Legendary New Jersey comedian Floyd Vivino, known as “Uncle Floyd,” has died at 74.
On Friday, his brother, musician Jerry Vivino, announced on social media that he had passed away the previous day.
“Rest in peace big brother,” Jerry posted. “You will be missed, but always remembered by friends, family and your loving fans.”
An exact cause of death was not disclosed, but his brother said that he’d had a “2 and a half year battle with ongoing health issues.”
His brother added, “His curtain peacefully closed at 6:05pm on Thursday January 22nd.”
In a Dec. 2024 interview, Vivino told New Jersey 101.5 about recovering from a stroke in 2023.
“I had two holes drilled in my head to relieve it,” he said at the time. “And that usually cripples somebody, I came out of that okay. I’ve been doing okay with the nurses and things. I’ve been battling here. The worst part is not having any show to do.”
In 2022, he also talked about having COVID and both bladder and prostate cancer.
Born in Paterson, N.J., in 1951, Vivino was best known for his low-budget variety comedy TV series, “The Uncle Floyd Show.”
It ran on local cable from 1974 until 2001, and had a cult following in New Jersey and New York.
On the big screen, he appeared in the 1987 Robin Williams movie “Good Morning, Vietnam.” On the small screen, he appeared on shows that filmed locally, such as “Law & Order.”
The comedian also had famous fans, and got name-dropped in songs from several big artists, including the 2002 David Bowie song “Slip Away” and the 1981 Ramones song, “It’s Not My Place.”
Per the Bergen Record, Vivino talked about once meeting Bowie, and when he asked how the rock star knew him, the “Let’s Dance” singer said, “John Lennon told me.”
One of his biggest claims to fame was his song, “Deep in the Heart of Jersey,” which was a parody of “Deep in the Heart of Texas.”
“The dumps in June ain’t like perfume/Deep in the heart of Jersey/But it’s my state, I think it’s great/Deep in the heart of Jersey,” the lyrics read.
The comedian traveled around the state, wearing a porkpie hat and performing as many as 300 comedy shows a year.
“Uncle Floyd was like family to me,” Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh told the Bergen Record after his death.
“My mother laughed at all of his jokes and my wife thoroughly enjoyed his comedic routine. Sadly, one of the funniest Patersonians to ever live has left this life. May Floyd Vivino rest in eternal peace.”
