Judy Tenuta Bio
Judy Lynn Tenuta (November 7, 1949 – October 6, 2022) was a stand-up comedian, actress, and comedy musician from the United States.
She was known for her witty and brash persona as “The Love Goddess,” which combined insult comedy, observational humor, self-promotion, and raunchy onstage antics.
Tenuta amassed a small but devoted fan base throughout her career, particularly among members of the LGBTQ community.
Tenuta wrote two comedy books and was nominated for two Grammys for “Best Comedy Album.”
Judy Tenuta Net Worth at Death
Judy Tenuta had an estimated net worth of $3.2 million dollars at the time of her death. Tenuta began her comedy career in the late 1970s, performing openers and small-time shows on the Chicago comedy circuit.
Tenuta stunned audiences by dressing up as the Virgin Mary during her first performance, and after being encouraged by her friends to incorporate an accordion into her routine, she began to develop the character into her iconic persona as the wisecracking “Love Goddess.”
Tenuta left Chicago in the late 1980s to host an HBO Comedy Special with Ellen DeGeneres, Rita Rudner, and Paula Poundstone, after establishing a fiery reputation as one of the “hottest young comics around.”
Tenuta relocated to Los Angeles in the mid-1980s, where she published her book Full Frontal Tenudity about life in Hollywood.
Tenuta had a fiercely independent attitude in Los Angeles, openly rejecting Hollywood beauty standards and celebrity life.
She continued to perform on national tours for many years after that, including special appearances on the Chicago circuit.
Judy Tenuta Age at Death
Tenuta was 72 years of age at the time of her death she was born on November 7, 1949, in Oak Park, Illinois, U.S. She used to celebrate her birthday every year together with her friends and family.
Judy Tenuta Cause of Death
Tenuta died of ovarian cancer on October 6, 2022, in Studio City, California, at the age of 72.
Judy Tenuta Parents and Siblings
Tenuta, one of nine siblings, was born on November 7, 1949, in Oak Park, Illinois, into a Roman Catholic family to a Polish mother, Joann, and an Italian father, Caesar.
She grew up in a staunchly Irish-Catholic neighborhood, graduating from Immaculate Heart of Mary High School in Westchester, Illinois, and going on to study theater at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Her interest in comedy began when she enrolled in an improv comedy class with the Chicago improv group The Second City, and she soon began opening for other Chicago comedians.
Judy Tenuta Husband and Children
Judy’s husband is not publicly known–if she was married, it’s also not known if she had any kids, adopted or any of hers’.
