Trivia

In 2005 he was charged with criminally harassing his wife. He spent two years in jail awaiting trial before he was diagnosed with Capgras syndrome, a condition that made him believe his wife and daughter had been replaced by impostors. He was committed to a mental institution.

Worked at The Toronto Star with George Hollo. Tony would do various accents while taking calls, much to the chagrin of his supervisors.

Was one of only three comedian/writers to appear as regulars on both Saturday Night Live (1975) and SCTV (1976) (the other two being Robin Duke and Martin Short).

Known as the voice of the cartoon character Luigi in two seasons of television shows about Mario and Luigi.

Raised in Toronto, Canada

He once owned a pet monkey named "Mauldin"

Grew up in Ottawa, Ontario before moving to Toronto to attend university. Joined Second City in Toronto.

Tony Rosato was interred at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Woodbridge, north of Toronto -- sharing a plot with his mother Maria, who had died in 2014 at age 84.

Instructor Adam Cawley noted that after returning to study improv comedy at Second City in his 50s, starting at the introductory level -- Rosato wore a suit to every class because he wanted to be professional and respectful.

Tony Rosato became a naturalized Canadian citizen in 1966.

At Second City in Toronto, comedian Geoffrey Cork noticed a past photo of Rosato on the wall, and joked: "Tony, are you standing underneath that photo of you to make sure people know you're a big shot?" Rosato looked at it in shock. He genuinely hadn't noticed it was there, and was mortified. Cork described Tony's facial expression as "sweetly appalled at the idea".

After graduating from Oakwood Collegiate Institute in Toronto, Tony went on to the University of Toronto, but left school to join Second City.

Late in his life, Tony worked at Goodwill in Toronto when he was between gigs.

Prior to Second City, Tony's only previous experience being onstage had been doing community theatre at the Ottawa Little Theatre and the Jewish Community Centre.

Tony's hobbies included playing the piano, doing tarot card readings, and cooking.

Tony Rosato immigrated to Canada with his parents, Maria and Raphael, when he was four years old. Raphael died when Tony was 12. Maria raised Tony as a single parent, working in a garment factory to pay the bills.

The theme music that introduces the Cooking With Marcello SCTV sketches featuring Tony's character Marcello Sebastiano, is the traditional Neapolitan song Santa Lucia. It may have been chosen because Tony Rosato was born in Naples.