Josh Saviano
Encyclopedia
Joshua David "Josh" Saviano (born March 31, 1976) is an American
lawyer and former actor
who played Kevin Arnold's best friend, Paul Joshua Pfeiffer, in the comedy-drama
television show The Wonder Years
.
and raised in northern New Jersey
, the son of Jane and Ralph Saviano, a financial consultant. His role in The Wonder Years was one of his few television or movie roles. His first television appearance was a one-liner role in a commercial for Aim toothpaste
. Other roles were as Kid Belz in the movie The Wrong Guys
in 1988 and Max Plotkin in the made-for-TV movie Camp Cucamonga
in 1990. The latter was his last film or television role other than his role in The Wonder Years, which he played until the show's end in 1993. He guest starred on the show The Ray Bradbury Theater
in 1989 as Willie and on Reading Rainbow
and Fun House as himself. Similarities between Saviano's character Paul Pfeiffer and The Simpsons
character Milhouse Van Houten
have been observed, both in terms of their appearance and their roles as the geeky side-kick friend to the protagonist.
Saviano majored in Political Science
at Yale University
where he became president of Sigma Nu
Fraternity. Upon graduation in 1998 he worked for a while as a paralegal
for a New York City
law firm. In 2000, he worked for an Internet firm before entering Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
in August of the same year. He was admitted to the bar in New York. He is currently a Senior Counsel with Morrison Cohen LLP. He is in the Corporate Department and Intellectual Property Group where he works on issues related to mergers and acquisition and intellectual property.
(whose real name is Brian Warner), but there is no truth in this. Saviano himself has addressed the urban legend, stating that in college he received as many as 20 emails a day asking about the subject, and that he considered himself honored that people associated him with a rock star rather than a geek
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and former actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
who played Kevin Arnold's best friend, Paul Joshua Pfeiffer, in the comedy-drama
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
television show The Wonder Years
The Wonder Years
The Wonder Years is an American television comedy-drama created by Carol Black and Neal Marlens. It ran for six seasons on ABC from 1988 through 1993. The pilot aired on January 31, 1988 after ABC's coverage of Super Bowl XXII....
.
Biography
Saviano was born in White Plains, New YorkWhite Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
and raised in northern New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, the son of Jane and Ralph Saviano, a financial consultant. His role in The Wonder Years was one of his few television or movie roles. His first television appearance was a one-liner role in a commercial for Aim toothpaste
Aim toothpaste
Aim is a brand of toothpaste from Church and Dwight. Aim is known for having a milder mint flavor than most toothpastes. In stores in the U.S., Aim is typically priced at a significant discount to the major toothpaste brands....
. Other roles were as Kid Belz in the movie The Wrong Guys
The Wrong Guys
The Wrong Guys is a 1988 American comedy film directed by Danny Bilson.-Plot:Thirty years ago Louie Anderson was the leader of a group of Cub Scouts, Den 7: "The Owl Patrol", consisting of himself, neurotic Richard, ladies man Belz, smooth talking Franklin and surfer dude Tim...
in 1988 and Max Plotkin in the made-for-TV movie Camp Cucamonga
Camp Cucamonga
Camp Cucamonga is a made-for-television movie that aired on September 23, 1990, on NBC....
in 1990. The latter was his last film or television role other than his role in The Wonder Years, which he played until the show's end in 1993. He guest starred on the show The Ray Bradbury Theater
The Ray Bradbury Theater
The Ray Bradbury Theater is an anthology series that ran for two seasons on HBO, three episodes per season from 1985 to 1986, and four additional seasons on USA Network from 1988 to 1992. It was later shown in reruns on the Sci Fi Channel...
in 1989 as Willie and on Reading Rainbow
Reading Rainbow
Reading Rainbow is an American children's television series aired by PBS from June 6, 1983 until November 10, 2006 that encouraged reading among children. The award-winning public television series garnered over 200 broadcast awards, including scores of Emmy Awards, many for "Outstanding Children's...
and Fun House as himself. Similarities between Saviano's character Paul Pfeiffer and The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
character Milhouse Van Houten
Milhouse Van Houten
Milhouse Mussolini Van Houten is a fictional character featured in the animated television series The Simpsons, voiced by Pamela Hayden. He is Bart Simpson's best friend in Mrs. Krabappel's fourth grade class at Springfield Elementary School....
have been observed, both in terms of their appearance and their roles as the geeky side-kick friend to the protagonist.
Saviano majored in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
where he became president of Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...
Fraternity. Upon graduation in 1998 he worked for a while as a paralegal
Paralegal
Paralegal is used in most jurisdictions to describe a paraprofessional who assists qualified lawyers in their legal work. This is true in the United States and many other countries. However, in Ontario, Canada, paralegals are licensed by the Law Society of Upper Canada, giving paralegals an...
for a New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
law firm. In 2000, he worked for an Internet firm before entering Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law is the law school of Yeshiva University, located in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The school is named for Supreme Court Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo. Cardozo's success as a young school has been remarkable, leading some to characterize Cardozo as a...
in August of the same year. He was admitted to the bar in New York. He is currently a Senior Counsel with Morrison Cohen LLP. He is in the Corporate Department and Intellectual Property Group where he works on issues related to mergers and acquisition and intellectual property.
Urban legend
For some time, an urban myth circulated that Saviano grew up to be singer Marilyn MansonMarilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
(whose real name is Brian Warner), but there is no truth in this. Saviano himself has addressed the urban legend, stating that in college he received as many as 20 emails a day asking about the subject, and that he considered himself honored that people associated him with a rock star rather than a geek
Geek
The word geek is a slang term, with different meanings ranging from "a computer expert or enthusiast" to "a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts", with a general pejorative meaning of "a peculiar or otherwise dislikable person, esp[ecially] one who is perceived to...
.