The death of legendary New Jersey comedian and pianist Floyd Vivino — the star of “The Uncle Floyd Show” — is still reverberating around the Garden State and beyond with tributes pouring in since his family shared the news Friday.
Fellow New Jersey legend Jon Bon Jovi was among those posting tributes to the local television icon.
“Uncle Floyd gave me a shot on his show first. Before anyone. Thank you Floyd. Rest easy my friend,” Bon Jovi wrote on social media Friday night.
Along with the message, Bon Jovi posted a rare clip of a 1981 appearance by his former John Bongiovi Band on Vivino’s local television show.
The clip showed Bon Jovi, who was still a teen at the time, singing directly into the camera after being introduced by Uncle Floyd.
Vivino died at age 74 after a two-and-a-half year battle with “ongoing health issues,” according to his family.
“With a heavy heart I am sad to announce the passing of my brother and everybody’s favorite uncle, Floyd Vivino,” Vivino’s brother, Jerry Vivino, wrote in a Facebook post Friday.
After Vivino’s health struggles, his “curtain peacefully closed at 6:05 p.m. on Thursday January 22,” his brother wrote.
Vivino was born in Paterson and grew up in various towns, including Glen Rock in Bergen County, where he attended high school.
The local TV sensation rose to fame with his “Uncle Floyd Show.”
The show, which began airing in 1974, featured Vivino’s piano stylings, celebrity guests and musical performances, as well as a cast of sidekicks — both puppet and human.
“The Uncle Floyd Show” featured several musical acts over the years, including the Smithereens, Cyndi Lauper, the Misfits, Squeeze, Dramarama and the Ramones.
Smithereens drummer Dennis Diken said on Facebook on Friday night that he was heartbroken after hearing of Vivino’s death.
“His TV show was already a big part of our world when The Smithereens were called to be on the program in 1980,” Diken wrote. “It would be the first of five appearances for us! and it marked our TV debut. quite a thrill. Plus it added luster to our then puny press kit. (sidebar: Mike Mesaros and I played in a band called Mark Mazur & The Targets and we were on twice as well!)”
Vivino had fans far and wide, including David Bowie — who paid tribute to the comedian in 2002.
“The Uncle Floyd Show” went off the air in 2001.
Afterward, Vivino performed comedy shows around the state, including “Uncle Floyd’s Wild West Show,” an all-ages musical-comedy revue.
Later, Vivino hosted the streaming radio show “Uncle Floyd on the Radio.”
After Vivino had a stroke in late 2023, his longtime friend Scott Gordon hosted a weekly live stream watch party called “This WAS the Uncle Floyd Show” that featured clips from the television show and audience questions.
Although Vivino was nominated for the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2025, he was not selected to be enshrined.
Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh also paid tribute to one of his city’s native sons.
“Uncle Floyd was like family to me,” Sayegh wrote on Facebook. “My mother laughed at all of his jokes and my wife thoroughly enjoyed his comedic routine. Sadly, one of the funniest Patersonians to ever live has left this life. May Floyd Vivino rest in eternal peace.”