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Francis Vincent Vennera[1] (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.
Chick Vennera | |
|---|---|
 Vennera at the 2013 DGA Awards | |
| Born | Francis Vincent Vennera March 27, 1947 Herkimer, New York, U.S. |
| Died | July 7, 2021 (aged 74) Burbank, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1975–2011 |
| Spouses | Joanne Mary Divito
(m. 1971; div. 1982)Suzanne E. Messbauer
(m. 1983) |
| Children | 2 |
Acting
editVennera served with the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, first in the Signal Corps and later in the Special Services division.[2][3][4][5] 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$, along with Robert Urich. In 1989, he appeared in three episodes of The Golden Girls, two of them as the character Enrique Mas.
Vennera also began doing voice acting during the 1980s, with roles on Hanna-Barbera programs. However, his most notable role was Pesto in Warner Bros. Animation/Amblin Entertainment's animated series Animaniacs. Prior to his death, Vennera also taught acting.
Personal life
editVennera died from cancer at his home in Burbank, California, on July 7, 2021, at the age of 74.[1]
Selected filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Thank God It's Friday | Marv Gomez | [6][7] |
| 1979 | Yanks | Sergeant Danny Ruffelo | [6][7] |
| 1981 | High Risk | Tony | [6][8] |
| 1988 | The Milagro Beanfield War | Joe Mondragon | [6][7] |
| 1991 | The Terror Within II | Kyle | [6][8] |
| 1991 | McBain | Roberto Santos | [6][7] |
| 1997 | Time Under Fire | Spitz | |
| 1999 | Wakko's Wish | Pesto | Voice, direct-to-video[9][10][11] |
| 1999 | Final Voyage | Dennis | |
| 2000 | Intrepid | Ellerson | [6][11] |
| 2001 | Air Rage | Fishmam | |
| 2005 | Glass Trap | Paolo | [10] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978–1980 | Vega$ | Mitch Costigian | 3 episodes[6] |
| 1985 | The Jetsons | Additional voices | [6] |
| 1986–1987 | Foofur | Sam | Voice, 16 episodes |
| 1986 | Diff'rent Strokes | Spider | [6][11] |
| 1989 | The Golden Girls | Pepe, Enrique | 3 episodes[6][11] |
| 1992 | Batman: The Animated Series | Twitch | Voice, episode: "Off Balance"[9] |
| 1993 | Bonkers | Chick | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 1993–1998 | Animaniacs | Pesto, Joe Pesci | Voice, 22 episodes[6][11][9] |
| 1996–1997 | The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest | Various voices | Voice, 9 episodes[9] |
| 1998 | JAG | Benny Turpin | 2 episodes[6] |
| 1998 | Cow and Chicken | Salesman | Voice, episode: "Free Inside!"[9] |
| 2000 | That's Life | Luciano | [6][11] |
| 2000 | Batman Beyond | Chauffeur | Voice, episode: "Ace in the Hole"[9][6] |
| 2002–2004 | Static Shock | Ferret | Voice, 3 episodes[9][11] |
| Year | Title | Voice role |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Zork: Grand Inquisitor | Hades Beast, House Alarm |
| 1998 | Animaniacs: Ten Pin Alley | Pesto, Godpigeon[9] |
| 2009 | Bayonetta | Enzo[9][12] |
References
edit- ^ a b Evans, Greg (July 8, 2021). "Chick Vennera Dies: 'Thank God It's Friday', 'The Golden Girls' Actor Was 74". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
- ^ "VENNERA, Chick 1952– (Francis Vennera, Chick Vennera) PERSONAL". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
- ^ Barnes, Mike (July 8, 2021). "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). "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). "Chick Vennera, ‘The Golden Girls’ and ‘Milagro Beanfield War’ Actor, Dead at 74". Decider. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Chick Vennera". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Chick Vennera". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- ^ a b "Chick Vennera – Filmography". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Chick Vennera (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved August 1, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
- ^ a b "Chick Vennera". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Chick Vennera List of Movies and TV Shows". TV Guide. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- ^ "Bayonetta Developer Commentary Part 56". platinumgames.com. February 6, 2013. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2014.