Whatever happened to Tony Rosato?

[yendi]

Ever wondered what happened to former SNL castmember Tony Rosato? Turns out he's in jail, and quite nuts.

It's not a pretty story, but it is a fascinating one.

Comments

[fmh.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's sort of depressing. Not just the mishandling of his case but the fact that he's insane. Not just 'celebrity insane' either, genuinely mentally ill.

[yendi]

*nod* It's a sobering read.

[marlowe1.livejournal.com]

Don't even remember him. I usually try to figure out who someone is when I heard about them, like I might know them from somewhere but i can't. It looks like he was with SNL during its mid-80s tailspin into oblivion that was only barely rescued by the Dennis Miller cast.

Of course, the last time i had one of those "who?" moments it was Adriane Shelly and I found out that not only was I familiar with her work,but I loved it (well at least Trust)

[alladinsane.livejournal.com]

He was on SNL alongside Tim Kazurinsky and Julia Louis-Dreyfus and her hubby Brad Hall was doing Weekend Update(then called Saturday Night News)...and Joe Piscopo and Eddie Murphy were the only survivors of the disasterous Jean Doumanian season of SNL...

[sinanju.livejournal.com]

He also played Benny Carbaza, the loud-mouthed would-be gangster immortal in an episode of HIGHLANDER back in '93 or so. That's where _I_ remember him from. Just a one-episode role, but I found him very entertaining.

[yendi]

Holy shit! I'd totally forgotten that one.

[terracinque.livejournal.com]

The article says "Industry buzz pegged him as the next John Belushi." I find that hard to believe; SNL had a pretty weak cast in those days and I thought Rosato and Robin Duke were the weakest.

[yendi]

*nod* I don't disagree, but without enough specific memories of the buzz of the time (or any real documentation on the Star's part), I figured I'd give them the benefit of the doubt.

[lordrexfear.livejournal.com]

That was quite the read... and also really educational in ways.

That's quite the disease...

[yendi]

*nod* When I saw the headline at first, I figured it'd be an quick little "this guy screwed up" read.

[ldy.livejournal.com]

This is so sad... and so terribly typical. Since Zack's mom (who is schizophrenic) reappeared last year, Paul and I have researched the treatment of the mentally ill. More often than not, they are mistreated and jailed, rather than given the help they need. I'm sorry to see the situation's apparently no different in the Great White North.

[yendi]

Yeah, we sometimes like to think everything's better up there, but the systems, especially for handling the mentally ill, are messed up on both sides of the border.

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

He should indeed be in a hospital. That's sad.

I don't remember him. He was on SNL while I was living overseas, and then in a long period of time with no TV.