Tony Tripoli
{{short description|American actor}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
Tony Tripoli (December 2, 1969){{cite web |title=Tony Tripoli |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tony_tripoli |website=Rotten Tomatoes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625063336/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/tony_tripoli |archive-date=June 25, 2023}} is an American actor, comedian and LGBT rights activist.{{cite news |last1=Ray |first1=Linda |title=Laughing Stock: Pride and Predicates |url=https://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2019/07/11/laughing-stock-pride-and-predicates |work=Tucson Weekly |date=July 11, 2019}} He performs his stand-up comedy throughout the United States, and has produced, written and appeared on numerous TV series.
Biography
Tripoli was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, where his parents owned a florist's shop. When he was young, his mother would take him to the launderette, where he would stand on the washing machines and sing for the customers there.{{cite news |last1=Nunn |first1=Jerry |title=Tony Tripoli tag-teams with The Cabaret Project - Windy City Times News |url=https://www.windycitytimes.com/lgbt/Tony-Tripoli-tag-teams-with-The-Cabaret-Project/48381.html |work=Windy City Times |date=22 July 2014}} He performed with The Phoenix Boys Choir for several years.{{cite news |last1=Pela |first1=Robrt L. |title=Under the Sun: Comedian Tony Tripoli Returns Home to Phoenix |url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arts/comedian-tony-tripoli-returns-home-to-phoenix-11040964 |work=Phoenix New Times |date=November 19, 2018}} After graduating from Central High School, he moved to Los Angeles, where he lived for 30 years. He went to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles. He moved backed to Phoenix in 2017.
Career
In 1987, he appeared in a local production of Neil Simon's play Brighton Beach Memoirs at The Phoenix Little Theatre.{{cite news |last1=Coolidge |first1=Joy |title='Blues' breaks Simon's comedy mold |work=The Arizona Republic |via=Newspapers.com |date=November 24, 1987 |page=C7 |quote=Non-conformist Arnold Epstein (Tony Tripoli)...Tripoli's portrayal of Epstein deserves special note.}} He has appeared on cruise ships, had a brief stint as a Chippendales stripper, was Aladdin at Disneyland, performed at the Laugh Factory, and once had a gig singing for the American Plumber's Association.{{cite web |title=Meet Tony Tripoli |url=http://voyagephoenix.com/interview/meet-tony-tripoli-im-central-phx/ |website=VoyagePhoenix |date=5 September 2019}}
He was the co-executive producer and head writer of Fashion Police, with the late Joan Rivers. He was a producer and cast member on Joan and Melissa: Joan Knows Best?. He produced In Bed with Joan and What She Said, and was a staff writer on The Dish. He has appeared on television shows such as Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, Fashion House and Two and a Half Men.
He has appeared on TV Guide's Funniest Commercials, TV Guides Hollywood's Sexiest Couples, Gossip Queens, Frank TV, Pretty Hurts, and E!'s 50 Super Epic TV Moments.{{cite web |title=Tony Tripoli: Dirty, Sexy, FUNNY! |url=https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/258196 |website=brownpapertickets.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625091006/https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/258196 |archive-date=June 25, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Baldwin |first1=Greg |last2=Shin |first2=Jimmy |title=Tony Tripoli Gets Seriously Schooled by Joan Rivers |url=https://secondchances.tv/2017/10/29/tony-tripoli-gets-seriously-schooled-joan-rivers/ |website=Second Chances Podcast |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330091158/http://secondchances.tv/2017/10/29/tony-tripoli-gets-seriously-schooled-joan-rivers/ |archive-date=March 30, 2018 |date=29 October 2017}} He was also in the 2008 TV movie, Screening Party.{{cite web |title=Tony Tripoli |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bdf64647e |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625102738/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bdf64647e |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 25, 2023 |website=British Film Institute}}
He performs his stand-up comedy throughout the United States and opened for Joan Rivers for 4 years. He discusses a number of topics in his standup ranging from sex and dating to his family and pop culture. After her death, he began touring in a tribute show called "The Bitch Is Back", featuring Joan Rivers impersonator Joe Posa.{{cite web |last1=Teeman |first1=Tim |title=How I Used Kim Kardashian To Rouse Joan Rivers From Her Coma |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-i-used-kim-kardashian-to-rouse-joan-rivers-from-her-coma |website=The Daily Beast |date=31 May 2016}}
Personal life
He is openly gay, and his dog Bingham, frequently travels with him on tours.{{cite news |last1=Klein |first1=Aiden |title=Trippin' back to Seattle |work=Seattle Gay News |via=Newspapers.com |date=August 10, 2012 |page=30 |quote=I've always been completely openly gay and out of the closet.}}{{cite journal |last1=Brown |first1=Deon |title=Ham & Hound, Tony Tripoli laffs it up |journal=ION Arizona |date=November 2018 |issue=209 |pages=35–37 |url=https://issuu.com/jmtdesigns/docs/ionaz_november_2018_issue}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|2370431}}
- [http://www.tonytripoli.com Official site]
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Category:American Academy of Dramatic Arts alumni
Category:American LGBTQ broadcasters
Category:American LGBTQ comedians
Category:American LGBTQ rights activists
Category:American male comedians
Category:American male television actors
Category:American stand-up comedians
Category:Comedians from Phoenix, Arizona