Overview
- Jerry Vivino announced the death on Facebook, saying his brother died at 6:05 p.m. on Jan. 22; no specific cause was disclosed.
- Vivino became a cult figure with The Uncle Floyd Show, a low-budget variety program launched in 1974 that mixed puppets, music and offbeat comedy.
- His influence reached major artists, with David Bowie referencing him and his characters in the 2002 song Slip Away and the Ramones name-checking him in 1981.
- Beyond TV, he appeared in Good Morning, Vietnam and Law & Order and performed extensively across New Jersey, sometimes logging up to 300 shows a year.
- Tributes poured in from fans and officials including Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh, and the family said a public celebration of life will be announced later.