Chick Vennera
{{Short description|American actor (1947–2021)}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Chick Vennera
| image = Chick Vennera.jpg
| caption = Vennera at the 2013 DGA Awards
| birth_name = Francis Vincent Vennera
| birth_date = {{birth date|1947|3|27}}
| birth_place = Herkimer, New York, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|7|7|1947|3|27}}
| death_place = Burbank, California, U.S.
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1975–2011
| spouse = {{plainlist|
- {{marriage|Joanne Mary Divito|1971|1982|end=divorced}}
- {{marriage|Suzanne E. Messbauer|1983}}
}}
| partner =
| children = 2
}}
Francis Vincent Vennera{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Greg |title=Chick Vennera Dies: ‘Thank God It’s Friday’, ‘The Golden Girls’ Actor Was 74 |url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/chick-vennera-dead-obituary-actor-thank-god-its-friday-the-golden-girls-1234788536/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=July 8, 2021 |date=July 8, 2021}} (March 27, 1947 – July 7, 2021) was an American actor, known for his role as Joe Mondragon for Robert Redford's The Milagro Beanfield War (1988), among other movies. Vennera voiced Pesto the pigeon for the animated show Animaniacs. He also often served as a voice double for actor Joe Pesci.
Acting
Vennera served with the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, first in the Signal Corps and later in the Special Services division.[https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/vennera-chick-1952 "VENNERA, Chick 1952– (Francis Vennera, Chick Vennera) PERSONAL"]. Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved January 23, 2022.Barnes, Mike (July 8, 2021). [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/chick-vennera-dead-thank-god-its-friday-milagro-beanfield-1234979522/ "Chick Vennera, Actor in ‘Thank God It’s Friday’ and ‘The Milagro Beanfield War,’ Dies at 74"]. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 30, 2023.Garvey, Marianne (July 9, 2021). [https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/09/entertainment/chick-vennera-the-golden-girls/index.html "Chick Vennera, 'Thank God It's Friday' and 'The Golden Girls' actor, dead at 74"]. CNN. Retrieved January 23, 2022.Peters, Fletcher (July 8, 2021). [https://decider.com/2021/07/08/chick-vennera-milagro-beanfield-war-star-dead-at-74/ "Chick Vennera, ‘The Golden Girls’ and ‘Milagro Beanfield War’ Actor, Dead at 74"]. Decider. Retrieved January 23, 2022. Afterwards, he began a career as an actor and dancer. He was also a musician, playing several instruments. Vennera's first acting role of note was in the Broadway production of Grease, having toured with the musical for a year. He continued working as a performer, and appeared in the 1978 film Thank God It's Friday, where he performed a dance routine atop several cars. His acting career continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s, appearing in many films and television series. In 1979, Vennera appeared as Vietnam War veteran Mitch Costigian in three episodes of Vega$, along with Robert Urich. Perhaps most
memorably, in 1989, he appeared in three episodes of The Golden Girls, two of them as the character Enrique Mas and the other as Kid Pepe.
Vennera also began doing voice acting during the 1980s, with roles on Hanna-Barbera programs. However, his most notable role was Pesto in Warner Bros. Animation/Amblin Entertainment's animated series Animaniacs. Prior to his death, Vennera also taught acting.
Personal life
Vennera died from cancer at his home in Burbank, California, on July 7, 2021, at the age of 74.
Selected filmography
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Television |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1978–1980
| Vega$ | Mitch Costigian |
| 1985
| Additional Voices |
| 1986–1987
| Foofur | Sam | Voice, 16 episodes |
| 1986
| "Spider" |
| 1989
| Pepe, Enrique |
| 1992
| Twitch |
| 1993
| Bonkers | Chick | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 1993–1998
| Pesto, Joe Pesci |
| 1996–1997
| The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest | Various Voices |
| 1998
| JAG | Benny Turpin |
| 1998
| Salesman |
| 2000
| Luciano |
| 2000
| Chauffeur |
| 2002–2004
| Ferret |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|893181|Chick Vennera}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vennera, Chick}}
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male stage actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:Deaths from cancer in California
Category:Hispanic and Latino American military personnel
Category:Military personnel from New York (state)
Category:People from Herkimer, New York