John Pinette

Infobox Comedian
name = John Pinette
birth_date = birth date and age|1964|3|23
birth_place = Boston, Massachusetts
americancomedyawards = Funniest Male Stand-Up Comic
1999

John Pinette (born March 23, 1964) [cite news |title=Today in history - March 23 |work=Associated Press |publisher=The Boston Globe |date=2006-03-22 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2006/03/22/today_in_history___march_22/ ] is an American actor and stand-up comedian. He has toured the comedy club circuit since the 1980s and has appeared in cinema and television. His routines primarily revolve around his weight, and his love for the buffet. However, in 2001 John lost an incredible amount of weight. He explains this in his new DVD I Say Nay, Nay, which was released in 2004, as being the result of a long training routine developed by a series of trainers so that he can become more healthy. However, he still maintains his affinity for buffets and has not lost his signature "cherub-like demeanor". Besides straight stand-up, John has done noteworthy impressions of The Chipmunks, Elvis Presley, Gollum from The Lord of the Rings, as well as an Ewok. He is recognized as having an impressive singing voice, as noted by his modified rendition of Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz in one of his stand-up routines.

Biographical Information

John was born in Boston, Massachusetts and graduated from Malden Catholic High School in 1982 cite web|url = http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0684124/ |title = John Pinette |accessdate = 2008-06-11|work=IMDB] . He would later go on to a career in accounting, but on the advice of friends, who say he was always a very funny man, he left his job to pursue a new career in comedy. cite web|url = http://www.johnpinette.com |title = JohnPinette.com (Official Website)|accessdate = 2008-06-11]

Shortly after beginning his new career as a stand-up comic, he began touring comedy clubs all across the country, and got his big break when he was asked to tour with Frank Sinatra. Since then, John has also become a regular guest on The Tonight Show and The View.

John has also enjoyed a long acting career in both television and film. "Duets", starring Gwyneth Paltrow, "Dear God", starring Greg Kinnear, and "Junior", starring Arnold Schwarzenegger are just a few of John’s film credits. He was a series regular on the hit series Parker Lewis Can't Lose, and starred as the car-jack victim in the final episode of Seinfeld. John was also seen in the summer of 2004 as the lovable Mr. Bumpo in Artisan Entertainment’s The Punisher, starring Thomas Jane and John Travolta .

John was named Stand-Up Comedian of the Year by the American Comedy Awards in 1999 and has received a Gemini Award nomination for his superb televised performance at the Montreal Comedy Festival in 2000 .

In 2005, John joined the touring cast of the musical "Hairspray" in the role of Edna Turnblad. In his 2006 concert "I'm Starvin"', he claimed it was the first musical theater production he had been in since high school. In September of that year he replaced Bruce Vilanch in the Broadway production, and continued in the role until May 28, 2006 [cite web|url = http://www.ibdb.com/productionreplacements.asp?ID=13371 |title = IBDB Replacements/Transfers |accessdate = 2008-06-11] .

In 2007, John performed at the 42nd annual MDA Jerry Lewis Telethon.

John will perform at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival in 2008.

Discography

* "Show Me the Buffet" (CD, 1998)
* "I Say Nay Nay" (DVD, 2005)
* "I'm Starvin" (DVD, 2006)
* "Making Lite of Myself" (CD, 2007)

Filmography

* (1992) - as Trevor Gulf
* Reckless Kelly (1993) - as Sam Delance
* Junior (1994) - as Clerk
* (1994) - as Trevor Gulf
* (1995)
* Dear God (1996) - as Junior
* Seinfeld (1998) - as Howie
* Simon Sez (1999) - as Micro
* Duets (2000) - as Finale Singer
* My 5 Wives (2000) - as Stewart
* Do It for Uncle Manny (2002) - as Sammy Levine
* Piece a' Cake (2003) - as Sammy
* The Punisher (2004) - as Bumpo

Radio

John is one of the hosts of the E4 laughs at Edinburgh podcasts, showcasing the best comedy talent from the Edinburgh festival 2008

See also

* List of stand-up comedians

References

External links

* [http://www.johnpinette.com/ Official Website]
*
* [http://www.edcomfest.com/shows/John_Pinette_I_Say_Nay_Nay John Pinette at Edinburgh Comedy Festival]
* [http://www.e4.com/edinburgh/podcasts E4 Laughs at Edinburgh]