Judy Tenuta, Popular Stand-Up Comic Dies at 72

A well-known stand-up comedian Judy Tenuta, dubbed "The Love Goddess" and "Aphrodite of the Accordion" by her fans, died of ovarian cancer. Pic Credit: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-e688d9c7-d112-48c6-962f-e1cbf3dfa1e0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6dc16e81-2fec-453b-8a5e-6dbb2ff56f5d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b0b11bd4-a5a6-47bd-b660-1bd29421739b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-89872ce3-b71e-4d6f-a844-67b4d133665d","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2365dba6-bdb8-4831-83cc-2d31869f5a80","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-883c50c9-2bd9-47dd-b9db-4d220f5ae66b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] She was one of the performers who fueled the popularity of live comedy in clubs, known for her acerbic humour, expletive-laden jokes, raspy voice, and accordion. Pic Credit: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-0b9cb751-3c28-458b-addf-9566421dd588","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-29433498-c271-4d99-8cb4-b2edbc74be29","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-de52d7ff-279c-4e97-b456-d9576eec4110","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d4387d77-e03f-4f0f-b6cf-81c5254e26e3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-397fd8d8-0667-4262-81d9-6e3b1f2c1da9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-527b76dc-f3dc-4076-b4b5-fc44b8b77f3f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Tenuta co-starred in the indie "Sister Mary" with Bruce Vilanch and had minor roles in "Gibsonburg" and Hillary and Haley Duff's "Material Girls." Pic Credit: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-454cd612-0136-4d70-aa59-4878402a1b7d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e3cee93-8927-409e-8aac-08d5468af72c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e32cfcf9-396b-4656-8dd3-46682902cbc2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-01925a07-ddb3-44fd-86ff-17cb65ef0043","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1bd72c60-7dab-40d4-8f73-e504da8983b9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b4a77fbd-dc13-4347-bdcf-2d072042f2a5","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Her television credits include "General Hospital," "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide," and "Corey in the House." Pic Credit: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-5d3fd377-3050-4d79-98c2-3db5257141ed","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8b25285f-949e-4a7c-bd4b-8f9c992a129b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cc33e521-d43b-4c3d-8c94-73e40e7ccf15","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1971cfd9-1757-4327-96d3-fc9d87a0b9f5","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-68a15207-a65f-4208-91bf-c01e405cb963","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-36ebea0b-ac4c-4140-9644-953044ed2018","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] She was a regular in Al Yankovic's comedy shorts and music videos, in addition to playing minor characters on "The Weird Al Show." Pic Credit: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-2b04fd92-b3ee-4b68-898c-1990d3510b13","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e31b603-3985-4f4a-89f3-1f71d67e6087","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9bd53b98-5bfb-4a16-a804-c8d4fa56dde5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-583fe530-04d7-4257-a5ed-dedb37a5d58c","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-817b626b-b18a-430f-a343-aeaf4823c562","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a01ea450-e06f-4b3b-a87a-cdaa050ce7e6","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] She appeared on stage in "The Vagina Monologues" and "Menopause the Musical" in both Los Angeles and Chicago. Pic Credit: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-df96bbac-4260-4a23-ba9a-dd4dedd31fef","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b69edb3-697e-4472-b163-54c3180f705f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3c5ad5bf-41c0-498d-85bd-231c04dd7a21","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-41caab7c-68d9-4666-b5ed-db2bbc3348dd","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-21c90a57-628b-459f-a961-ca7a723c741d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e2035790-5100-4c50-b3f3-273eab3644a0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Tenuta had moved to Los Angeles by the mid-1980s after becoming known for a series of television commercials for MTV and Diet Dr Pepper. Pic Credit: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-adc331e1-4de9-41d5-a8a0-fb33766510b0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-defe3444-86e2-4c18-a2c3-28e12f9ff194","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f33ff54a-f719-4ef1-9682-088d1a3eed32","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e4500faa-2092-48b7-a9b9-b66bf1467a8e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bde1a0e9-09fb-44bc-b935-73090cc62352","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00f6fe1a-577b-41bf-814a-d4236b911783","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Tenuta was a vocal supporter of gay rights who frequently performed in gay bars and clubs throughout Chicago. Pic Credit: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-f162a9cb-14b8-4b0b-8c32-8483d5f6fbea","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99714a00-cca5-4c70-8f8d-252b4c8b4a22","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-70e2f52d-0617-4d1f-b9e7-31ba706eca23","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e1cdd810-41de-46bf-87c2-2cf2628dcde4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6a1e82ef-403e-4492-8c9f-264ad9edf9df","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4a0d86e9-1634-4ec3-a6f6-29f9f6a863fa","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Her interest in comedy began when she took a class with the Chicago improv group on November 7, 1949, in Oak Park, a Chicago suburb. Pic Credit: Google

[{"selector":"#anim-0568f952-aef5-4656-a2ca-9fb04257efcd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c1ff723-1089-4e30-a40d-3063e2279638","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-876a5e16-542d-407f-b1f1-975b4ac26572","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-01db1134-ecd9-486a-9390-c9ac16126202","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b84ee381-dce1-423b-8169-5e6e5a40d3a9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f54d7ca9-3f10-4c84-b18c-ff750b275cfc","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Tenuta was the first female stand-up comic to be named best female comedian at the American Comedy Awards. Pic Credit: Google