JAY NOVELLO

August 22, 1904

Jay Novello was born Michael Romano in Chicago to Italaian-American parents. Novello began his 47-year acting career in the 1930s, performing on radio.

Novello was limited mostly to bits in minor films, one of his notable being the officious Spanish consul in Frank Capra’s Pocketful of Miracles (1961).

Novello’s first role as a guest star on television was on CBS’s “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show” in 1951.

Dapper Novello is probably best remembered for playing Mayor Lugatto on “McHale’s Navy” in 1965.

He played a recurring role as Mr. Negley, the mailman, on Lucille Ball’s radio show “My Favorite Husband”.  He also played Mr. Curry in “Numerology,” (May 1950), which was later made into “The Seance” where Curry was renamed Mr. Merriweather. The first version of “Numerology” (also starring Novello) aired in 1948 when the characters were named the Cugats. 

Speaking of which, Novello first appeared on “I Love Lucy” in 1951 as superstitious theatrical agent Mr. Merriweather in “The Seance" (ILL S1;E7), 

Nervous new tenant Mr. Beecher in 1954′s “The Sublease” (ILL S3;E31) 

Mario in “The Visitor from Italy” (ILL S6;E5) in 1956

Candy Store owner Mr. Bundy in 1963′s “Lucy and the Safecracker” (TLS S2;E5)

Restaurateur Tony DiBello on “Lucy Meets a Millionaire” (TLS S2;E24) in 1964.

DESILU NOVELLO

In 1955 and 1958, Jay Novello did two episodes of “The Danny Thomas Show” filmed at Desilu Studios.  

In 1962 and 1964, Novello made two appearances on “The Andy Griffith Show,” filmed on the Desilu backlot. 

In 1966, Novello appeared in an Italian-themed episode of “My Three Sons,” also filmed on the Desilu lot. 

The following year, Novello worked for Desi Arnaz on his series “The Mothers- In-Law” playing a drunk in jail. The show was written by original Lucy writers Bob Carroll and Madelyn Davis. 

In 1967 and 1969, Novello turned up on “Gomer Pyle: USMC” filmed at Desilu / Paramount.  In 1966, Gomer Pyle (Jim Nabors) made a cameo appearance on “The Lucy Show.” 

In 1973, Novello did an episode of “The Brady Bunch” in which he played a bike shop owner named Mr. Martinelli who Peter goes to work for. Coincidentally, Martinelli was also the name of the pizzeria owner (played by Eduardo Ciannelli) in “Visitor from Italy” (ILL S6;E5). Lucille Ball’s son Desi Arnaz played himself on “The Brady Bunch” in February 1970. 

In 1968 and 1975, Novello did three episodes of Desilu’s “Mannix”, a CBS show saved from cancellation by Lucille Ball. In 1971, Mike Connors (who played the title role) played Joe Mannix on an episode of “Here’s Lucy.” 

Novello’s first marriage, to Rose Motto, ended in divorce. In 1961, he married Patricia C. (nicknamed ‘Lucy’!) Lewis and they remained together until his death from lung cancer in 1982, aged 78.