Buzz Belmondo
Encyclopedia
Lorenzo Matawaran, better known by his stage name Buzz Belmondo, is an actor
, comedian
, filmmaker, film producer
and writer
.
, on 20 February 1947, to Luis and Effie Matawaran, a Filipino
immigrant couple, he grew up in a housing project not far from Fisherman's Wharf. As a child, he had the reputation of being the "cut-up" of the guys from his neighborhood.
During the late 1960s, Lorenzo Matawaran served in the United States Army, including a tour of duty in Germany, with the 97th Signal Battalion. He held the rank of Sergeant
and was honorably discharged from the Army.
, Gil Christner, Joe Sharkey, and John Elk. Lorenzo began performing at comedy club
s throughout San Francisco, eventually heading for Los Angeles
and a club called Igby's. Matawaran developed his Buzz Belmondo persona during these days in improvisational and stand-up comedy
.
Matawaran's big break came when the Buzz Belmondo character was used on the Fox-TV Joan Rivers Show, telling fake gossip
about Hollywood stars.
After several television appearances, Buzz soon caught the interest of television producer
s, landing a recurring role on the syndicated sitcom
, Out of This World
, with co-stars Donna Pescow
and Maureen Flannigan
. Buzz and co-star Joe Alaskey
had previously worked the comedy club circuit together and remain good friends to this day, contrary to false rumors claiming that they feuded on the set of this show.
He went on to land the recurring role of "Guido" in the worldwide hit television series Baywatch
. He has also appeared in several films including The Big Fall, Underground, The Dakota Kid, and others.
Buzz's first screenplay, Family Values, was produced and directed by Second City member John Elk. Currently Buzz's projects include collaboration with Danny Stump and his long-time friend Christner on the parody/spoof of the 1950s
paranoia film, They Might Be Us.
He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Kathy, and their son Matt (a member of the LA Rock band We Are Lions).
Buzz is currently one half of the comedy team of Carl and Buzz. The duo headlines across the United States
.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, filmmaker, film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
.
Early life
Born in San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, on 20 February 1947, to Luis and Effie Matawaran, a Filipino
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
immigrant couple, he grew up in a housing project not far from Fisherman's Wharf. As a child, he had the reputation of being the "cut-up" of the guys from his neighborhood.
During the late 1960s, Lorenzo Matawaran served in the United States Army, including a tour of duty in Germany, with the 97th Signal Battalion. He held the rank of Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
and was honorably discharged from the Army.
Career
A popular standup comic during the heyday of the Holy City Zoo along with Robin Williams, Dana Carvey, Jose SimonJose Simon
Jose Simon was an American comedian and musician who founded Comedy Day in San Francisco and aided that city's reemergence of stand-up comedy starting in the 1970s....
, Gil Christner, Joe Sharkey, and John Elk. Lorenzo began performing at comedy club
Comedy club
A comedy club is a venue, typically a nightclub, bar, or restaurant where people watch or listen to performances, including stand-up comedians, improvisational comedians, impersonators, magicians, ventriloquists and other comedy acts...
s throughout San Francisco, eventually heading for Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and a club called Igby's. Matawaran developed his Buzz Belmondo persona during these days in improvisational and stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
.
Matawaran's big break came when the Buzz Belmondo character was used on the Fox-TV Joan Rivers Show, telling fake gossip
Gossip
Gossip is idle talk or rumour, especially about the personal or private affairs of others, It is one of the oldest and most common means of sharing facts and views, but also has a reputation for the introduction of errors and variations into the information transmitted...
about Hollywood stars.
After several television appearances, Buzz soon caught the interest of television producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
s, landing a recurring role on the syndicated sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
, Out of This World
Out of This World (TV series)
Out Of This World is an American fantasy sitcom about a teenage girl who is half alien, which gives her unique supernatural powers. It first aired in U.S. syndication on September 17, 1987 and ended on May 25, 1991. It was first broadcast in the UK on the ITV network on April 9, 1990, usually at...
, with co-stars Donna Pescow
Donna Pescow
Donna Pescow is an American film and television actress and director.-Life and career:Pescow was born in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family. Her father owned and ran a news stand in downtown NYC at Battery Place. Pescow attended Sheepshead Bay High School in Brooklyn and she took drama classes...
and Maureen Flannigan
Maureen Flannigan
Maureen Osborne Flannagan , credited as Maureen Flannigan, is an American actress noted for her role as teenager Evie Ethel Garland TV sitcom Out of This World, which ran from 1987 to 1991 and also starred Donna Pescow. She began acting professionally in 1985.-Personal:She attended the University...
. Buzz and co-star Joe Alaskey
Joe Alaskey
Joseph "Joe" Alaskey is an American actor, comedian, and voice artist, credited as one of the successors of Mel Blanc in impersonating the voices of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and other characters from Warner Bros. cartoons. He was born in Watervliet, New York.-Other work:Alaskey has also done voices...
had previously worked the comedy club circuit together and remain good friends to this day, contrary to false rumors claiming that they feuded on the set of this show.
He went on to land the recurring role of "Guido" in the worldwide hit television series Baywatch
Baywatch
Baywatch is an American action drama series about the Los Angeles County Lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County, California, starring David Hasselhoff. The show ran in its original title and format from 1989 to 1999, sans the 1990-1991 season, of which it was not in production...
. He has also appeared in several films including The Big Fall, Underground, The Dakota Kid, and others.
Buzz's first screenplay, Family Values, was produced and directed by Second City member John Elk. Currently Buzz's projects include collaboration with Danny Stump and his long-time friend Christner on the parody/spoof of the 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
paranoia film, They Might Be Us.
He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Kathy, and their son Matt (a member of the LA Rock band We Are Lions).
Buzz is currently one half of the comedy team of Carl and Buzz. The duo headlines across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Trivia
- Cousin of former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
Pitcher Joe Arancibia - Comedy Team of Carl and Buzz voted Top Act in Atlantic City
- Founding member of San Francisco Improv group Papaya Juice (along with Jose Simon, Gil Christner, Joe Sharkey, Rodney Sheriff, Bill Lucas, and John Elk)
- Avid fresh-water fisherman (Lake Mils Lac)
- Has a cameo in MadonnaMadonna (entertainer)Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
's "Papa Don't PreachPapa Don't Preach"Papa Don't Preach" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna. The song was written by Brian Elliot with additional lyrics by Madonna, and produced by Stephen Bray and Madonna for her third studio album True Blue, released in June 1986...
" video. - Was a four-year letterman in track and fieldTrack and fieldTrack and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
in high school. - Best friends with Carl Bradley.
- Named cats after his favorite football team the San Francisco 49er's.
- Long time fan of television show Sábado GiganteSábado GiganteSábado Gigante is a Spanish-language television show that is Univision's longest-running program and the longest-running variety TV show in the world. Sábado Gigante is an eclectic and frenetic mix of various contests, human-interest stories, and live entertainment...
with Don FranciscoDon Francisco (television host)Mario Luis Kreutzberger Blumenfeld , better known by his stage name, Don Francisco, is a Chilean television personality, and a popular television personality on the Univision network reaching Spanish-speaking viewers in the United States...
.