John Pinette, the beloved stand-up comedian, actor, and Broadway performer, made millions laugh with his relatable humor centered on life, food, and the challenges of weight. Behind the scenes, however, Pinette battled a life-threatening weight problem that once pushed the scale to 452 pounds. His journey to drop over 200 pounds, going from 452 lbs to 250 lbs, is a testament to his resilience, determination, and the profound impact of prioritizing health. This article explores Pinette's weight loss journey, his evolving comedic material, and the legacy he left behind.
From Laughter to Reality: The Turning Point
For years, John Pinette joked about food, diets, and his size. He’d often riff, “I don’t do ups-I don’t do sit-ups, I don’t do push-ups… the only ‘up’ I do is ‘sup’-as in, ‘What’s up?’” His charm made audiences howl with laughter, but Pinette’s weight was no laughing matter. He wasn’t just a little overweight; he was morbidly obese-a reality that brought sleep apnea, blood pressure issues, and chronic fatigue. “I was always the fat guy. I made a living off it."
The turning point didn’t come from a doctor. It came from a moment of frightening self-awareness. Pinette collapsed backstage after a performance in the early 2000s. “I looked in the mirror and said, ‘This is it. You either get healthy, or you don’t make it past 50,’” he confessed. It was a chilling realization that his weight was no longer a punchline.
The Transformation: Small Changes, Big Impact
Dropping from 452 pounds to 250 pounds wasn’t overnight. He started with small changes: eliminating soda, switching from takeout to clean meals, and walking short distances-sometimes just from the parking lot to the venue. “I started walking more. Then I was walking miles. Then I joined a gym."
Pinette adopted a diet that focused on whole foods, lean proteins, and vegetables. He cut out the processed foods, sugary snacks, and the mindless eating that had been a part of his daily routine. “I learned that I could still enjoy food, but it didn’t need to be my entire focus,” he reflected. “Eating healthy doesn’t mean depriving yourself."
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Alongside dietary changes, exercise became a key component of Pinette’s weight loss strategy. Pinette was known to have incorporated cardio exercises like walking and cycling into his routine. He also worked with personal trainers who helped him build a strength training regimen that focused on building muscle mass and boosting his metabolism. Despite the difficulty, Pinette was determined to stick to his routine. He made a commitment to himself that he would no longer let his size limit his quality of life.
Battling Setbacks and Finding Strength
Despite the progress, Pinette battled setbacks. He relapsed into binge eating during stressful tours. But each fall was followed by a comeback. “I never quit. That was the one thing I promised myself."
Throughout his weight loss journey, Pinette also worked on managing his anxiety and stress-two major factors that had contributed to his emotional eating habits in the past. He began practicing mindfulness and self-reflection, learning to identify the triggers that led to overeating.
A Career Re-Energized
The transformation didn’t just change his body-it changed his career. His material shifted. He still joked about food, but now with a twist of wisdom. Audiences noticed. “I can breathe again. I can sleep. I can move." His confidence soared. He took on more acting gigs, made TV appearances, and even started mentoring younger comedians.
As John Pinette’s weight loss journey progressed, his career also experienced a shift. Not only did his health improve, but his confidence and self-esteem skyrocketed. Pinette’s comedy evolved as well. As he shared his journey with his audience, his material became even more relatable. He had gained a deeper understanding of himself, which reflected in his performances.
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A Lasting Legacy
Sadly, John Pinette passed away in 2014 at age 50, reportedly due to natural causes related to liver and heart disease. A backstage health scare and increasing health risks prompted him to take his condition seriously. Ironically, Pinette had shed almost 200 of his 400 pounds through an aggressive weight loss regimen, according to Larry Schapiro, who managed Pinette for the past 24 years. Last year, he interrupted a comedy tour to undergo treatment for a prescription drug addiction.
“John had become a sober person,” Schapiro told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette after Pinette’s death. “The sadness of this entire event is that for the first time in his life he was healthy, he was alive. He’d just turned 50 and John was on top of his game.” The trimmed-down accountant-turned-comedian was also developing an entirely new act consisting of material he first spoke of during an engagement at the old Sands Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City in August 1993: losing weight. His new show was going to be titled “They Call Me Slim,” according to Schapiro, who described its contents as “groundbreaking.”
John Pinette’s weight loss journey is not just a story of shedding pounds; it’s a story of self-discovery, perseverance, and resilience. His transformation was not only physical but emotional, and it serves as a reminder that true change requires both internal and external efforts. Through humor, honesty, and determination, John Pinette left behind a powerful message: no matter how difficult the journey, it’s possible to create meaningful change and live a healthier, happier life.
Remembering John Pinette
John Paul Pinette (March 23, 1964 - April 5, 2014) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, and Broadway performer. He toured the comedy club circuit beginning in the 1980s and appeared in cinema and on television. Besides stand-up, Pinette did various impressions, among them Michael Jackson, The Chipmunks, Elvis Presley, Gollum from The Lord of the Rings, Hervé Villechaize (Tattoo from Fantasy Island), an Ewok, actor Marlon Brando (notably Brando's role in The Godfather), as well as a range of regional accents.
Pinette was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 23, 1964, the son of Robert Pinette Sr. (1929-1988) and Louise Pitre (Petrie) (1927-1982). His mother was of Acadian ancestry, with both her parents from New Brunswick, Canada.
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Pinette's stand-up material was featured in Comedy Central's 2004 animated series Shorties Watchin' Shorties. In 2007, Pinette performed at the 42nd annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. He performed at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 2008, and toured in cities in 2010 beginning in April. During this tour, Pinette recorded a Comedy Central special titled John Pinette: Still Hungry. He was the host of All You Can Eat, a TV series taking a humorous look at American cuisine.
When explaining his approach to stand-up comedy onstage, in interviews, and on social media, Pinette often, though sometimes only partially, restated a mantra: "I talk about my life, it's the funniest thing I can think of." Pinette cited Jackie Gleason, Jonathan Winters, Buddy Hackett, and Bill Cosby as the main comedians that shaped him as a comic.