Jilly Rizzo

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Ermenigildo Rizzo (May 6, 1917 – May 6, 1992), nicknamed Jilly, was a restaurateur and entertainer. A long time friend of Frank Sinatra, Rizzo made cameo appearances in several of his films. He was also a frequent guest on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, where he would recite one liners in his monotone New York accent. During the 1970s, his night-club was torn down and replaced with Dean Martin's restaurant, Dino's.

Jilly Rizzo was killed by a drunk driver on his 75th birthday in Rancho Mirage, California. He is survived by two sons, William and Joseph, one daughter Abby and two grandchildren, Kacey and Joseph.

[edit] Trivia

Frank Sinatra mentions Jilly in a number of his recordings:

Jilly's Restaurant is mentioned twice in his and Sammy Davis Jr.'s song "Me and My Shadow".
At the beginning of the album Sinatra at the Sands, Frank jokingly welcomes his Las Vegas audience to "Jilly's West."
In his cover version of "Mrs. Robinson", he changes the name "Jesus" to "Jilly."
In the 1969 song "Star!", Frank sings, "If they've got a drink with her name in Jilly's Bar, the chances are, the lady's a Star!"
Actor/comedian Brad Garrett told some funny stories about being Frank Sinatra's opening act, and how Jilly temporarily fired him for allegedly making a bad joke about Frank. Jilly allegedly sent him, as a punishment, to open for Liza Minnelli.
Jilly appears as a bartender in The Manchurian Candidate where one of his stories sets off Laurence Harvey into a hypnotic trance.