Chick Vennera | |
Birth Name: | Francis Vincent Vennera |
Birth Date: | 27 March 1947 |
Birth Place: | Herkimer, New York, U.S. |
Death Place: | Burbank, California, U.S. |
Occupation: | Actor |
Years Active: | 1975–2011 |
Spouse: | |
Children: | 2 |
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.
Vennera 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$, along with Robert Urich. In 1989, he appeared in three episodes of The Golden Girls, two of them as the character Enrique Mas.
Vennera also began doing voice acting during the 1980s, with roles on Hanna-Barbera programs. However, his most notable role was Pesto on Warner Bros. Animation/Amblin Entertainment's successful animated series Animaniacs. Prior to his death, Vennera also taught acting.
Vennera died from cancer at his home in Burbank, California, on July 7, 2021, at the age of 74.[1]
Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1978 | Thank God It's Friday | Marv Gomez | [6] [7] | |
1979 | Yanks | Sergeant Danny Ruffelo | ||
1981 | High Risk | Tony | [8] | |
1988 | The Milagro Beanfield War | Joe Mondragon | ||
1991 | The Terror Within II | Kyle | ||
1991 | McBain | Roberto Santos | ||
1997 | Time Under Fire | Spitz | ||
1999 | Wakko's Wish | Pesto | Voice, direct-to-video[9] [10] [11] | |
1999 | Final Voyage | Dennis | ||
2000 | Intrepid | Ellerson | ||
2001 | Air Rage | Fishmam | ||
2005 | Glass Trap | Paolo |
Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1978–1980 | Vega$ | Mitch Costigian | 3 episodes | |
1985 | The Jetsons | Additional voices | ||
1986–1987 | Foofur | Sam | Voice, 16 episodes | |
1986 | Diff'rent Strokes | Spider | ||
1989 | The Golden Girls | Pepe, Enrique | 3 episodes | |
1992 | Twitch | Voice, episode: "Off Balance" | ||
1993 | Bonkers | Chick | Voice, 2 episodes | |
1993–1998 | Animaniacs | Pesto, Joe Pesci | Voice, 22 episodes | |
1996–1997 | The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest | Lorenzo, Thug #2, Gustavo Arollo, Walker, Additional Voices | Voice, 9 episodes | |
1998 | JAG | Benny Turpin | 2 episodes | |
1998 | Cow and Chicken | Salesman | Voice, episode: "Free Inside!" | |
2000 | That's Life | Luciano | ||
2000 | Batman Beyond | Chauffeur | Voice, episode: "Ace in the Hole" | |
2002–2004 | Static Shock | Ferret | Voice, 3 episodes |
Year | Title | Voice role | |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Hades Beast, House Alarm | ||
1998 | Pesto, Godpigeon | ||
2009 | Bayonetta | Enzo[12] |