Silvio Peter "Tino" Insana (February 15, 1948 – May 31, 2017) was an American actor, producer, writer, and comedian.
Life and career
Insana was born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 15, 1948, the son of Silvio A. Insana, a musician, and Hiloray (). In 1971, Insana co-founded a local comedy troupe known as the West Compass Trio, along with Steve Beshekas and John Belushi. The group performed regularly in universities around the midwest until Belushi and Insana were hired by The Second City in Chicago. Insana left Second City in 1975 to form his own comedy troupe with fellow alums Jim Staahl and Jim Fisher, The Graduates. The trio made numerous appearances on television and campuses, as well as in clubs and at corporate presentations across the country. In 1977 Insana made his film debut in Rowby Goren and Chick Staley's comedy Crackin' Up. In the 1980s, Insana wrote two episodes for Police Squad! and an episode of Sledge Hammer!; he also served as story editor on both series. Insana then wrote, produced, and acted in Wedding Band and Masters of Menace.
Insana also made brief acting appearances in such films as Neighbors, Three Amigos, Who's Harry Crumb?, The Couch Trip, Oscar, and Beverly Hills Cop III. He also made guest appearances on situation comedy series such as Night Court and Mad About You.
Insana's voice has been featured in many animated television series, most notably Disney's Darkwing Duck as Dr. Reginald Bushroot and Bobby's World as Bobby's Uncle Ted. He also voiced Pig in Nickelodeon's animated film Barnyard and its subsequent spin-off TV series. In 2008, Insana voiced the role of Barf on Spaceballs: The Animated Series, inheriting the role from John Candy. He also did voice work in Goof Troop, Camp Candy, The Little Mermaid, Pepper Ann (as Pepper Ann's police officer uncle Jojo), House of Mouse, What-a-Mess, Bonkers, Aladdin, Jungle Cubs, Problem Child, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Teacher's Pet, and Tom and Jerry: The Movie. He was the speaking voice of Mr. Grouper in Bubble Guppies.
Insana cowrote the 1985 semi-biography The Authorized Al with "Weird Al" Yankovic.
Retirement and death In 2016, Tino Insana retired from acting. On May 31, 2017, Insana died of cancer at the age of 69 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1977 Cracking Up The Mailman 1981 Neighbors Perry Greavy 1983 Going Berserk Biker Leader 1986 Three Amigos Studio Guard 1987 Amazon Women on the Moon Mr. Sylvio (segment "Video Pirates")1988 The Couch Trip Jail Guard #1 1988 For Keeps Capt. O'Connell 1989 Who's Harry Crumb? Smokey 1989 Wedding Band Hugh Bowmont 1990 Why Me? Cop #3 at Home 1990 Masters of Menace Horny Hank 1991 Oscar Tiny the Iceman Uncredited1992 Tom and Jerry: The Movie Patrolman Voice1994 Beverly Hills Cop III Burly Cop 2006 Barnyard Pig Voice Television Year Title Role Notes1980 Big City Comedy Various Roles 12 episodes1990–1998 Bobby's World Uncle Ted Voice, 40 episodes1991 Darkwing Duck Dr. Reginald Bushroot / Crosby / Costumer With Dentures Voice, 14 episodes1992 Goof Troop Colonel Carter Voice, 1 episode1992 The Little Mermaid Baracuda Voice, 1 episode1993 Bonkers Stew / Scatter Squirrel Voice, 3 episodes1994 Aladdin Prince Uncouthma Voice, 3 episodes1997 Jungle Cubs Fat Cat Voice, 1 episode1997–2000 Pepper Ann Uncle JoJo / Earl Voice, 12 episodes2000 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Samsa Voice, 1 episode2000 Teacher's Pet Deep-Sea Diving Suit Voice, 1 episode2000 The New Woody Woodpecker Show Santa Claus Voice, 1 episode2007–2011 Back at the Barnyard Pig / Mini-Pig Voice, 47 episodes2008–2009 Spaceballs: The Animated Series Barf Voice, 12 episodes2011–2016 Bubble Guppies Mr. Grouper Voice, 79 episodes
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