A popular American actor, Broadway performer, and stand-up comedian, John Pinette was known for his relatable observational humor, robust voice, and spot-on accents and impressions, the latter of which included the Chipmunks, Elvis Presley, Gollum from The Lord of the Rings, Hervé Villechaize (Tattoo from Fantasy Island), and actor Marlon Brando, among others. A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Pinette attended a Catholic high school in the early 1980s, and graduated with a degree in accounting from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 1986. Friends ultimately persuaded him to take a stab at a career in comedy, and within just a few years he was asked to tour with Frank Sinatra. In addition to his stand-up, he began to accrue numerous television and film roles (Alf, Seinfeld, Parker Lewis Can't Lose) and (Junior, Dear God, Duets, The Punisher), and in 2004 he joined the touring cast of the musical Hairspray, eventually joining the Broadway production. A festival regular and in-demand host and panel guest, Pinette's comedy specials yielded numerous concert albums and DVDs, including Show Me the Buffet, Making Lite of Myself, and Still Hungry. On April 5, 2014 Pinette's life was cut short at the age of 50 by a pulmonary embolism at the Sheraton Square Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. ~ James Christopher Monger