Judy Tenuta
Judy Tenuta (born November 7, 1956, in Oak Park, Illinois) is an American entertainer, comedienne, and accordionist.
Comic persona
Tenuta's act is primarily structured around an exaggerated, offbeat persona that is referred to primarily as "The Love Goddess."[1] Other monikers include "Aphrodite of the Accordion," "Fashion Saint," "Princess of Panty Shields," and "Empress of Elvis Impersonators."[2] Tenuta's persona encourages fans to convert to her own personal religion, "Judyism."
Career
Aside from her own stand-up work, she has been featured in several productions of "Weird Al" Yankovic, including The Weird Al Show and the music videos for "Headline News" and "White & Nerdy." She has also appeared on game shows such as Hollywood Squares and the 1998 revival of Match Game. Her most extensive profile came from a series of TV ads for MTV in the mid-1980s, which became popular and gained her a loyal following.
Her use of voice in her act has lent itself to voice-over work in several animated programs. This includes doing the voice of Edna on Duckman, Black Widow on Space Ghost Coast to Coast[1], and as herself in Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist.
In 1987 she hosted a "Night Flight" anniversary show on USA network, which she also previously appeared on Night Flight's "Comedy Cuts".
In 1991, she published her first book, "The Power Of Judyism," following up with an audio CD version in 1999.
In 1998, she conceived, produced, and starred in the film Desperation Boulevard. More recently, she was a guest on Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide.
Discography
- Buy This Pigs, 1987
- In Goddess We Trust, 1995
- UnButtPlugged, 1999
- Attention Butt Pirates And Lesbetarians - Live at CSW, 1999
- A Space Goddessy, 2002
Personal life
One of twelve siblings, she was born in 1956 to an Italian father and Polish mother in Oak Park, Illinois. Her older brother, Danny Tenuta, is a retired union electrician and ship captain of the Aquila. She has a younger sister and several younger brothers, including Tom who had a career as a dancer and now has his own studio. Judy's nephew, JP Tenuta, is a professional dancer who studied at Ailey and The Martha Graham School. She married Emo Philips in 1988, but they've since divorced and remarried again in 2000.