18 Facts About Judy Tenuta

Judy Lynn Tenuta was an American comedian, actress, and comedy musician.

Judy Tenuta was known for her whimsical and brash persona of "The Love Goddess", mixing insult comedy, observational humor, self-promotion, and bawdy onstage antics.

Judy Tenuta wrote two comedy books, and received two nominations for the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album.

One of nine siblings, Tenuta was born in Oak Park, Illinois, on November 7,1949, into a Catholic family to a Polish mother, Johanna Z "Yanya" Tenuta, and an Italian father, Caesar Tenuta.

Judy Tenuta graduated from Immaculate Heart of Mary High School in Westchester, Illinois, and attended the University of Illinois at Chicago where she majored in theater.

Judy Tenuta began her comedy career performing openers and small time shows on the Chicago comedy circuit in the 1970s.

Judy Tenuta continued to perform on national tours for years afterwards, making special visits to the Chicago circuit.

Judy Tenuta appeared in numerous film and television roles, including the dominatrix disciplinarian "Samantha Rottweiler" in Butch Camp, and the loud-mouthed librarian "Mrs Holler" in Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide.

Judy Tenuta played various minor characters on The Weird Al Show, was featured in many of "Weird Al" Yankovic's comedy shorts and music videos, and appeared in dozens of other minor acting roles.

Judy Tenuta gained some mainstream notoriety for a series of television ads for MTV and Diet Dr Pepper in the late 1980s, as well as her HBO, Showtime, and Lifetime specials.

Judy Tenuta's act was primarily structured around an exaggerated, campy, and offbeat persona that was referred to primarily as "The Love Goddess".

Judy Tenuta often performed in an array of fantastical costumes made up of "Aphrodite dresses, feather boots, and gauzy capes" and with a variety of props, including her iconic accordion.

Judy Tenuta's performances were renowned for a high level of audience interaction and participation.

Judy Tenuta was known for picking on audience members, making them targets of her jokes and roping them in on-stage antics.

Judy Tenuta was an outspoken advocate for gay rights and amassed a faithful following in the LGBT community.

Judy Tenuta publicly stated that she always felt welcomed and supported by the gay community, and even offered on her official website to officiate same-sex marriages.

Judy Tenuta died in Studio City, California, on October 6,2022, at the age of 72, from stage 4 ovarian cancer, with which she had been diagnosed in 2020.

Judy Tenuta was survived by Pang, six siblings, and extended family.