Joseph Sirola

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Joseph Sirola
The Montefuscos cast 1975.JPG
Cast of The Montefuscos (1975). Sal Viscuso, John Aprea, Linda Dano, Bill Cort. Middle row: Phoebe Dorin, Naomi Stevens, Joseph Sirola, Ron Carey. Front: Dominique Pinassi, Jeffrey Palladini, Damon Raskin and Robby Paris.
Born
Joseph Anthony Sirola

(1929-10-07)October 7, 1929
Carteret, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedFebruary 10, 2019(2019-02-10) (aged 89)[1]
New York, U.S.
Alma materColumbia University[2]
OccupationCommercial, film, television, theatre actor and theatre producer
Years active1959–2015

Joseph Anthony Sirola (October 7, 1929 – February 10, 2019), also known as The King of the Voice-Overs,[3][4] was an American commercial, film, television, theatre actor and theatre producer.

Life and career[]

Sirola was born in Carteret, New Jersey to Croatian parents Anton, a carpenter and Ana (née Dubrovich), who ran a boardinghouse at 363 West 19th Street in Chelsea. He graduated from Stuyvesant High School in 1947 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business from Columbia University in 1951.[5][6] He then worked as a sales promotion manager at the multinational personal care corporation Kimberly-Clark, at the age of 28.[7]

Sirola began his career in 1959, as appearing in the soap opera television series The Brighter Day, playing the role of "Peter Nino".[8] Later in his career, he co-starred in a Broadway play, titled, The Unsinkable Molly Brown,[9] playing the role of "Christmas Morgan", in 1960.[10]

In 1960s–1970s, Sirola co-starred in another Broadway play, titled, Golden Rainbow,[11] playing the role of "Lou Garrity", in 1968.[10] He also appeared in a few films and television programs, including, Gunsmoke, Hang 'Em High, The Andy Griffith Show,[12][13] Chuka, Get Smart, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Perry Mason, Strange Bedfellows and The Greatest Story Ever Told.[7][14][15] Sirola was later nicknamed by the name The King of the Voice-Overs from The Wall Street Journal, in 1970.[7][16]

In 1970s–2000s, Sirola appeared and guest-starred in numerous film and television programs, including, Hawaii Five-O, The Super Cops, Mannix, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Quincy, M.E., Seizure, The Rockford Files, Spin City, Love, American Style, Charlie's Angels, Terrible Joe Moran, Diagnosis: Murder, The Ellen Burstyn Show and Washington: Behind Closed Doors.[14][15] He also starred in two short-lived television programs, titled, The Montefuscos[17] and Wolf.[18] Sirola also did voice-over work for numerous television commercials from the 1970s thru the 1990s including ads for Ford, Mobil, Wendy's and Nyquil.[2]

In 2000s–2015, Sirola began producing for Broadway plays, including, Time Stands Still, Stick Fly, The Trip to Bountiful, A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder and Love Letters.[10] He also won and was nominated for Drama Desk Awards and Tony Awards.[10][19] Sirola retired his career, in 2015.

Death[]

Sirola died in February 2019 of complications from respiratory failure at the hospital in New York, at the age of 89.[2][7][20][14][16][21]

Filmography[]

Year Title Role Notes
1959 Happy Anniversary Waiter at El Morocco Uncredited
1965 Strange Bedfellows Petracini
1965 The Greatest Story Ever Told Dumah
1967 Chuka Jake Baldwin
1968 Hang 'Em High Reno, Cooper Hanging Party
1969 Three
1970 The Delta Factor Sal Dekker
1972 Hail Rev. Jimmy Williams
1974 The Super Cops Police Lt. O'Shaughnessy
1974 Seizure Charlie Hughes
1994 Love Is a Gun Al Kinder
1997 Sunday Joe Subalowsky

References[]

  1. ^ Palladino, Lisa. "Joseph A. Sirola '51, Actor, Voiceover Artist". Columbia College Today. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2021 – via Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ a b c Yang, Rachel (February 11, 2019). "Joseph Sirola, 'King of the Voice-Overs,' Dies at 89". Variety. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  3. ^ "The News Journal from Wilmington, Delaware – Page 50". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. October 24, 1989. p. 50 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ BWW News Desk (January 12, 2017). "BWW Audio: 'King of Voice-Overs' Joe Sirola Records TV Spot for Off-Broadway's CAGNEY". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  5. ^ Vinciguerra, Thomas. "Joe Sirola ’51 Is an Actor for All Seasons," Columbia College Today, Winter 2011–12. Retrieved September 23, 2021
  6. ^ Palladino, Lisa. "Joseph A. Sirola ’51, Actor, Voiceover Artist" (obituary), Columbia College Today, Summer 2019. Retrieved September 23, 2021
  7. ^ a b c d Barnes, Mike (February 10, 2019). "Joseph Sirola, Actor and Tony-Winning Producer, Dies at 89". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  8. ^ Schemering, Christopher (1988). The Soap Opera Encyclopedia. Ballantine Books. ISBN 9780345353443 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ "The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida - Page 56". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. January 26, 1974. p. 56 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b c d "Joseph Sirola". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  11. ^ "The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey – 47". The Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. February 5, 1968. p. 47 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Robinson, Fernandes, Dale, David (August 24, 2012). The Definitive Andy Griffith Show Reference: Episode-by-Episode, with Cast and Production Biographies and a Guide to Collectibles. McFarland. p. 132. ISBN 9781476601878 – via Google Books.
  13. ^ MeTV Staff (February 11, 2019). "R.I.P. Joseph Sirola, Mayberry musician Freddy Fleet who was later dubbed The King of the Voice-Overs". MeTV. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  14. ^ a b c Lentz, Harris (November 6, 2020). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2019. McFarland. p. 379. ISBN 978-1476679785 – via Google Books.
  15. ^ a b "Joseph Sirola". TV Guide. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  16. ^ a b Wild, Stephi (February 10, 2019). "Tony-Winning Producer and Actor Joseph Sirola Dies at 89". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  17. ^ "Albany Democrat-Herald from Albany, Oregon – 34". Albany Democrat-Herald. Albany, Oregon. September 6, 1975. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Vinciguerra, Thomas. "Joe Sirola '51 Is an Actor for All Seasons". Columbia College Today. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2021 – via Wayback Machine.
  19. ^ Haun, Harry (August 21, 2014). "Joseph Sirola: A Late-Life Broadway Producer Hits It Big". Observer. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  20. ^ Genzlinger, Neil (February 10, 2019). "Joe Sirola, Actor Who Found Riches in Commercials, Dies at 89". The New York Times. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  21. ^ Hetrick, Adam (February 11, 2019). "Joseph Sirola, Broadway Actor and Tony-Winning Producer, Dead at 89". Playbill. Retrieved July 21, 2021.

External links[]

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