, and offbeat personas with monikers
that included "The Petite Flower," "Fashion-Plate
Saint," ”Queen of Candy-Pants," "Princess of Panty
Shields,” "Empress of Elvis Impersonators," and the "Buffer
of Foreheads,” in addition to her primas, "The Love Goddess"
and "Aphrodite of the Accordion," all of which wore an
array of fantastical costumes made up of Aphrodite dresses, feather boots,
egg bras, nippy cup necklace and gauzy capes, with a variety of
props-most notably her iconic accordion, currently on display at
the Hollywood Museum.
Judy was a triple threat in the sense that she has strong stage,
television, comedy and film credits with a large fan base. She
appeared in" The Vagina Monologues," "Menopause
the Musical" both in LA and Chicago, and her own
stand-up specials on Showtime, HBO and Lifetime. Judy was the
first female stand-up comic to win "Best Female Comedian"
at the American Comedy Awards and is a two-time Grammy nominee
for “Best Comedy Album” her comedy CDs, “Attention Butt-Pirates
and Lesbetarians!” and “In Goddess We Trust,” eventually offered
her own unique take on life in her book titled "Full Frontal
Tenudity" and “The Power of Judyism.”
Some of Judy's roles included an ex-show girl turned wedding chaplain on
General Hospital, a snobby judge on "Corey in the House" and a
featured role in the teen comedy hit, "Material Girls", starring
Hillary and Haley Duff and directed by Martha Coolidge. Judy
also produced and starred in her own film, "Desperation
Boulevard" about a former child star who stops at nothing to
make a comeback. Judy co-starred with Bruce Vilanch in the Indie film, "Sister
Mary" and completed 2 Independent films: Playing Zania, a
menacing, aging actress in "Going Down in LALA Land." In
addition, Judy portrayed an overly zealous, in your face Mother
of the star high school pitcher in "Gibsonberg," based on a
true story.
Tenuta's use of her voice in her stand-up act has lent itself to
Voice-over work in several animated programs. These included doing
the voice of Edna on “Duckham,” Munch Kelly “Cow and Chicken,” in the
banned episode “Buffalo Gals,” Black Widow on “Space Ghost Coast To Coast”
and as herself in “Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist.” She has
appeared in numerous film and television roles, including the dominatrix
disciplinarian “Samantha Rottweiler” in “Butch Camp,” and the loud-mouthed
librarian “Mrs. Holler” in Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide,” in
addition to various minor characters on "The Weird Al Yankovic
Show" and featured in many of Yankovic’s comedy shorts and music
videos, as well as dozens of other minor acting roles.
Tenuta was an outspoken advocate for gay rights and has amassed a faithful
following in the LGBTQ community. During the early years of
her career, Tenuta frequently performed at gay bars and clubs around
Chicago, perform at and appeared as a Grand Marshall for numerous Gay
Pride festivals and even became ordained as a minister to officiate
same-sex marriages.
Judy became an inspiration to others dealing with solitude and health
issues during the pandemic. For the last couple years, while the
world dealt with the pandemic, comedienne Judy Tenuta, had
been battling stage 4 ovarian cancer and, or as she puts it in her recent
viral video, is "Kicking Cancer's Ass," shot entirely
during isolation and quarantine at home. Despite losing
the battle, the video went one on to receive numerous accolades and become
an inspiration to others and an unexpected battle cry for those who
are experiencing not only cancer, but other health issues, including
covid.
Tenuta is survived by her life partner, Vern Pang, five brothers (Daniel,
John, Steven, Thomas and James) and sister (Barbara), in addition to
two nephews, four nieces and a grand-niece. Although services have not
been announced, Ms. Tenuta will be interred at Hollywood Forever. In lieu
of flowers, Ms. Tenuta had requested that donations be made to one
of the following charities – Make a Wish Foundation (https://wish.org),
St Jude Hospital (https://www.stjude.org) or
City of Hope (https://www.cityofhope.org).
Grammy Winning Comedienne, Judy Tenuta is the most famous person who has ever lived...and if you don't believe it, just ask her. Judy is a triple
threat in the sense that she has strong stage, television, comedy and film
credits with a large fan base. She has appeared in" The Vagina Monologues,"
"Menopause the Musical" both in LA and Chicago, and she's had her own stand-up
specials on Showtime, HBO and Lifetime. Judy was the first female stand-up
comic to win "Best Female Comedian" at the American Comedy Awards and is a
two-time Grammy nominee for her comedy CDs. The self-described "Love Goddess"
and "Aphrodite of the Accordion" now offers her own unique take on life in a new
book entitled "Full Frontal Tenudity." A collection of recipes for food, friends
and fun! A kind of “chicken soup for your crotch,” declares Judy. Judy divulges
her deepest secrets, helpful tips, and poignant stories. Judy says, "You will
be transformed from your pupa/larva stage of loneliness, into a great goddess
gourmet of ganja. You will spread your wings and be a knoshing nymph, not just
in the kitchen, but in every room of your trailer, and maybe even in a Walmart
produce section."Ms. Tenuta is preparing for the release of her new book, "JUDY
TENUTA: "FULL FRONTAL TENUDITY," in addition to her new movies "Going Down In
LaLa Land" with Bruce Vilanch, and the soon to be released "Gibsonburg."
For
years women have been discouraged from the "unlady like" practice of joke
telling, making for a male-dominated field. The very idea that women aren't
funny seems pretty laughable these days. A new generation of comediennes have
been unleashed, who act, perform stand-up, write, and direct-dishing out the
jokes, and often with a side of sexy. Judy's stand-up routine is appropriately
described as outrageous, mind-blowing comedy. She recently became an
ordained minister, and converts her audiences to her signature religion,
"Judyism." Ms. Tenuta has also been rather vocal in support of the recent
remarks made by the President with regard to gay marriage. Having, in fact,
performed several ceremonies as a certified/ordained minister in "Judyism" for
both gay and straight couples. The only difference is that the gay couples have
to "love, honor and accesorize." Some of Judy's recnet film roles include: an
ex-show girl turned wedding chaplain on General Hospital, a snobby judge on
"Corey in the House" and a featured role in the teen comedy hit, "Material
Girls", starring Hillary and Haley Duff and directed by Martha Coolidge. Judy
also produced and starred in her own film, "Desperation Boulevard" about a
former child star who stops at nothing to make a comeback. Judy costars with
Bruce Vilanch in the Indie film, "Sister Mary." Judy has just completed 2
Independent flims: Playing Zania, a menacing, aging actress in "Going Down in
LALA Land". Judy just completed the role of an overly zealous, in your face
Mother of the star high school pitcher, in the soon to be released,
"Gibsonberg", based on a true story.... so watch out, Meryl Streep!
Official
Website
and Facebook
(direct all fan / autograph requests here)
OFFICIAL
BIOGRAPHY
CLIPS:
For
interviews, press, high res photos and updated biography
please send an email to harlan@bhbpr.com
or call 626.296.3757
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