book this speaker
JOE NIPOTE
CLEAN STAND-UP COMIC, ACTOR, RADIO PERSONALITY AND HOST
For FOUR successful seasons Joe Nipote played FRANKIE WATERS, the expert mechanic who lovingly cares for the Viper in, VIPER, the one-hour weekly action series produced by Pet Fly Productions. Nipote is the only original member of the Viper team since it’s inception in 1993.
Growing up in Detroit, Nipote was determined from an early age to make a living as a performer. He earned an acting scholarship to Central Michigan University, but quit one semester shy of graduation to try his talents in Hollywood. After supporting himself as a racquetball instructor among other jobs, Nipote landed a spot as one of five new up and coming comedians on HBO’s “Fifth Young Comedian’s Special. This led to numerous television appearances and live engagements as the opening act for such Performers as Tina Turner, The O’Jay’s, Dwight Yoakam, Barbara Mandrel, Dave Mason, Judy Collins, Ben Vereen, Frankie Valli, Robert Goulet, and countless others. After making a name for himself on the Comedy Club circuit, Joe was offered and accepted the morning show “host” Position on Detroit’s oldest and most respected rock and roll radio station, WRIF, where his improvisational, character driven humor, quickly endeared him to the listening public.
Following his year at Detroit’s “home of rock & roll,” Nipote returned to Oakland University and received his Bachelor of Arts degree. As a graduation requirement, he starred in the award winning play, “Amadeus” as “Salieri,” and his committed portrayal of the disturbed composer won him a best actor award and selected to represent his state in the Irene Ryan Theatre Award Competition.
He subsequently took his act back to Los Angeles and became a regular contributor to the KIIS-FM morning show hosted by Rick Dees, where his “Candid Phone” as Jack Nicholson telephoning the LA Forum maintenance department to locate his sunglasses, that allegedly fell in the toilet during a Laker game, received so much attention for it’s believability, that it prompted a call from non-other than the real Jack himself, to inquire who was behind the crafty impression.
Television work followed, with Nipote appearing on Rick Dees’ “Into the Night,” “The New WKRP,” “Normal Life,” “Northern Exposure,” and “Murphy Brown.” Cast as Candace Bergen’s secretary #48, Nipote was supposed to portray, a “self-absorbed secretary would-be comic from hell,” but his performance proved so funny, he was asked repeatedly by the director to be “less funny.”
In 1994 Nipote was handpicked by Steven Spielberg himself to play “Uncle Stretch” leader of the “Ghostly Trio” in Universal/Amblin’s animated feature, “Casper.” Joe followed the feature by bringing his ghostly character to the animated series on the Fox network as well as,” “Trash” in “What-A- Mess,” “Spider Spinelli” in the new “Superman,” “The Mask,” Disney’s “Duck Daze,” ” Justice League Unlimited” and countless others.
Along with Viper and his cartoon series, Nipote has countless CD-ROMS including two of them FOR LUCASARTS: “Monkey Island” and “Grim Fandango.” Monkey Island won CD-ROM game of the year, Joe played the wicked “Wharf Rat” and many of the “Pirates.” In “Grim Fandango”, he portrays no less than three lead characters as well as a lead character in the very popular Black Isle’s, “Ice, Wind and Dale II.”
As Viper wrapped up it’s successful 97-98 season, Mr. Nipote wasted no time and continued his work playing two roles in the new Paramount pilot for CBS titled, “It’s True,” also from Pet-fly productions. In “It’s True,” he plays “Uther” the lovable bridge troll and “Nick” the opinionated and often caustic espresso guy.
Joe also tried his hand at writing and had his first script optioned this year by Fox Family Channel for his story titled “Angel & the Mobster”, a comedy about an overly enthusiastic angel sent down to earth to save an innocent soul caught in a mob hit. But after completing his mission, the angel hears the mobster’s plea for help and without thought or hesitation, he saves the mobster, which creates a whole bunch of problems between Heaven and Hell.
Joe has continued his acting roles in no less than three movies, “Back By Midnight” in which he co-stars with Rodney Dangerfield playing the role of “Ears”, a safecracker, then he followed with a small by hilarious performance in “The Last Tenor” also starring Rodney Dangerfield which is currently available at video stores, and also in “Cloud Nine” a new comedy soon to be released starring Burt Reynolds.
And Joe has kept up with his writing having just published two children’s books called “Eggy Yolk and the Dirty Rotten Dozen”, and “Sammy Spinelli visits a Deli.” Both are due out later this year.
Up next is the “Casper” sequel to be produced by Universal/Amblin and various standup and charity benefits as Joe takes the plunge and returns to Stand-Up-Comedy for a while.
