Frank Potenza
Encyclopedia
Frank Potenza was an American
retired police officer
for the New York City Police Department
and former security guard
. He later became a television actor and comic relief
for the late night show
, Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He appeared as Jimmy Kimmel
's real-life Uncle Frank on the ABC
show as a regular from 2003 to 2011.
. Potenza joined the New York Police Department (NYPD) following the war, serving as a beat cop
in Lower Manhattan
for twenty years. He reportedly made just six arrests during his two decades in the NYPD, believing that a lecture by the police delivered more benefits than a prison sentence.
He became a security guard
and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada
, upon his retirement from the NYPD. Potenza served within singer Frank Sinatra
's personal security detail
and body guard when he performed at Caesars Palace
, where he worked. He returned to New York City to take a security position at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
, comedian
Jimmy Kimmel
, asked him to join his new late night show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, as a regular in 2003. Potenza, who was still working security at St. Patrick's Cathedral at the time, accepted Kimmel's offer and moved to southern California
. He was introduced to audiences as Kimmel's "Uncle Frank," serving as the late night host's comic relief
. Potenza appeared on the show for nine years from 2003 to 2011. Uncle Frank quickly developed his own fan following, with Kimmel noting in 2007, "People can tell that Uncle Frank is the genuine article... That's why they like him."
In one ongoing comic piece, Potenza was teamed with his former wife (and Kimmel's aunt
), Conchetta ("Chippy"), for a series of tasks ranging from self defense lessons to dairy farming
. Potenza was often paired with Guillermo Díaz
, the show's parking lot security guard for comedic value, and Veatrice Rice
, the show's security guard. Rice died of cancer on January 21, 2009.
on August 23, 2011, aged 77. He was survived by his former wife, three daughters, and a granddaughter. He was married to his former wife, Chippy, for more than twenty-eight years before they divorced. His memorial service was held in Las Vegas. In a Twitter
message, Kimmel thanked Potenza's fans tweeting, "Thank you for your kind words about a very kind man" and "RIP Uncle Frank, his comic timing
took a lifetime to earn. Today I eat cake for him."
The show was on summer hiatus at the time of Potenza's passing and was scheduled to return on September 6, 2011. On September 6, a tearful Kimmel aired a special tribute episode to Uncle Frank, with an interview with Frank's favorite guest, Don Rickles
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
retired police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
for the New York City Police Department
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
and former security guard
Security guard
A security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
. He later became a television actor and comic relief
Comic relief
Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.-Definition:...
for the late night show
Late-night talk show
In American television, the late-night talk show is a specific kind of comedy-oriented talk and variety show that airs late at night. Characteristics of the genre include topical monologues in which the host makes fun of the day's news, comedy sketches, celebrity interviews, and musical performances...
, Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He appeared as Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel
James Christian "Jimmy" Kimmel is an American television host and comedian. He is the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a late-night talk show that airs on ABC. Prior to that, Kimmel was best known as the co-host of Comedy Central's The Man Show and Win Ben Stein's Money...
's real-life Uncle Frank on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
show as a regular from 2003 to 2011.
Early life and career
Potenza was born in Brooklyn, New York, on November 11, 1933. He served in the United States military during the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. Potenza joined the New York Police Department (NYPD) following the war, serving as a beat cop
Beat (police)
In police terminology, a beat is the territory and time that a police officer patrols. Beat policing is based on traditional policing and utilizes the close relationship with the community members within the assigned Beat to strengthen Police effectiveness and encourage cooperative efforts to make...
in Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
for twenty years. He reportedly made just six arrests during his two decades in the NYPD, believing that a lecture by the police delivered more benefits than a prison sentence.
He became a security guard
Security guard
A security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, upon his retirement from the NYPD. Potenza served within singer Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
's personal security detail
Security detail
A security detail more often known as a PSD, standing for Protective Services Detail, Personal Security Detachment, or Personal Security Detail is a protective team assigned to protect the personal security of an individual or group. PSDs can be made up of military personnel, private security...
and body guard when he performed at Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace is a luxury hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, an unincorporated township in Clark County, Nevada, United States in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Caesars Palace is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Corp....
, where he worked. He returned to New York City to take a security position at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
Role on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Potenza worked security for more than ten years in New York City and Las Vegas when his nephewNephew
Nephew is a son of one's sibling or sibling-in-law, and niece is a daughter of one's sibling or a sibling-in-law. Sons and daughters of siblings-in-law are also informally referred to as nephews and nieces respectively, even though there is no blood relation...
, comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel
James Christian "Jimmy" Kimmel is an American television host and comedian. He is the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a late-night talk show that airs on ABC. Prior to that, Kimmel was best known as the co-host of Comedy Central's The Man Show and Win Ben Stein's Money...
, asked him to join his new late night show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, as a regular in 2003. Potenza, who was still working security at St. Patrick's Cathedral at the time, accepted Kimmel's offer and moved to southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. He was introduced to audiences as Kimmel's "Uncle Frank," serving as the late night host's comic relief
Comic relief
Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.-Definition:...
. Potenza appeared on the show for nine years from 2003 to 2011. Uncle Frank quickly developed his own fan following, with Kimmel noting in 2007, "People can tell that Uncle Frank is the genuine article... That's why they like him."
In one ongoing comic piece, Potenza was teamed with his former wife (and Kimmel's aunt
Aunt
An aunt is a person who is the sister or sister-in-law of a parent. A man with an equivalent relationship is an uncle, and the reciprocal relationship is that of a nephew or niece....
), Conchetta ("Chippy"), for a series of tasks ranging from self defense lessons to dairy farming
Dairy farming
Dairy farming is a class of agricultural, or an animal husbandry, enterprise, for long-term production of milk, usually from dairy cows but also from goats and sheep, which may be either processed on-site or transported to a dairy factory for processing and eventual retail sale.Most dairy farms...
. Potenza was often paired with Guillermo Díaz
Guillermo Díaz (Jimmy Kimmel Live)
Guillermo Díaz Rodriguez , widely known as Guillermo, is a talk show personality who rose to fame while working as a parking lot security guard at the Hollywood Blvd studios for American late night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live....
, the show's parking lot security guard for comedic value, and Veatrice Rice
Veatrice Rice
Veatrice Rice was a nurse turned security guard turned television personality, best known for her appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live, where she served as a comic relief sidekick for comedian Jimmy Kimmel...
, the show's security guard. Rice died of cancer on January 21, 2009.
Death and tributes
Potenza died from cancer at a hospital in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
on August 23, 2011, aged 77. He was survived by his former wife, three daughters, and a granddaughter. He was married to his former wife, Chippy, for more than twenty-eight years before they divorced. His memorial service was held in Las Vegas. In a Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
message, Kimmel thanked Potenza's fans tweeting, "Thank you for your kind words about a very kind man" and "RIP Uncle Frank, his comic timing
Comic timing
Comic timing is the use of rhythm, tempo and pausing to enhance comedy and humour. The pacing of the delivery of a joke can have a strong impact on its comedic effect, even altering its meaning; the same can also be true of more physical comedy such as slapstick.A beat is a pause taken for the...
took a lifetime to earn. Today I eat cake for him."
The show was on summer hiatus at the time of Potenza's passing and was scheduled to return on September 6, 2011. On September 6, a tearful Kimmel aired a special tribute episode to Uncle Frank, with an interview with Frank's favorite guest, Don Rickles
Don Rickles
Donald Jay "Don" Rickles is an American stand-up comedian and actor. A frequent guest on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Rickles has acted in comedic and dramatic roles, but is best known as an insult comic....
.