Jimmy Kimmel‘s uncle Frank Potenzadied Tuesday. A Korean War veteran, “Uncle Frank” first appeared onJimmy Kimmel Live!in 2003. He worked as a security guard for the program and also offered comic relief in various segments for the ABC show, often with parking lot attendant Guillermo Rodriguez.
Potenza as well-suited for security work as he had a long career in long enforcement: He was a New York City police officer for 20 years, a private security guard in Las Vegas for ten years, and worked on the security team at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City for five years.
The show said in a statement, “It is with great sadness that the staff and crew of Jimmy Kimmel Live! mourn the loss of ‘Uncle Frank’ Potenza.”
In honor of Uncle Frank, THR looks back at some of his funniest moments Jimmy Kimmel Live!
METEOROLOGIST UNCLE FRANK
In this segment, Kimmel talks about the tornados and storms that are heading to Northeast Texas all the way to Tennessee. He asks the specialist Uncle Frank to gives some tips for people who want to know what to do when a tornado strikes. Uncle Frank advises, “You should hit the ground, the lower the better, if there is a whole, you get down there, anything below the earth.”
UNCLE FRANK ON ‘JERSEY SHORE’ VOCABULARY
Uncle Frank responds questions when Jimmy asks about Jersey Shore‘s vocabulary. Jersey Shore cast mates Ronnie and Sammi had broken up again after he arrives home drunk from a club. However after they get back together, the other cast mates decided to send and anonymous letter to Sammi saying that Ronnie was “motor boating” at the club. Jimmy asks Uncle Frank what is the meaning of “motor boating.” Uncle Frank replies, “Motor boating is a combination of being out in the sea and on land.”
UNCLE JIMMY ON THE ROYAL WEDDING
Kimmel muses on Prince William and Kate Middleton‘s honeymoon on the island of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. He then asks world traveler “Geographer Uncle Frank” to explain to the audience a little bit about the place that the royal couple would spend their time. Uncle Frank jokes that “Seichelles” is the word that people say when they are getting a photo taken and he assumes that he just say “cuckoo.”
PROFESSOR UNCLE FRANK ON BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Kimmel discusses the history of Black History Month and mentions that when he was a kid it was celebrated very frequently, but now he says, “we are becoming a big fat family or something.” When asked about Black History Month, Uncle Frank says black people had done a lot for the country, including our first black president. “If you dont have a black friend, look for one,” jokes Frank.
ASK DR. UNCLE FRANK
In this video, Kimmel comments that the federal government is worried about Americans’ weight. As the news surfaces a week before the Super Bowl weekend, Kimmel joked,”Thanks for the tips five days before I go throughout a bucket of chicken wings and go swim head first in a tub of nacho cheese.”
Uncle Frank then gives his opinion on what type of food he prefers. He says, “The worst is vegetables, can’t digest vegetables, too many colors and combinations.”
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