Joe Piscopo
RETURN TO INDEX
Born Name:
Joseph Charles John Piscopo
Born Date: June 17, 1951
Born Place: Passaic, New Jersey
Died Date:
Died Place:
Occupations: Actor, comedian, radio host
Brief Biography: Joe Piscopo is best known for his standout four-season stint on Saturday Night Live in the early 1980s. He is highly celebrated for his spot-on celebrity impressions—most notably Frank Sinatra—as well as his original characters like "The Sports Guy".
Early Life & Career:
Born in Passaic, New Jersey, he grew up in North Caldwell, New Jersey. He attended Jones College in Jacksonville, Florida, where he earned a degree in broadcast management. Following stints as a disc jockey and dinner-theater performer, Piscopo turned to stand-up comedy.
Saturday Night Live:
In the summer of 1980, Piscopo was hired as a contract player to help replace the entire departing original cast of Saturday Night Live. While much of the new cast struggled, Piscopo and Eddie Murphy became massive standouts and successfully carried the show. Piscopo was especially famous for his impression of Frank Sinatra—whom he respected immensely—and various energetic original sketches.
Film, Television, & Fitness:
After leaving Saturday Night Live in 1984, Piscopo successfully transitioned into films. He starred in cult classics such as Johnny Dangerously (1984) and Wise Guys (1986), and later co-starred in the martial arts comedy Sidekicks (1993) alongside Chuck Norris. During the 1980s and 1990s, Piscopo also became highly dedicated to fitness and bodybuilding, famously appearing on the cover of Muscle & Fitness magazine.
Current Endeavors:
Today, Piscopo balances a multi-faceted career. He hosts his own daily morning radio show, Piscopo in the Morning, on WNYM (AM 970 The Answer) in New York. He also frequently tours with his own multimedia comedy show and a live Big Band tribute to Frank Sinatra. He detailed his long, blue-collar career in his memoir, Average Joe: The Memoirs of a Blue-Collar Entertainer.
Born Date: June 17, 1951
Born Place: Passaic, New Jersey
Died Date:
Died Place:
Occupations: Actor, comedian, radio host
Brief Biography: Joe Piscopo is best known for his standout four-season stint on Saturday Night Live in the early 1980s. He is highly celebrated for his spot-on celebrity impressions—most notably Frank Sinatra—as well as his original characters like "The Sports Guy".
Early Life & Career:
Born in Passaic, New Jersey, he grew up in North Caldwell, New Jersey. He attended Jones College in Jacksonville, Florida, where he earned a degree in broadcast management. Following stints as a disc jockey and dinner-theater performer, Piscopo turned to stand-up comedy.
Saturday Night Live:
In the summer of 1980, Piscopo was hired as a contract player to help replace the entire departing original cast of Saturday Night Live. While much of the new cast struggled, Piscopo and Eddie Murphy became massive standouts and successfully carried the show. Piscopo was especially famous for his impression of Frank Sinatra—whom he respected immensely—and various energetic original sketches.
Film, Television, & Fitness:
After leaving Saturday Night Live in 1984, Piscopo successfully transitioned into films. He starred in cult classics such as Johnny Dangerously (1984) and Wise Guys (1986), and later co-starred in the martial arts comedy Sidekicks (1993) alongside Chuck Norris. During the 1980s and 1990s, Piscopo also became highly dedicated to fitness and bodybuilding, famously appearing on the cover of Muscle & Fitness magazine.
Current Endeavors:
Today, Piscopo balances a multi-faceted career. He hosts his own daily morning radio show, Piscopo in the Morning, on WNYM (AM 970 The Answer) in New York. He also frequently tours with his own multimedia comedy show and a live Big Band tribute to Frank Sinatra. He detailed his long, blue-collar career in his memoir, Average Joe: The Memoirs of a Blue-Collar Entertainer.