Biography
In the midst of performing as a singer and musician from a very young age, Chick Vennera made his television debut as a vocal talent on a first-season episode of the classic Space-Age cartoon series "The Jetsons." After two years of acting studies at the venerable Pasadena Playhouse, the New York native enlisted in the Army, where he entertained the troops with his acrobatic and melodious stage act. Upon his return to civilian life, Vennera performed with the international Disney On Parade tour before segueing into the world of Broadway. Concurrently, he reemerged as a TV character actor with appearances on such live-action cop dramas as "Baretta" and "The Blue Knight" (1975-1976). Although Vennera made a memorable big-screen debut as the parking-lot dancer 'Marv the Leather Man' in the disco comedy "Thank God It's Friday," it was his lofty stage work that landed him a role opposite Richard Gere in "Yanks," a World War II drama directed by John Schlesinger. Vennera delivered his first lead film performance as a defiant bean farmer in the comedic fantasy "The Milagro Beanfield War" and, on the television front, continued to guest appear on such series as "The Golden Girls" (NBC 1985-1992), which featured his fan-favorite depiction of the pompous reporter Enrique Mas. In the '90s, Vennera became a prolific contributor in the field of voice acting, performing on such popular animated shows as "Animaniacs" and "Batman." The actor launched his own performance-arts school in 2009. Chick Vennera died of cancer on July 7, 2021 at the age of 74.
