I just got a sad email

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 12:38pm

A friend just told me that John Altieri from the touring cast of Jersey Boys, passed away yesterday in Las Vegas.

He was a great guy who I've known for years. I didn't even know he was sick. I only saw him a few months back when I put him in drag for an audition...

I'm bummed.
Here's a little about John

[mauriposa]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 12:40pm

That is very sad. My thoughts are with you and his other friends and family.

[I<3bway]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 12:43pm

I'm so sorry to here about this. My prayers are with you and his family and friends.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 12:58pm

Just when things were going well...

I'm so sorry to hear of your friend's passing. You're in my thoughts.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 1:29pm

I'm very sorry to hear this. What a shame.

Updated On: 5/5/08 at 01:29 PM

[Liverpool]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 1:35pm

Sorry Diva. My heart is with you.

[BigFatBlonde]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 1:42pm

Oh Diva... I'm so sorry.

I'm so glad that he had a taste of success before this happened.

He sounds like a great guy with the kind of persistent personality I admire.

Take care of yourself. We are all holding you and your friend's family in our best thoughts and prayers.

Peace.

[thatgirl712]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 2:11pm

I'm so sad about your friend. He seemed like a great guy.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 2:47pm

I hope his mother got to rent those tour buses and organize those big groups to see Jersey Boys.

And what a great "real job" he had.

Too soon.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 2:50pm

So sorry, Diva...my thoughts are with you and his family.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 3:18pm

It was so weird, because, when I got introduced to him backstage at JB, we looked at each other and said, "I know you from somewhere."

Later, he ran up to me and said, "Diva?"

Turns out he was one of the regulars at my show, way back when.

I didn't even know he was sick.

It's a shame that he was just realizing his dreams.

[erikaamato]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 4:07pm

Oh, no... This is just so sad. I'd never met John, but I'm friends with a couple of folks on the tour, and over the past couple of days, there have been phrases on their facebook status updates like, "so-and-so is praying for John" etc... I wasn't sure what it meant, and now I know, and I feel terrible.

How truly awful for his family and friends...

Diva, you have my sympathy.

RIP, young Mr. Altieri.


Updated On: 5/5/08 at 04:07 PM

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 4:11pm

Diva,

I am sorry for your loss.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 6:04pm

I'm sorry. How old was he?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 6:08pm

I never asked his age, I just assumed he was around my age.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 6:46pm

I am sorry to hear this news. Very sad.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 7:07pm

Two blog posts from people who worked with John on the Sherry tour:

https://theguter.blogspot.com/2008/05/john-altieri-may-5.html

https://tourthat.blogspot.com/2008/05/my-friend-john-altieri.html

I still can't believe this.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 7:15pm

Thanks, Lizzie. Those are great.

I just called his cell phone to listen to his voice.


I'm still in shock.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 7:21pm

What a beautiful tribute from his friend. Which one is he in the photos?

[mll85]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 7:22pm

I saw John perform in Jersey Boys, he was an immensely talented actor and when he was on that stage you could tell he loved what he was doing. Fans of the show heard John had fallen ill when people involved with the show asked to keep him and his faimly in their thoughts and prayers. He taken away too soon.

My condolences go out to those in John's life as they are going through this difficult time.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 7:23pm

He's on the left on the entry on Taylor's blog, and is wearing a hat in the top pic on Eric's blog.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 7:23pm

Quite a shocker ... I think he might have left the show in Seattle before I saw it ... several cast members left a couple of weeks before it closed. He seems like a wonderful man ... the tributes online are beautiful.

So sorry, diva.

[Shawk]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 7:27pm

I saw him a number of times in the role of Bob Crewe, and he was a consummate professional, striking all the right notes in that role, and with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

It's so hard to believe he's gone. Condolences to his family, friends and coworkers.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 7:28pm

Yeah, I think John's last show with the Sherry tour was in Seattle, because that's when Jonathan Hadley and Andrew Rannells went up there to replace John and Erich Bergen, who were going to Vegas.

Such a great guy and great presence on stage. I can only imagine what the show was like on Sunday night.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 5/5/08 at 7:32pm

This is him with Sandi DeNise (who I know from the Hairspray tour, she was our original 'Penny').

He is on the left.