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<\/p>\nChick Vennera, a veteran actor of stage and screen, has died from cancer at his home in Burbank, California.<\/p>\n
The 74-year-old\u2019s death was confirmed by his daughter, Nicky Vennera, Deadline reported.<\/p>\n
The multi-talented actor, singer and dancer starred on Broadway, in films, television series and animated series throughout his nearly five decade career in Hollywood.<\/p>\n
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Vennera was best known for his disco dance scene performed atop parked cars in the \u201970s cult classic \u201cThank God It\u2019s Friday,\u201d as well as his recurring role as Enrique\/Pepe in NBC\u2019s iconic sitcom \u201cThe Golden Girls,\u201d co-starring opposite Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty.<\/p>\n
Born Francis Vennera, the native New Yorker moved to California after high school to pursue acting. He began studying at the Pasadena Playhouse and, after a brief stint in the Army, he came back to the Golden State where he performed in nightclubs and with the Disney on Parade tour.<\/p>\n
In 1973, the budding actor was cast in the national touring production of the smash Broadway musical \u201cGrease.\u201d<\/p>\n
He soon made the transition to television, where he continued his career with a long list of roles throughout the 1970s, including David Hartman\u2019s \u201cLucas Tanner,\u201d Robert Blake\u2019s \u201cBaretta\u201d and George Kennedy\u2019s \u201cThe Blue Knight,\u201d up to his last television role on 2004\u2019s DC Comics series \u201cStatic Shock.\u201d<\/p>\n
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During his 30-year career in film and television, he starred alongside greats including Donna Summer and Debra Winger in 1978\u2019s Oscar-winning \u201cThank God It\u2019s Friday,\u201d Richard Gere in the 1979 WWII romantic epic \u201cYanks\u201d and Robert Redford in 1988\u2019s magical farmer comedy-drama \u201cThe Milagro Beanfield War.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2005, the veteran actor appeared in his last indie film, \u201cGlass Trap,\u201d with cult icons C. Thomas Howell and Stella Stevens.<\/p>\n
Among his 74 acting credits, he also voiced characters for the \u201cAnimaniacs,\u201d \u201cBatman Beyond,\u201d \u201cThe Real Adventures of Jonny Quest\u201d and \u201cPinky and the Brain.\u201d<\/p>\n
After retiring from the screen, Vennera went on to share his talents founding and teaching at Los Angeles\u2019 Renegade Theatre and Film Group in 2009. He is survived by his daughter and wife, Suzanne Vennera.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Chick Vennera, a veteran actor of stage and screen, has died from cancer at his home in Burbank, California. The 74-year-old\u2019s death was confirmed by his daughter, Nicky Vennera, Deadline reported. The multi-talented actor, singer and dancer starred on Broadway, in films, television series and animated series throughout his nearly five decade career in Hollywood. …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":71268,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11185],"tags":[75478,75480,75476,75470,75472,75482,75474,75468],"yoast_head":"\n