Floyd Vivino, the New Jersey comedian and television personality known to generations of viewers as “Uncle Floyd,” died Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 6:05 p.m. He was 74.
Vivino’s brother, musician Jerry Vivino, announced the death on social media, noting that Floyd had endured a two and a half year battle with health issues. His brother said his curtain peacefully closed Thursday evening.
The comedian had faced significant health challenges in recent years. In 2023, Vivino suffered a stroke that required emergency intervention. “I had two holes drilled in my head to relieve it,” he said in a December 2024 interview. In 2022, he also battled COVID and both bladder and prostate cancer.
Born in Paterson, New Jersey, on October 19, 1951, Vivino grew up in a family steeped in performance traditions. His grandfather was a theatrical actor in Italy, while his father, Jerry Vivino Sr., was a jazz trumpeter. The family’s musical legacy continued through his siblings, including brother Jimmy Vivino, who played in the house band for Conan O’Brien’s late-night show, and niece Donna Vivino, a Broadway performer.
After graduating from Glen Rock High School in Glen Rock, New Jersey, Vivino launched what would become a decades-long career in entertainment. His signature creation, “The Uncle Floyd Show,” debuted on January 29, 1974, and ran until 2001, with first-run episodes ending in 1998. The variety comedy TV series aired on UHF Channel 68 and became a cultural phenomenon across New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area.
The show’s origins involved some creative entrepreneurship. Vivino admitted to telling a lie when pitching the program to United Artists Cable Communications. He claimed he had hosted a show for three years in Albany, New York, called “The Uncle Floyd Show.” The company bought the story, and Vivino’s creation became the third show on the air in New Jersey cable history, following a news and sports program and a gardening show.
The low-budget variety series featured Vivino’s piano performances, celebrity guests, and a mix of comedy sketches that appealed to both children and adults. The show’s unique charm and local cable accessibility attracted an unlikely roster of famous fans. David Bowie referenced Uncle Floyd in his 2002 song “Slip Away,” while the Ramones name-checked him in their 1981 song “It’s Not My Place.” Bowie reportedly discovered the show through John Lennon, who was also a fan.
The program served as a launching pad for emerging talent. Cyndi Lauper made her first TV appearance on “The Uncle Floyd Show” years before her pop music stardom. The platform’s influence on local and regional entertainment was significant, providing exposure for musicians and performers who might otherwise have struggled to reach television audiences in the pre-Internet era.
Beyond his television work, Vivino maintained an active performance schedule, appearing in approximately 300 comedy shows a year at his peak. His entertainment career extended to film and television roles, including an appearance in the 1987 Robin Williams film “Good Morning, Vietnam” and guest spots on the long-running series “Law & Order.”
In 1999, Vivino set a Guinness World Record when he played piano for 24 hours and 15 minutes nonstop. The endurance feat demonstrated both his musical abilities and his commitment to entertaining audiences through unconventional means.
After “The Uncle Floyd Show” ended its television run in 2001, Vivino continued connecting with audiences through other media. He hosted radio shows, including a program titled “Uncle Floyd on the Radio,” maintaining the persona and comedic style that had made him a beloved regional figure.
Following his 2023 stroke, longtime friend Scott Gordon organized a weekly live stream watch party called “This WAS the Uncle Floyd Show,” which featured clips from the original television series and allowed fans to submit questions. The streaming events helped maintain Vivino’s connection with his audience during his recovery period.
Vivino received recognition for his contributions to New Jersey entertainment when he was nominated for the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2025, though he was not selected for induction. The nomination itself acknowledged his lasting impact on the state’s cultural landscape.
Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh paid tribute to the comedian after his death. “Uncle Floyd was like family to me,” Sayegh said.
The variety show format that Vivino mastered represented a particular era of local television programming, when regional cable systems provided opportunities for homegrown entertainment that could compete with network offerings for viewer attention. His success with limited resources demonstrated that personality and creativity could overcome production budget constraints. The show’s appeal crossed generational lines, with children enjoying the surface-level comedy and musical performances while adults appreciated the more sophisticated humor woven throughout the programming.
Vivino’s family is planning a private funeral, with a memorial celebration of life to be announced at a later date. The public memorial will provide an opportunity for the many fans, performers and colleagues who knew Vivino to pay their respects to the entertainer who brought laughter to audiences across multiple decades and media platforms.
