LOS ANGELES (AP) — Judy Tenuta, a brash standup who cheekily styled herself because the “Goddess of Love” and toured with George Carlin as she constructed her profession within the Eighties golden age of comedy, died Thursday. She was 72.
Tenuta died Thursday afternoon at dwelling in Los Angeles, along with her household round her, publicist Roger Neal advised The Related Press. The reason for demise was ovarian most cancers.
“She was a really humorous, superb performer,” Neal stated, and it was all the time a “completely happy time to be round her.”
Tenuta had claimed her birthdate as Nov. 7, 1965, however she was born in 1949, Neal stated. “She was old skool so she would by no means inform her actual age, however now that she’s gone we are able to inform her actual age,” he added.
Her heart-shaped face, topped by bouffant hair with a flower accent, conveyed an impression of candy innocence that was rapidly shattered by her loud, gravelly supply and acidic humor, expletives included. The accordion she made a part of her act was “an instrument of affection and submission,” as she fondly known as it.
She was amongst a era of performers who drove the recognition of dwell comedy in golf equipment nationwide together with the Comedy Retailer in Los Angeles, Laff Cease in Houston and Caroline’s in New York Metropolis. A usually male-dominated discipline discovered room for ladies, together with Tenuta.
“Devastated to listen to of the passing of my pricey, pricey good friend, the stunning Miss Judy Tenuta. I can’t consider she’s gone,” tweeted Weird Al Yankovic, who labored along with her on his Nineties TV collection and a 2006 music video. “Earth has actually misplaced a goddess.”
Michael McKean, of “Spinal Faucet” fame, tweeted, “One in every of a sort. Rattling.”
Tenuta gained nationwide consideration in 1987 with “On Location: Ladies of the Night time,” a HBO particular wherein she starred with Ellen DeGeneres, Paula Poundstone and Rita Rudner.
In 1988′s “American Comedy Awards” TV particular, Tenuta was named greatest feminine comedy membership performer reverse male winner Jerry Seinfeld. Different honorees that 12 months for his or her membership or display work included Robin Williams, Lily Tomlin and Bette Midler.
“I’d commerce it in a minute, if I may simply be a spouse and mom,” wisecracked the gold lamé-wrapped, gum-chewing Tenuta, who accepted her award from Carlin.
She was a frequent visitor on late-night discuss exhibits and sport exhibits and with radio shock jock Howard Stern. Her performing and voiceover credit have been eclectic, together with appearances on “The Bizarre Al Present” and “Area Ghost Coast to Coast.” She appeared onstage in “The Vagina Monologues” in Los Angeles and Chicago.
Tenuta was a two-time Grammy nominee, getting back-to-back nominations in 1995 and 1996 for greatest spoken phrase comedy album for “Consideration Butt Pirates and Lesbetarians” and “In Goddess We Belief.”
She was a supporter of LGBTQ rights, took half in delight festivals and counted members of the queer neighborhood as enthusiastic followers. On her web site, she stated that as an ordained minister of Judyism she was “out there for similar intercourse marriages!”
Tenuta grew up within the Chicago suburb of Maywood, attending Catholic faculties that included one she dubbed “St. Obnoxious and Bondage.” She stated she was the “remoted, petite flower” — Petite Flower turning into one in all her stage nicknames — in a Catholic household that included six brothers.
After graduating school, she labored at odd jobs that included wrapping meat and taking stock at an outlet for Catholic non secular apparel.
“I received fired as a result of they caught me making an attempt the stuff on,” Tenuta stated a 1989 interview with The Related Press. “So the boss got here in, and I suppose he received type of upset. And I stated, ‘Properly, I’ve to see if they give the impression of being good, pig. I’m making an attempt to make enhancements for these broads.”’
Tenuta went on to affix the Chicago comedy troupe Second Metropolis earlier than beginning her solo standup profession. Regardless of her outlandish garments and weird stage look, Tenuta stated most individuals caught on instantly to her act, which included the self-centered “Judyism” faith.
“In my faith, I’m the one one which will get to complain. The very nice factor about my faith is you may neglect all about your issues and take into consideration mine for some time,” she advised AP.
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Related Press journalist Mallika Sen contributed to this report from New York.
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This story has been up to date to right Tenuta’s age to 72.
