Mario Cantone

Mario Cantone (born December 9, 1959) is an American comedian, writer, actor, singer and television host best known for his numerous stage shows.

His style is fast-paced and energetic, with much of his humor coming from his impersonations of characters ranging from family members to celebrities to stereotypes.

He began his professional career hosting a children's show called Steampipe Alley, which aired on New York-New Jersey superstation WWOR-TV from 1988 to 1993.

[10] In his stand-up concerts, he is known for his occasionally campy[11] impressions of entertainment personalities such as Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland, Bruce Springsteen, Jim Morrison, and Bette Davis as well as for his original songs.

"[5] Cantone is known for his role in the HBO series Sex and the City as Anthony Marentino, Charlotte York's gay wedding planner who dispensed advice with a rapid fire delivery.

[15] Cantone made his Broadway debut in 1995, replacing Nathan Lane in the role of Buzz in Terrence McNally's Tony Award–winning play, Love!

[18] Several years later, Cantone did a workshop for The Lion King as Timon but was not comfortable with the makeup or manipulating a puppet and eventually left the project.

[21] A year later, Cantone starred as Gidger in Richard Greenberg's The Violet Hour[22] in a part written specifically for him.

[23] His other Broadway credits include his second one-man show, Laugh Whore, which ran from October 24, 2004, to January 2, 2005, at the Cort Theatre.

[29] In September 2010, Cantone appeared in a staged reading of the Charles messina play A Room of My Own at The Theatre at 45 Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village.

He has appeared in the Comedy Central roasts of Joan Rivers and fellow Boston-area native and Emerson College alumnus[8] Denis Leary.