Sal Piro

Salvatore Francis Martin Piro (June 29, 1950 – January 22, 2023) was an American actor who was the president of The Rocky Horror Picture Show Fan Club, a position he held from 1977 until his death.[1][2][3]

Sal Piro
Born
Salvatore Francis Martin Piro

(1950-06-29)June 29, 1950
Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedJanuary 22, 2023(2023-01-22) (aged 72)
New York City, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • theatre director
  • teacher
Known forPresident of The Rocky Horror Picture Show Fan Club

Piro was a part of the original Waverly Theatre audience, from which the unique audience participation elements and much of the film's cult following were born. This following has become a worldwide phenomenon.[4]

Piro appeared as himself in the film Fame as well as a number of documentaries, and had a nonspeaking, unnamed cameo as a man using a payphone in Rocky Horror's pseudo sequel Shock Treatment. He also cameoed as The Photographer in the 2016 television remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.[5] As an actor, he performed in both film and television.[5]

Piro wrote two books on the Rocky Horror cult following, Creatures of the Night and Creatures of the Night II.[6]

Personal life

Salvatore Francis Martin Piro was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1950.[6] He attended Seton Hall University, but did not receive a degree.[6] In the mid-1970s, he was a theology teacher and theater director at Catholic schools in New Jersey.[6]

In Cherry Grove, New York, on Fire Island, Piro managed the Ice Palace and Grove Hotel for 23 years and executive produced the Miss Fire Island Pageant, Mr. Fire Island Leather, and the Miss Grove Hotel contest.[6] He also played competitive tournament chess and Scrabble.[7]

Piro died from an aneurysm at his home in Manhattan on January 22, 2023, at the age of 72.[6][8]

References
  1. "Among Records, A Record Holder (Published 1988)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 25, 2016.
  2. "LONG ISLAND JOURNAL; Curtain Up! A New Season For Hedonism (Published 2000)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 13, 2017.
  3. "After 40 Years, 'Rocky Horror' Has Become Mainstream". The Atlantic. September 26, 2015. Archived from the original on June 28, 2023.
  4. "It Was Great When It All Began". The Rocky Horror Picture Show Official Fan Club Site. Retrieved June 18, 2007.
  5. "Sal Piro filmography". IMDb. Retrieved June 18, 2007.
  6. Sandomir, Richard (February 19, 2023). "Sal Piro, 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' Superfan, Dies at 72". The New York Times. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  7. Thurman, Judith (January 19, 2009). "Spreading the Word". The New Yorker. Retrieved January 13, 2009.
  8. ""Rocky Horror Picture Show" Fan Icon Sal Piro Dies". Rue Morgue. January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
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