August 23rd, 2011
05:20 PM ET
'Jimmy Kimmel' mourns the loss of 'Uncle Frank'Jimmy Kimmel's “Uncle Frank” Potenza has passed away at the age of 77, ABC confirms to CNN. Kimmel’s uncle was a security guard for the show and contributed "great moments" on-air for nine years. “It is with great sadness that the staff and crew of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ mourn the loss of ‘Uncle Frank’ Potenza,” the show says in a statement. “He was beloved by his co-workers and considered an Uncle to all.” Potenza was a Korean War veteran who served 20 years as a New York City police officer. He worked for 20 years as a security guard at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas and five years at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York before joining Kimmel’s talk show in 2003. “Uncle Frank” leaves behind his three daughters, as well as newborn granddaughter Franki. “His kindness and humor will be missed by everyone he touched,” says a rep for the show. |
  About this blog
Our daily cheat-sheet for breaking celebrity news, Hollywood buzz and your pop-culture obsessions.  |
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertise with us | About us | Help | Advertising Practices
hello there dennis here is the site address , they have a deal on at the mo ,tell them gary d recommened you
I don't even know how I ended up here, however I believed this put up used to be good. I don't know who you're however certainly you are going to a famous blogger if you are not already. Cheers!
hi!,I really like your writing so much! percentage we keep up a correspondence more approximately your article on AOL? I require a specialist in this house to unravel my problem. Maybe that's you! Looking ahead to see you.
Everyone should have an Uncle Frank in their lives. What a dynomite smile. The man was a jewel and will truly be missed. RIP sir. We will miss you.
earthquakes, hurricanes, war, and uncle frank dies my prayers are for you and your family, but watch out as your life is affected by having uncle frank as a guarding angel. laughing thinking about it in leary, texas
I worked with Frank at Caesars Palace during the 1980s. He was so sweet and very funny. I will miss him.
U r a idiot. Worms ? What a disrespectfull thing to say. What do u think caskets r for ? Did u know that caskets go into a vault. Vaults r water proof and worm proof. Then they gey buried. I hope u get thrown into a cardboard box-"here wormy wormy" ! RIP UNCLE FRANK, you truly will be missed.
I heard that Uncle Frank is going to be replaced by ABDULLAH THE BUTCHER. While it it a great loss, I am confident that ABDULLAH can do the job.
Thanks for being you. Many many times you made me laugh when I thought I couldn't. I will miss my late night uncle.
He was funny.
He did have an "everybody's uncle" kind of aura about him. He fit right in the gags.
Sorry to hear- he'll be missed when I tune in.
NOT FIRST!!!!!
I like the kindness between Jimmy and Uncle Frank. If Uncle Frank messed up, Jimmy covered for him. I enjoyed the Uncle Frank segments, I will miss Uncle Frank.
LOVED Uncle Frank. RIP, my man.
Damn, that is sad. You will be missed you inspired people with your kindness. With my Deepest Respect.
May the worms find your meat sweet. RIP. First!
Uncle Frank was probably the one and only reason why I would tolerate the JK show. He seemed to be considerate and respectful of others people feelings when everybody else on the show would do anything for laughs/ratings. RIP Uncle Frank and I hope that some of your kindness rubs off onto your nephew, Jimmy...
there is nothing unkind or insensitive about Jimmy you idiot, in-bred, moron. Go talk it over with your mother/sister and maybe he can set you straight. Your family structure has a lot in common with the late Bobby Darin's.
My condolences to Jimmy Kimmel and his family. Uncle Frank really made the show a lot of fun and had great chemistry with Jimmy, Cousin Sal, Cleto and Guillermo. It was a blast watching him on the show!
Sure are gonna miss ya Uncle Frank. God rest your soul.
Uncle Frank was a good man with lots of personality. It was a pleasure to get to know him during our tv shows at the 2004 Emmy Awards. Rest in peace, Uncle Frank.
Thank you for sharring your life with us...May God welcome you into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Uncle Frank, you brought a smile to my face. Rest eternal.
R I P UNCLE FRANK – THE COMEDY TEAM OF AUNT CHIPPY & UNCLE FRANK WAS SOME OF THE BEST COMEDY ACTS I'VE SEEN IN MY ALMOST 60 YEARS. HE WAS A NATURAL.
My condolences to the Kimmbel family.
Someone! Anyone! Please say it ain't so!!!
So sad. Great show.. Great Uncle.. Nice/Cool Security Guard.
Wayne
I am with you, Jimmy and Mr. Potenza's family, in your time of loss. "Uncle Frank" was a cheery, friendly, and very nice person whom everyone liked to see and hear. I admired his tenacity and strength but his humor kept him going right to the end. He will be missed by many a heart but will live on in spirit in the Jimmy Kimmel show!
Didn't see this coming, he made for great laughter
I am extremely sad at the passing of Frank Potenza. I knew for some time that Frank was feeling unwell, and thought that he rebounded nicely. I offer my condolences to Jimmy, his mother, dad and kids and family.
Sorry Jimmie. I sincerely hope you'll mount your high horse to give your eulogy to Uncle Frank. He would have liked that.
May you rest in peace Uncle Frank!!! We all missed you.
Condolences to Kimmel and the whole crew. Thank you for sharing your Uncle Frank on the show, he was a great person, a wonderful character, and will be missed.
Bless you all.
C.S.R.
Aunt Chippy is very happy to hear this.
RIP "Uncle Frank" – sorry for your loss
Uncle Frank was great. I loved when Jimmy sent him out to do red carpet interviews. It was hiliarious when he tried telling Michael Caine about how many people they knew in common from Frank's days at Caesar's Palace and greatly annoyed Caine.
Seemed like a nice guy. RIP.
He will be missed greatly!
rip uncle frank
you losers that keep trying to be first need to get a frickin life
First!
surprized - he looked very healhty senior citizen to me
Well, he sort of disappeared off of the show for a while, and when he came back, I thought he looked a lot thinner. Sometimes that is not a good sign in the elderly.
We love you Uncle Frank. Peace on the other side. You're nephew is a funny guy, we'll look out for him while your gone.
amazing what a person can do when they put their mind to it !
thats so sad :'( Rip
RIP
we need good old mom and pops back RIP! MY CONDOLANCES....................
That's a tragedy. Uncle Frank segments were some of the best on the show. He will be remembered fondly.
I'm so sorry to hear that. My condolences to his family and friends. I'm sure he will be missed by all.
My condolences to the family of Uncle Frank....RIP
My condolences to the Jimmy Kimmel Show staff & the Potenza & Kimmel families. He sounded like a hard working man until the end ~ a true role model for all. May the family let little Franki know what kind of an extraordinary man she had for a grandfather. RIP UNCLE FRANK!
Well said...ditto
Aww uncle frank died, sorry to hear that.
Offering my condolences, too. He will surely be missed. I loved him on Kimmel!
You'll be missed Uncle Frank.
May he rest in peace. He was a sweet personality.
Let me be the FIRST to say we will miss you, Uncle Frank.
Obviously missed it by nanoseconds, but I did get here before you, sir. Ahem.
Well Obviously you need to work on your typing skills Mr. Rogers.
Serves you right for trying to do the inane "first" thing. Scourge of messaging boards everywhere. Pull yourself together.
Mr. Rogers, your failure wasn't in being second, but trying to be first. Tool.
My condolensces to the family.
Firsty.
77 isn't old these days...and when you are 77, you won't feel like it's "long enough" for you.
you are just a joy,,,,hopefully you won't be around much longer either