One of our favorite comedies is Woody Allen's 1984 charmer Broadway Danny Rose in which the Woodman plays the most inept talent agent in New York City. Clients include balloon folding acts and a penguin who ice skates while dressed as a rabbai. He finally lands a major talent: a big, dopey Italian lounge singer named Lou Canova who can belt out shlocky crowd-pleasers like Agita. Lou was played by an unknown real life lounge singer named Nick Apollo Forte who was terrific in the role - though rumor had it he was only playing himself and had not even been familiar with Woody Allen prior to filming. The film made him a pop culture figure for a while, as Woody Allen fans would repeatedly sing Agita - a catchy embarrassment that only Forte could do justice to. However, Broadway Danny Rose would be Forte's one and only film. Whatever happened to him? Well, he's still singing in lounges and even played the Sands in Atantic City. In keeping with any client of the hapless Danny Rose, Forte also moonlights on the side, serving as captain of a deep sea fishing vessel he owns! We're not making this up, folks.
The cheerful Forte's varied activities can be found at his official web site by clicking here. It's enough to tempt us to go fishing - almost, but not quite.
(Thanks to "Corn" Brinkman for the tip on this article.)