STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Floyd “Uncle Floyd” Vivino, the much-adored variety show host who once ran for governor of New Jersey, died on Thursday in a rehabilitation center in Totowa, N.J. He was 74.
The Paterson, N.J., native had been battling multiple health issues for more than two years, including bladder and prostate cancer in 2022, a diagnosis he had shared publicly, followed by a stroke the following year.
His death was announced on social media by his brother, Jerry Vivino, who wrote:
“With a heavy heart I am sad to announce the passing of my brother and everybody’s favorite uncle, Floyd Vivino. After a 2 and a half year battle with ongoing health issues his curtain peacefully closed at 6:05 p.m. on Thursday January 22nd. Rest in peace big brother. You will be missed, but always remembered by friends, family and your loving fans…. 10/19/1951 – 01/22/2026 The family will be holding a private funeral with a memorial celebration of life to be announced at a future date.”
ABOUT “UNCLE FLOYD”
The show hosted by Vivino, the eponymous character in “The Uncle Floyd Show,” was a cult-classic, comedy show, a blend of Soupy Sales slapstick, puppetry and musical guests.
Based in New Jersey, the show that aired from 1974 to 2001, was geared for kids but also popular with adults and known for its low-budget, chaotic, and improvisational Vaudeville-style format, often featuring local talent and satire and it became a staple of NYC-area TV.
He was revered by celebrities like John Lennon and David Bowie, who wrote the song “Slip Away” about Vivino, The Ramones, who were part of Vivino’s 13,000 member fan club, and Jon Bon Jovi, also a New Jersey son.
“Uncle Floyd gave me a shot on his show first. Before anyone. Thank you Floyd. Rest easy my friend,” Bon Jovi wrote on social media Friday night.
Along with the message, Bon Jovi posted a clip of a 1981 appearance by his former John Bongiovi Band on Vivino’s television show.
The clip showed Bon Jovi, who was still a teen at the time, singing after being introduced by Uncle Floyd.
Floyd’s appeal included rockers he booked on his show, including Cyndi Lauper, Elvis Costello; and Blue Oyster Cult.
STATEN ISLAND CONNECTIONS
Jeff Benjamin, a sports writer, explained that as a kid in the late 1970s, he found the Uncle Floyd TV show on UHF Channel 68.
Brianna Benjamin, Uncle Floyd and Jeff Benjamin wearing an Uncle Floyd T-shirt. (Courtesy/Jeff Benjamin)Staten Island Advance
“My friends Tom Lorenzo and Tom Petronzio formed a fan club and in 1980, we arranged for Floyd and his TV crew to do an appearance at the Great Kills Community Club. Hundreds came down,” he shared.
Guests on the show included The Ramones, Cindi Lauper, and Jan & Dean, along with Staten Islanders like David Johansson and True Rumor drummer Bobby Moller.
“David Bowie and John Lennon were among his millions of fans and Bowie wrote a song about him – “Slip Away,” Benjamin added.
At a Salute and Roast to Jack LiGreci at LiGreci’s Staaten, Michael Schnall, Uncle Floyd Vivino and Jeff Benjamin who are holding a retro T-shirt from the Uncle Floyd Show from 1979. (Staten Island Advance/Carol Ann Benanti)Staten Island Advance
Jeff Benjamin and Uncle Floyd Vivino. (Courtesy/Jeff Benjamin)Staten Island Advance
At a Salute and Roast to Jack LiGreci at LiGreci’s Staaten are Jack LiGreci and Uncle Floyd Vivino. (Staten Island Advance/Carol Ann Benanti)Staten Island Advance
“My wife Roseann surprised me at my 50th birthday party by having Floyd come down,” he continued. “Then from 2015-2017 Uncle Floyd came down to the Brighton Kiwanis annual roast dinners at The Staaten where Floyd joined us in roasting Judge Mike Brennan, Michael McVey in 2016 and Doc Craig Campbell in 2017 and Jack LiGreci in 2018. And he also appeared regularly at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel summer festivals in Rosebank.”
From the left, Michael McVey, Uncle Floyd Vivino and Jim Hart. (Courtesy/Brighton Kiwanis Club)Staten Island Advance
Uncle Floyd Vivino and Dr. Craig Campbell. (Courtesy/Brighton Kiwanis Club)Staten Island Advance
Tommy Hart leads Michael McVey and Uncle Floyd at the 2016 McVey Roast. (Courtesy/Brighton Kiwanis Club)Staten Island Advance
Uncle Floyd Vivino at Justice Michael Brennan’s Roast at LiGreci’s Staaten. (Courtesy/Brighton Kiwanis Club)Staten Island Advance
Uncle Floyd Vivino and Steven Gross (Courtesy/Steven Gross)Staten Island Advance
Around 1980, fan Ron Hill, a Staten Islander, recounted that around 1980 TV Guide had an article about a New Jersey UHF show called “The Uncle Floyd Show,” which on the surface appeared to be a kids show but as the article stated was filled with subversive comedy.
Ron Hill with his daughter Maggie and Uncle Floyd Vivino. (Courtesy/Ron Hill)Staten Island Advance
“In short order I found channel 68 and while the picture quality was filled with snow and static, you could see just enough… I was instantly hooked. The Uncle Floyd show was filled with daily characters, puppets, pictures on the wall, And musical acts, like The Ramones and David Johansson. And Floyd himself was no slouch on the piano, where every episode he would play some old time song or another. My grandmother, while she would like Uncle Floyd’s songs, she hated the show with a passion. Every sketch was always filled with the hoots and hollers of the cast off camera like a live studio audience but with 10 drunk 1970s dudes.”
Hill said he got in on the Uncle Floyd show at a good moment.
“Within a few years the show put out a cast album and had a late night run on NBC. By the end the ’80s, I was working in the comic store full-time and had a social life and the Uncle Floyd show had bounced around various channels… I couldn’t keep up anymore, I would still occasionally tune in but in my early days of watching it when it was appointment TV, it was much easier to understand all the . . . jokes that would carry from episode to episode.”
He added that Uncle Floyd continued to be a nightclub performer until a few years ago when he got sick.
“I was lucky enough to see him several times at a local church festival on Staten Island, a mile from my home… RIP Uncle Floyd..
Cartoonist Evan Dorkin posted on Instagram:
“I’m normally not a big celebrity guy. I don’t really want to meet all that many people whose work I enjoy, and most of them are cartoonists. But Floyd Vivino was, and is, and always will be someone special to me. I am and will always be an adoring fan. I feel very lucky that I got to meet him and show my appreciation to him for all the happiness he brought me. I worked so hard on the drawing of him because I wanted that appreciation and love to show through. I’m a little heartbroken today.”
A LITTLE ABOUT VIVINO’S LIFE
In addition to creating and hosting the low-budget, cult-favorite variety show, Vivino appeared in films such as “Good Morning, Vietnam” in 1987, the TV series “Law & Order,” “100 Centre Sreet, the Satellite Radio program “The Wiseguys Show” on Raw Dog Comedy (channel 104) hosted by former “The Soprano’s” cast member Vincent Pastore.
Vivino performed the jingle and appeared in the TV commercial for the frontier-themed amusement park Wild West City, located in Byram Township, N.J. a jingle that is still used today by the park.
He also had parts in the movies “Crazy People” and “Mr. Wonderful.”
From 1987 to 2013, Vivino broadcast on WVIP-FM 93.5 radio from New Rochelle, where he played a wide range of Italian music on his Sunday afternoon program, “The Italian-American Serenade.”
Vivino claimed to have the largest collection of Italian records in the world. The program was revived on sister station WVOX 1460 AM in September 2018.
From 2001 to 2004, “Uncle Floyd’s Restaurant” operated out of the Holiday Inn in Wayne, N.J., where he performed several nights a week.
In January 2013, he began the internet-based radio program “The Uncle Floyd Radio Show,” which can be streamed twice a week from the show’s website and through various SHOUTcast mobile apps and links.
Vivino hosted and starred in The Last Authentic American Traveling Burlesque Show, a tribute to the lost entertainment style of burlesque.
A world-record pianist, Vivino once played non-stop for 24 hours as a way to raise funds for charity.
And he ran for the governor of New Jersey as a write-in-candidate in 2009 and in 2017.
VIVINO’S ROOTS
Vivino was born to Jerry Vivino, Sr., a jazz trumpeter, and Emily Vivino.
At Glen Rock High School he produced a musical revue starring the school’s janitorial staff and began his live-performance career working as a child tap dancer in Atlantic City, and began his broadcast career over a friend’s pirate radio station while in high school.
Vivino was the older brother of Jerry Vivino and Jimmy Vivino who were members of the Basic Cable Band, former known as the Max Weinberg 7.
Vivino was also the uncle of musical theater actress Donna Vivino.
From the left, entertainers, Uncle Floyd Vivino, Carl Thomas, Pat Cooper, singer, Johnny Petillo, comedian Jack Fontana, and comedian/ventriloquist, John Pizzi. (Courtesy/Carl Thomas)Staten Island Advance
CONDOLENCES
Retired New York State Supreme Court Justice Michael Brennan: “Uncle Floyd Vivio’s greatest gift was that he made everyone laugh.”
Crooner/entertainer Carl Thomas: “They say no one is indispensable or irreplaceable. But when it comes to the art of comedy with an Italian- American theme, no one could compare to Uncle Floyd. Comedian Pat Cooper adored him. We all adored him. I had him at every Pat Cooper birthday party – I made sure Uncle Floyd was there each and every time.”
Veteran Steven Gross: “I met Floyd at the Mount Carmel feast years ago and then at Judge Brennan’s Roast. We sat together eating dinner and he said ‘Call me Tonto Florio.’ I did that for the past years. If there’s a memorial service, I want to attend for my friend.”
Mike DeCataldo, treasurer Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast: “Uncle Floyd will be greatly missed by all including everyone who attended the annual feast who enjoyed his comedy that was really about true to life family occurrences. People loved being around Uncle Floyd. He was a good soul and loved by everyone. I would get calls to see if he was going to be at the annual feast.”