Don Novello, the comedic mind behind the iconic Father Guido Sarducci, recently celebrated his 80th birthday, marking also the 50th anniversary of his beloved character. While Novello has had a diverse career, Father Guido Sarducci remains his most recognizable creation, especially for his time on Saturday Night Live (SNL).
As a child, the character of Father Guido always held a certain fascination. Not being Catholic, there was an intriguing exoticism that always felt just out of reach. Father Guido is not just a priest but a Vatican priest, complete with a vaudeville Italian accent, a sleazy edge accentuated by a porn ‘stache, tinted shades, and the ever-present cigarette. His padre hat and cap somehow made him look like both an eminence and a gangster simultaneously. There was an undeniable aura of corruption about him, which elevated the character from simple dialect humor to sharp satire. Novello debuted the character in San Francisco nightclubs in 1973, and his popularity led to appearances on a David Steinberg special and The Smothers Brothers Show (1975 incarnation).
Father Guido Sarducci’s SNL Reign
Novello’s association with Saturday Night Live began in 1977 when he was hired as a writer. It wasn’t long before he brought Father Guido Sarducci to the forefront, debuting his “Weekend Update” segments in 1978.
Don Novello as Father Guido Sarducci on SNL
He remained a fixture on the show until the major cast changes in 1980, solidifying Father Guido Sarducci as a beloved character in the show’s history.
Beyond SNL: The Enduring Appeal of Father Guido
Even though Novello took on other roles outside of Father Guido, it became his signature persona, much like Jack Pearl’s Baron Munchausen or Harry Einstein’s Parkyakarkus. As such, he found himself playing the character in diverse settings, from late-night talk shows and MTV music videos to guest appearances on sitcoms and even in Gilda Radner’s one-woman Broadway show.
Don Novello: Beyond the Cloth
Francis Ford Coppola became a significant supporter of Novello as an actor beyond Father Guido. Coppola cast him in several of his films, including Tucker: A Man and His Dream (1988), the “Life Without Zoe” segment in New York Stories (1989), The Godfather Part III (1990), Jack (1996), and Twixt (2011). He also had a role in One Night Stand (1995), directed by Coppola’s sister, Talia Shire.
A Multi-Talented Career
Novello also gained recognition for his humor books, comprised of prank letters he wrote under the name “Lazlo Toth.” He would craft obtuse complaints to politicians and other public figures and then publish the often unintentionally humorous responses he received. He co-wrote the unproduced screenplay Noble Rot with John Belushi and served as a producer on SCTV for one season (1982). While his last IMDB credit is from 2015, his legacy as Father Guido Sarducci and his contributions to comedy endure.
The Lasting Impact of Father Guido Sarducci
Don Novello’s creation, Father Guido Sarducci, remains a memorable and influential character in the world of comedy. His sharp wit, combined with the character’s unique blend of religious and slightly subversive elements, cemented his place in comedic history. Novello’s work on Saturday Night Live provided a national platform for the character, ensuring that Father Guido Sarducci would be remembered for generations to come.
