Ernie Sabella
Ernie Sabella attending the premiere of The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar in November 2015
Sabella in 2015
Born
Ernest Sabella

(1949-09-19) September 19, 1949
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian
Years active1976–present
Spouse
Cheryl Sabella
(m. 1999)

Ernest Sabella[1] (born September 19, 1949) is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his role as Pumbaa from The Lion King franchise, voicing the character in all media except the 2019 film. Sabella's TV roles include Mr. Donald "Twinkie" Twinkacetti in Perfect Strangers (1986-1987), George Shipman in A Fine Romance, and Leon Carosi in Saved by the Bell (1991). His work in Broadway theatre includes starring roles in Guys and Dolls, Chicago, Curtains, and Man of La Mancha.

Life and career

Born in Westchester County, New York, Sabella graduated from the University of Miami,[2] where he studied at the Department of Theatre Arts and performed at the university's Jerry Herman Ring Theatre.

His stage credits include The Robber Bridegroom (1976), Little Johnny Jones (1982), Guys and Dolls (1992) as Harry the Horse, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1996), Chicago as Amos Hart (replacement), Man of La Mancha (2002, as Sancho Panza) and Sweet Charity (2005).[3]

Film credits include Quiz Show (1994) as the car salesman, In & Out (1997) as Aldo Hooper, Disney's The Lion King (1994) and multiple sequels and spin-offs as Pumbaa. He also has worked with Nathan Lane, who had voiced Timon, in Guys and Dolls, Mouse Hunt, The Producers (in a deleted scene) and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. In the latter production, Sabella portrayed Marcus Lycus while Lane played Pseudolus. Sabella also joined Lane for his Saturday Night Live monologue, where they sang "Hakuna Matata".

On television, Sabella portrayed apartment manager Lou Donatelli in the Jason Bateman comedy It's Your Move (1984–85).[4] He appeared in an episode of Cheers titled "Love Thy Neighbor" (Season Four Episode Eight air date November 21, 1985)[4] in which he played the role of a private investigator named Santo Carbone, who was Carla Tortelli's cousin. He played store owner and landlord Donald Twinkacetti on Perfect Strangers (1986–1987). [4] He played Leo in the short-lived situation comedy Encore! Encore! starring Nathan Lane (2000).[4] Sabella had a five-episode stint on Saved by the Bell in 1991 as Leon Carosi,[4] an uptight resort manager and owner who employed the main cast's characters. Leah Remini was featured as his daughter. His other recurring roles include the lazy teacher Mr. Petrachelli on That's So Raven (2003), the floundering attorney Harland Bassett on The Practice (2000-2001), and characters on Newhart (1983).[4]

In the Quantum Leap episode "Catch a Falling Star", he played the dual role of Manny, a stage actor, and Sancho Panza, Manny's character in a touring production of Man of La Mancha. Sabella had a brief appearance as a naked man on a subway train in a 1992 episode of Seinfeld titled "The Subway".[4]

He starred in a series of television commercials for NyQuil cold medicine in 1994 and was seen in a MasterCard commercial (2007), as well as Lynx in 2008.

Sabella co-starred as Sidney Bernstein in the Broadway musical comedy Curtains, which opened officially on March 22, 2007[5] and ran until June 29, 2008.

He played the role of apartment building superintendent Leon in the 9th episode "Hold Outs" of the 6th season (2015) of the CBS police procedural drama Blue Bloods.[4]

In 2015, Sabella reprised his voice role as Pumbaa in the TV pilot film The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar.

In 2016, Sabella became a full-time cast member for the Disney Junior television series The Lion Guard.[6]

Personal life

Sabella met his wife Cheryl backstage during a Broadway performance of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum in 1996; they married in 1999.[7][2] His wife works as a computer programmer in their home town.[2]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984City HeatBallistics Expert
1986Tough GuysHotel Clerk
1988Fright Night Part 2Dr. Harrison
1990FaithStanley
Going UnderThe Mole
1994The Lion KingPumbaaVoice
Quiz ShowCar Salesman
1995RoommatesStash
1996Around the World with Timon & PumbaaPumbaaVoice, direct-to-video
1997In & OutAldo Hopper
Mouse HuntMaury, the Cat Care Society Owner
1998The Lion King II: Simba's PridePumbaaVoice, direct-to-video
1999The Out-of-TownersGetaway Driver
2001Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of MousePumbaaVoice, direct-to-video
2004The Lion King 1½
2010Listen to Your HeartTony
2015The ChallengerFrankie
2016Bakery in BrooklynDave

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980Broadway on ShowtimeSing Song, Big Harp2 episodes
1982St. ElsewherePatientEpisode: "Pilot"
1982–1984Cagney & LaceyCabbie2 episodes
1983The New Odd CouplePolicemanEpisode: "My Strife in Court"
13 Thirteenth AvenueVlastock SpoltechzepTelevision film
NewhartEd Halstead, Police Officer3 episodes
1983–1984Knots LandingFrank Edmunds2 episodes
1983–1987Hill Street BluesPauli, Paulie Shellcop, Paulie4 episodes
1984AliceFranklinEpisode: "Vera, the Horse Thief"
Oh MadelinePhelpsEpisode: "Monday Night Madeline"
The Facts of LifeHusbandEpisode: "All by Herself"
The New Mike HammerSalvatore Juno2 episodes
Domestic LifeRalph PomeroyEpisode: "Showdown at Walla Walla"
100 Centre StreetHarry PikeTelevision film
Punky BrewsterElroy KramerEpisode: "Parents Night"
1984–1985It's Your MoveLou Donatelli18 episodes
1985Diff'rent StrokesBenEpisode: "Sam's Missing"
Hardcastle and McCormickClyde WhitleyEpisode: "Strange Hold"
CheersSanto Carbone, Stan2 episodes
CopacabanaSam GropperTelevision film
1986It's a LivingWalter CliffEpisode: "Gander Gap"
BensonBoEpisode: "Parade Rest"
1986–1987Perfect StrangersMr. Donald 'Twinkie' Twinkacetti22 episodes
1987RoxieVito Carteri6 episodes
Married... with ChildrenMr. PondEpisode: "Peggy Sue Got Work"
HunterEarnieEpisode: "Turning Point"
1988Sledge Hammer!Al FrescoEpisode: "The Secret of My Excess"
Mr. BelvedereMr. PlumerEpisode: "Roommates"
1989A Fine RomanceGeorge Shipman13 episodes
Open HouseEpisode: "Murder, He Wrote"
My Two DadsOfficer RingerEpisode: "Dad Patrol"
Quantum LeapManny, Sancho PanzaEpisode: "Catch a Falling Star - May 21, 1979"
1990CoachErnieEpisode: "Men Don't Heal"
1990–1991Good GriefTyrone, Flipper2 episodes
1991BabesMoEpisode: "The Last Temptation of Marlene"
Murphy BrownJulianEpisode: "Small"
Saved by the BellLeon Carosi6 episodes
Major DadPhilEpisode: "Lady in Waiting"
1992SeinfeldNaked ManEpisode: "The Subway"
A Different WorldCampus SecurityEpisode: "The Cat's in the Cradle"
Davis RulesCoachEpisode: "Strike Down the Band"
Dangerous CurvesJack KiltyEpisode: "Die Laughing"
Just My ImaginationArnold MayerTelevision film
1994Mad About YouMauriceEpisode: "Till Death Do Us Part"
1995Pins and NeedlesMarvinTelevision film
Blame It on ErnieUnknown roleUnknown episodes
1995–1999Timon & PumbaaPumbaa, Bampuu, GopherVoice, main role
1997Disney's One Saturday MorningPumbaaVoice
1998–1999Encore! Encore!Leo5 episodes
1999–2001The PracticeHarland Bassett4 episodes
1999Malcolm & EddieMort DiamondEpisode: "The Tapawingo Witch Project"
AnnieMr. BundlesTelevision film
2000Find Out WhyPumbaaVoice, 8 episodes
ProvidenceLou Keppler3 episodes
2001EdGary SwirdlockEpisode: "Hook, Line and Sinker"
2001–2002House of MousePumbaaVoice, 14 episodes
2003That's So RavenMr. Petrachelli2 episodes
2015Blue BloodsLeonEpisode: "Holds Out"
2015The Lion Guard: Return of the RoarPumbaaVoice, television film
2016–2019The Lion GuardPumbaa[8]Voice, 10 episodes

Video games

YearTitleRole
1995Animated Storybook: The Lion KingPumbaa
Timon & Pumbaa's Jungle Pinball
The Lion King: Activity Center
Timon & Pumbaa's Jungle Games
1998The Lion King II: Simba's Pride Active Play
2000The Lion King: Simba's Mighty Adventure
2003Timon & Pumbaa Virtual Safari
2004Who Wants to be King of the Jungle
2005Kingdom Hearts II
2007Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix

Theme park attractions

YearTitleRole
1995–2018Circle of Life: An Environmental FablePumbaa
2008–2013Wild About Safety

Theatre

YearTitleRoleNotes
1976–1977The Robber BridegroomBig Harp, Little Harp[3]
1982Little Johnny JonesWhitney Wilson[3]
1992Guys and DollsHarry the Horse[3]
1996A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the ForumMarcus Lycus[3]
1997ChicagoAmos HartReplacement[3]
2002Man of La ManchaSancho Panza[3]
2004–2005Sweet CharityHerman[3]
2007–2008CurtainsSidney Bernstein[3]

Awards and nominations

References

  1. 1 2 "Ernie Sabella Biography". FilmReference.com. Film Reference. Archived from the original on April 18, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "A real character: Actor Ernie Sabella sets up shop in Southern Nevada" Las Vegas Sun, January 17, 2002
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Sabella Broadway" ibdb.com, retrieved February 15, 2018
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Ernie Sabella Credits" tvguide.com, retrieved February 15, 2018
  5. Bacalzo, Dan (January 4, 2007). "Full Cast Set for Broadway's Curtains: Ernie Sabella Joins Musical". TM Theater News. TheaterMania Inc. Archived from the original on March 6, 2007. Retrieved January 12, 2007.
  6. Lion Guard ew.com
  7. Gladstone, Douglas. "Remember The Naked Subway Rider In Seinfeld? Meet Ernie Sabella" Westchester Magazine, June 2014
  8. "James Earl Jones and Ernie Sabella Will Reprise Their "Lion King" Roles in Movie Sequel". playbill.com.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.