John Paul Pinette was an American stand-up comedian, actor, and Broadway performer who died on April 5, 2014 (he was born on March 23, 1964). Beginning in the 1980s, he performed on the comedy club circuit and made film and television appearances. In addition to stand-up, Pinette performed impressions of Marlon Brando, The Chipmunks, Elvis Presley, Gollum from The Lord of the Rings, an Ewok, Hervé Villechaize (Tattoo from Fantasy Island), Michael Jackson, The Chipmunks, and different ethnic dialects. He would occasionally sing during his stand-up routines, such as “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” “Will You Be There,” and “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz.
He was discovered in a Pittsburgh hotel room, and the medical examiner’s office in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania confirmed that he had died naturally on Saturday. The cause of death, according to Schapiro, was a pulmonary embolism.
The comedian, who was born in Boston in 1964, was a frequent traveller and was presently on a live tour with scheduled appearances at venues throughout the United States and Canada from April through June.
The Last Godfather (2004), The Punisher (2004), and Junior (1994) are among the movies in which Pinette has appeared (2010). He appeared in various specials, such as Still Hungry (2011) and I’m Starvin’ (2006). In September 2013, he hosted the humorous cookery programme All You Can Eat on H2. He was also a mainstay at the Just for Laughs festival in Canada.
In 2004, the comedian also took on the role of Edna Turnblad for a nationwide tour of the musical Hairspray.
He made television appearances in the shows Parker Lewis Can’t Lose, High Tide, and Vinnie & Bobby. The comedian played a man who was robbed and had his car taken in the final Seinfeld episode in 1998 while Kramer, George, Jerry, and Elaine all stood by and laughed.
On Sunday, important figures in the industry and other comedians paid tribute to Pinette:
@JohnPinette sad to see him pass into the night and so young he was a funny fuck and a sweet heap of a man. Hope there’s a buffet out there
— Lewis Black (@TheLewisBlack) April 6, 2014
RIP John Pinette. Funny guy. Only met him once, and he was a really nice person.
— Judah Friedlander (@JudahWorldChamp) April 6, 2014
John Pinette you were a funny and sweet man and you left us too soon. #RIP
— Lizz “Some Activist ” Winstead (@lizzwinstead) April 6, 2014
RIP John Pinette. I was listening to him the other day.
— rob delaney (@robdelaney) April 6, 2014
Just was informed a great comedian and buddy John Pinette passed away Saturday. Horrible news. Never failed to make us cry laughing. On or
— Larry The Cable Guy (@GitRDoneLarry) April 6, 2014
I was so lucky to work so many gigs with John Pinette who was as kind as he was funny. So very sad for his family. Way too young.
— Caroline Rhea (@CarolineRhea) April 6, 2014
Really sad to hear about the passing of my friend John Pinette… He was an extremely funny guy and a great human… U will be missed…
— Russell Peters (@therealrussellp) April 6, 2014
John Pinette. Funny man. Kind man. Rest in peace.
— bob saget (@bobsaget) April 6, 2014
John Pinette has sadly passed. He gave me some of the simplest, best advice I’ve ever received. “The jokes are good, just put ’em together.”
— Mike Birbiglia (@birbigs) April 7, 2014
So sad to hear about the passing of @JohnPinette. He was always so funny, so generous and so kind.
— Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) April 6, 2014
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