Judy Tenuta, the eclectic comedian dubbed the “Goddess of Love” and “Aphrodite of the Accordion” by her many fans, has died. She is 72.
Publicist Harlan Boll announced that Tenuta died Thursday at her home in Studio City after a battle with ovarian cancer.
In her first solo performance, Tenuta shocked the audience by dressing up as the Virgin Mary, after her friends encouraged her to incorporate the accordion into her daily life – her mother, After Lawrence’s fan’s instrument, Welk encouraged her to learn – and she began to develop the character into her signature one, the wisecracking love goddess.
Tenuta left Chicago and moved to New York City in the late 1980 years to co-host the HBO comedy special with Ellen DeGeneres, Rita Rudner, Martin Short and Paula Poundstone.
In the mid- decade, Tenuta gained notoriety for a series of TV commercials on MTV and Diet Dr Pepper and moved to Los Angeles, where she harbored a strong sense of independence attitude, openly rejecting Hollywood beauty standards and celebrities.
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