Legendary American-Italian Actor, Showman and Radio Star Joe Piscopo on What He Has Lost and Found in Italy
BY GIOVANNA G. BONOMO
October, 2024
As the eternal city bathes in the warm glow of a setting sun, I am meeting the legendary Joe Piscopo. We are at Villa Madama, Joe stands on a hill overlooking the Roman skyline, his eyes reflecting a mixture of awe and belonging. “Italy is, when you come here,” his deep voice tinged with emotion,”It’s hard to describe, but you feel your ancestry, you feel where you came from.” This sentiment encapsulates the essence of Piscopo’s journey—a journey that has taken him from the comedy clubs of New Jersey to the hallowed halls of “Saturday Night Live,” and now, to the heart of his ancestral homeland.
Born in Passaic, New Jersey, in 1951, Joseph Charles John Piscopo grew up in a vibrant Italian-American community that would shape his worldview and his comedy.
At the heart of his story lies a powerful lesson about the importance of names as a connection to our heritage. "My mother's name is Aida, named after the opera," Piscopo recalls, his voice carrying a note of reverence. "Then my grandmother from Avellino named all the girls after her, but because it was America, because people couldn't pronounce Aida, they changed her name to Edith." This early experience with cultural assimilation left a lasting impression on Piscopo. "It happens all the time — if they couldn't pronounce your name, they change it," he explains, with a hint of frustration in his tone. "It didn't seem like the nice thing to do, but mom never liked the name Edith, so she is Aida Assunta. I named one of my daughters with a middle name after my mom." For Piscopo, this story is more than just a family anecdote.
Growing up in Newark during the Age of Conformity of the 1950s, Piscopo witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by Italian immigrants and their children. "We were proud of where we came from, but there was also this intense pressure to fit in, to be 'American' enough," he reflects. "It took me years to realize I didn't have to choose.”
THE SNL YEARS AND SINATRA
The performer’s big break came in 1980 when he joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” during a pivotal transitional period. As part of the show’s notorious “Eddie Murphy era,” Piscopo quickly became a fan favorite, known for his spot-on impressions and versatile comedic talents. It was on “SNL” that Piscopo first donned the fedora and picked up the microphone to impersonate Frank Sinatra, a fellow Italian-American icon. What started as a comedic bit soon evolved into a profound connection with Ol’ Blue Eyes himself. “Frank Sinatra represented more than just music to me,” Piscopo explains. “He was the epitome of Italian-American success, a guy who never forgot where he came from but conquered the world on his own terms.”
Piscopo’s Sinatra impression became so renowned that it caught the attention of the Chairman of the Board himself. In a twist of fate that seems almost too perfect for Hollywood, Sinatra gave Piscopo his personal blessing to continue the impersonation, recognizing the younger performer’s talent and respect for the craft. This seal of approval from Sinatra opened doors for the young entertainer, leading to performances at prestigious venues and even a chance to sing alongside members of Sinatra’s original band. But more than that, it cemented Piscopo’s status as a torchbearer for Italian-American culture in the entertainment world. But comparing Joe to a Frank Sinatra impersonator feels like an understatement for what he truly achieves on stage.
Having experienced his shows in person, I can say that he doesn’t just mimic Sinatra, he embodies the spirit of the legendary crooner. When he takes the stage, it’s as if Sinatra himself has been reincarnated. From Sinatra’s distinctive voice, singing style, and mannerisms, Piscopo captures Sinatra’s charisma and his ability to command a room with swagger. Watching Piscopo as Sinatra, you almost forget you’re watching an impression and feel like you’ve been transported back to a 1960s nightclub with the Chairman of the Board himself on stage.
At the heart of the show is a loving homage from one Italian-American entertainer to another. With his incredible verve, Piscopo keeps the legacy of one of music’s greatest entertainers alive in a way no one else quite can. He’s not just an impersonator - he’s the ultimate Sinatra tribute artist.
EMBRACING HERITAGE
As his career evolved beyond “Saturday Night Live,” he found himself increasingly drawn to projects that celebrated his heritage. This passion led him to become a celebrity ambassador for the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Italian-American culture and heritage.
Through his work with NIAF, Piscopo has been instrumental in organizing cultural events, fundraising galas, and educational initiatives. He’s become a familiar face at Italian-American festivals across the country, using his celebrity status to shine a spotlight on the community’s achievements and ongoing challenges. “NIAF gave me a platform to really dig into what it means to be Italian-American in the 21st century,” Piscopo says. “Italy is not just about pasta and cannolis—though those are great. It’s about preserving a rich cultural legacy while fully embracing our American identity.”
ITALIA BELLA
“I’m a proud American, love America,” he declares. “But when I come here, it’s hard to describe... you feel it heart and soul.”“Everywhere you look in this great country, there is something beautiful,” he marvels. “The architecture—Roma is absolutely glorious.” His appreciation for Italian culture extends to the language as well. “Italian, bella lingua in tutto il mondo,” he says, “Italian is the most beautiful language of all. They try to take it away, but we won’t let that happen.” His admiration for Italian achievements knows no bounds. “The Italians really started civilization,” he asserts. “What do you think of the aqueducts and how they did everything? We went to the Trevi Fountain—there’s no water pump, it’s not like Vegas! It’s a natural spring, and it’s incredible.”
FINDING FAITH
Piscopo’s connection to his Italian roots goes beyond the cultural and into the spiritual realm. “I was reading letters from my father from the Second World War that he wrote to his mother, to Carmela, my grandma,” Piscopo shares. “And in one letter, Pop was writing to his mother as he was stationed in Bari, Foggia. He said, ‘I met a magnificent man today, a very special person they called Padre Pio. I shook his hand.’” This connection to Padre Pio through his father’s wartime experience has deeply impacted Piscopo. During his current trip to Italy, he made a pilgrimage to Pietrelcina, the birthplace of Padre Pio, a revered Catholic saint. “You could feel the power like a lightning bolt,” he says of his visit to Pietrelcina. “People just say Joe’s nuts. Oh Joe’s crazy now, but you could feel it.”
TUTTO IN ORDINE
As our conversation winds down, with the lights of Rome twinkling below, Piscopo turns reflective when asked what being Italian and American means to him. “You, know, being Italian-American is about honoring your roots while fully embracing your American identity,” he said. “It’s not either-or. It’s both-and.” This duality—the ability to simultaneously celebrate one’s heritage while fully participating in American life—is at the core of Piscopo’s message to young Italian-Americans. In an era where discussions about the Artificial Intelligence, identity and assimilation often dominate headlines, Piscopo offers a nuanced perspective shaped by decades in the public eye. “Every time anybody worries about the world, what’s going on, the craziness, I say, ‘Tutto in ordine’ (everything is in order)—don’t worry about a thing, everything’s all right.”