Fox News reports that the star died from lung cancer on Wednesday in his Burbank, California home, his daughter confirmed.Vennera appeared in three episodes of The Golden Girls, first playing a man named Pepe, who Sophia (Estelle Getty) buys at a bus stop and manages. He was so popular with the cast and crew they brought him back the following season, playing Rose’s (Betty White) journalist boss Enrique Mas in two more episodes.Additionally, he was known for voicing multiple characters in the Animaniacs cartoon and movies, frequently playing a character called Pesto in a number of projects.In 1978, he appeared in Thank God It’s Friday alongside Donna Summer and memorably dances on top of cars in a parking lot.Vennera was born Francis Vennera in Herkimer, New York, Deadline reports, and moved to California after high school. He studied at the famed Pasadena Playhouse before briefly joining the army.The outlet reports that the star performed in nightclubs when he returned to the West Coast and sang and danced in the Disney on Parade tour.Outside of Hollywood, he also starred in a touring Broadway production of Grease as Doody.His credits began in 1975 will appearances on Lucas Tanner, Baretta and The Blue Knight just a few years before starring in Thank God It’s Friday as disco fan as Marv Gomez.“Dancing!” he said after falling through the roof of a car during the movie’s memorable dance scene. “Everything else is bullsh–!”Vennera’s additional television credits included appearances in high-profile shows like Night Court, Mad About You, JAG and a number of animated Batman projects.The actor also appeared in a number of famous movies including Milagro Beanfield War and Yanks, alongside Richard Gere.The actor is survived by his daughter Victoria and wife Suzanne.This article originally appeared on Fox News and is republished here with permission
Powered by WPeMatico
