Don Novello's net worth

About

American actor, comedian, singer, writer, director, and producer Donald Andrew Novello was born on January 1, 1943. Most people recognize him from his appearances as Father Guido Sarducci on NBC's Saturday Night Live in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

He continued to play Sarducci in several TV shows and movies after Gilda Live, Blossom, Children, It's Garry Shandling's Show, Square Pegs, Unhappily Ever After, and The Colbert Report, among others. In the Atlantis: The Lost Empire series, he provides the voice of Vincenzo "Vinny" Santorini.

Early life

Novello was the son of Eleanor Eileen, a nurse, and Augustine Joseph Novello, a physician. He was born in the city of Ashtabula, which is located in the state of Ohio. He has ancestors from both Italy and Ireland.

When Don was a little boy, his family transitioned to their new home in Lorain, Ohio. After graduating from Lorain High School in 1961, he studied at the University of Dayton, from which he received his degree four years later in 1964.

1965 was the year that he completed his studies at the American Graduate School of International Management and received his Bachelor of Foreign Trade degree.

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Career

Novello worked as an advertising copywriter for Leo Burnett in Chicago during the late 1960s.

Novello developed Father Guido Sarducci in 1973 after discovering a monsignor's attire at a St. Vincent de Paul thrift store for $7.50. With the addition of sunglasses, a broom mustache, a cigarette, and a heavy Italian accent, Sarducci gained popularity in a nightclub in San Francisco.

Sarducci appeared on the Chicken Little Comedy Show on San Francisco's Channel 20, and comedian David Steinberg was watching. Steinberg employed Novello as a writer for an unaired television program, but he also recommended Novello to Tommy and Dick Smothers, who also hired Novello.

In 1975, Novello appeared on The Smothers Brothers Show as Sarducci.

Lorne Michaels, who runs Saturday Night Live, heard about The Lazlo Letters, Novello's first book of stilted letters to famous people.

Novello was hired as a writer for the show's third season in 1977-1978. He stayed as a writer through the fifth season and returned for the eleventh season. He also played the character of Father Guido Sarducci on the show many times.

Under the name Father Guido Sarducci, he was the lead singer on a Warner Bros. "I Won't Be Twisting This Christmas" and "Parco MacArthur" come out on records (WBS49627).

Novello and M. Davich wrote the first tune, and the second song covers Jimmy Webb's "MacArthur Park" in Italian. The arrangement is similar to what Richard Harris did with the song.

Novello made headlines worldwide when he went to the Vatican in 1981 dressed as Father Guido Sarducci. While taking pictures for a magazine article in a no-photography zone, he and his photographer, Paul Solomon, were arrested by Swiss Guards and later charged with "impersonating a priest." Later, the charges were dropped, and Solomon was able to keep the film from being taken away.

In his show with the Smothers Brothers in Las Vegas and Reno, Sarducci pushed a wheelchair with a dummy dressed as a cardinal. In the act, Sarducci said that he worked for "Cardinal Dario Fungi," who was 108 years old.

Novello was a producer for SCTV, a Toronto-based comedy show starring Martin Short, Joe Flaherty, John Candy, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, Andrea Martin, Rick Moranis, and Catherine O'Hara, for a brief while in 1982.

He produced nine episodes for the show's fourth season, for which NBC established him as one of several producers. In 1983, Novello appeared as Father Sarducci in the MTV-popular music video for Rodney Dangerfield's comic rap song "Rappin' Rodney."

In 1984, Novello penned The Blade, a high school yearbook spoof depicting the pupils as sheep. John Belushi and Novello co-wrote the unproduced script for Noble Rot. He also narrated the Pinocchio episode of Faerie Tale Theatre's third season, starring Paul Reubens as the titular puppet. Also, in 1984, Novello participated in the music video for "No Way Out" by Jefferson Starship.

Novello played "Dominic Abbandando" in The Godfather Part III in 1990. Abbandando speaks as Don Michael Corleone's PR and publicity coordinator in the first scene. He famously slaps a reporter and asks, "You think you know more than the Pope?" Novello shadows George Hamilton in many scenes, including the climax on the Teatro Massimo steps in Palermo.

In the Disney animated film Atlantis: The Lost Empire, released in 2001, he provided the voice of the character Vincenzo "Vinny" Santorini. Subsequently, he reprised this role in the sequel Atlantis: Milo's Return, released on direct-to-video.

In 2003, he attempted to enter the 2003 California recall election by filing the necessary paperwork; however, he needed help to collect sufficient valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.

Don Novello, who played Father Guido Sarducci on one of Guthrie Thomas' records, was reported "the best performer in the room," according to Thomas.

Personal life

He has one brother named Joseph "Joe" Novello and one sister named Eileen. Novello lives in San Anselmo, which is located in the state of California. Dr. Antonia Novello, formerly his sister-in-law, is a medical doctor. Between 1990 and 1993, you held the position of Surgeon General of the United States. Holly Wiersma, a film producer, is his niece (Wonderland, Billionaire Boys Club).

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FAQ's

Q: How did Don Novello start earning?

Ans: During the latter half of the 1960s, Novello was employed by Leo Burnett in Chicago as a copywriter for advertisements.

Q: What was the story behind Novello getting his first role as Sarducci?

Ans: In 1973, Novello constructed Father Guido Sarducci from a $7 St. Vincent de Paul thrift store monsignor's costume. Sarducci became known in a San Francisco nightclub with sunglasses, a handlebar mustache, a cigarette, and a heavy Italian accent. Sarducci performed on San Francisco's Channel 20 Chicken Little Comedy Show for David Steinberg. Steinberg sent Novello to Tommy and Dick Smothers, who also employed him as a writer for an unaired television show. Novello played Sarducci on the Smothers Brothers Show in 1975.

Q: How was Novello's early day?

Ans: When Don was a little boy, his family moved to Lorain, Ohio, where they live now. After he graduated from Lorain High School in 1961, he went to the University of Dayton to study. Four years later, in 1964, he got his degree.

Q: What is Novello mostly famous for?

Ans: Most people know him from the late 1970s and early 1980s when he played Father Guido Sarducci on NBC's Saturday Night Live.