Extraordinary Profiles
When it comes to determination and commitment to his craft and helping others, Pete DeLorenzo is a champion. You never fail until you stop trying. He lives by those words. Dubbed as a star of the stage and screen, DeLorenzo is an outstanding entertainer. He has achieved great success as a comedian, actor and singer, yet he has made a lasting mark on his community as a humanitarian. His acting credits include feature and independent films such as: Regenerated Man, Negative Influence, Insidious and Sopranos. His involvement as a humanitarian includes working with Jerry Lewis and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), the ASPCA, DELTA Rescue, and other animal activist groups. DeLorenzo spoke about his passion for helping others and his life as an entertainer. EPM: Tell me a little bit about your life while growing up. Pete: I would have to say that I was very blessed to come from a loving family. As a child I said, "When I grow up and have a wife and children, I wouldn't want them to question what love is." I wanted my children to feel their parent's love. I mean, there's no perfect family. And that's also conveyed in my film that every family has flaws and experiences trials. In my family there was God, there was love, there were morals and I'm very blessed in that respect. So I had a very good childhood. I had three older brothers. Two of them have passed away. We were very family oriented. On Sundays we were all at my grandma's for dinner. My father 72 | Exceptional People Magazine | May-June 2011
Pete DeLorenzo An Amazing Entertainer and Humanitarian
Extraordinary Profiles
came from a family of ten and when he met my mom, it was like they knew in their hearts they were meant for each other. At that time people didn't play the games that are played today, there was always respect. My father taught my brothers and me to treat people in the manner that we wanted to be treated. I thank God that I came from a wonderful family. EPM: You have been involved in the entertainment industry for many years. What piqued your interest in an industry that is so challenging and difficult? Pete: I grew up with music in my life and I love music. My mom was born in Italy and she loved country music.
I grew up around country music and R&B. My uncle was a professional musician. He was a wonderful guitar player and he was big on country music. At the tender age of five I was sitting on his knee learning a few chords on the guitar and a little bit of piano and singing. By the time I graduated from high school, I had my own band. But the flare for comedy was always there. At the tender age of seven when I was at an Italian feast with my dad -when you're a child, you don't know the value of money or fame. It doesn't affect you. My father encouraged me because I used to watch Elvis and grew up on Elvis' music. So he says, "Oh, you’ve got to see him do Elvis." And at that point he encouraged me and I started doing Elvis impersonations on the street corner. A crowd gathered around. They were smiling and they were throwing money. There was a pile of money on the ground but that didn't faze me. I was watching the crowd and seeing the smiles on their faces. I said, "This is what I want to do -- to make people happy". EPM: Have you had any mentors?
Pete: I could honestly say I looked up to my parents. They were my mentors. They set an example that made me who I am today. In the business sense, Mr. Joe Franklin was a mentor and I would say Mr. Harry Hirsch has always mentored me in music. First, on top of the list is our Lord. There were a lot of people who touched my life. I had an uncle who taught me a lot about good values. EPM: The entertainment industry, as you know, is full of disappointments. How have you handled rejection? Pete: I guess I would have to say pretty well. Nobody likes to be rejected, whether it's an agent saying, "Well, we don't think you're right for this gig," or whether it's when you go for a part, you're pounding the pavement and you're not getting work. In the early years, there was much of that; you're the newcomer, the new kid on the block. But I think that when you go into this industry, you have to be ready for that because it's a matter of stepping up to the plate and proving yourself. So any artist would have to bear in mind that it's a due process, as is in anything in life. You could be very, very talented and very creative at what you do but sometimes, people don't get discovered because they aren't seen by the right people. EPM: What are some highlights of your career? I would say there were so many wonderful points in my life. One was definitely -- which I did not expect -when you do charity work, you don't do it for recognition, you do it from your heart. I was honored to be selected as the national spokesperson for Healing the Children for two years. We worked with children in
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Extraordinary Profiles
the United States and from all over the world. We had children from the Dominican Republic, from Africa, from the Gulf of MĂŠxico and these are countries where people were destitute, with children eating from dirt floors and out of garbage cans, no running water. These children didn't know about groceries or toy stores. I am honored to say that as their spokesperson, I raised a lot of funds and touched 101 lives for two consecutive years. We did an expedition to MĂŠxico that gave a new lease on life to 55 children who needed cosmetic surgery. I was recognized with a humanitarian award presented by former President Reagan and that was a surprise. It was truly an honor.
EPM: Are you mainly focused on helping to raise funds for various causes? Pete: Yes, it's always been a big part of me. I always say, "My success will be that of others." I mean, I'm not a celebrity that's loaded. I don't feel that money is success. If you work hard and you climb the ladder and you've accomplished much -- and there's been a lot of wonderful people I've met throughout my life and career and things that I've accomplished. I count that as success. But I take much of my time to give to worthy causes, absolutely. I do that pro bono because it's just my way of giving back.
When I was 20, going on 21, I was diagnosed with a hyperactive lower intestine. And when you're 20, you're thinking like, "Whoa, I got the whole world by the reigns," not that I was young or cocky but you believe that nothing is ever going to happen to you. You're the picture of health, you're never going to get sick. I think every younger kid thinks like that. And I wound up on my back in the hospital. I had major surgery and nine feet of my lower intestine was removed. And by the grace of God, I stand here. So that had an impact on me and I made a vow to the good Lord up above that He spared my life and it wasn't for going out and doing what I wanted to do, being self absorbent or selfish. So it was my way of giving back. Being in the arts, you're in the public eye and you're aware of many things going on in the world. I just try to make the world a better place to live, whether it's with a major organization or charity or even oneon-one. I've helped families and children and even animals one-on-one. EPM: If more people did that, can you imagine what this country and the world would be like? Pete: You took the words right out of my mouth. It doesn't cost much to render a kind thought or a kind deed and for the right reasons, not to pat oneself on the back or for the recognition. Not that I judge others but some people do it for that reason. Some of them do it for the right reason. But there's no greater gift to me, all the money in the world, all the fame in the world, whatever people can imagine, the mansions, the cars, the bling in Hollywood -- that's why they call it tinsel town, I guess. I had an offer to move to Hollywood and I turned it down because I said I don't have to live out there.
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Extraordinary Profiles
EPM: What does success mean to you? Pete: I believe success is anything that you truly love, that you have a passion for and that you ardently desire and put your all into. There are different levels of success but success, to me, means even if you don't totally achieve your ultimate goal, if you've gotten three-quarters of the way or half of the way, you're still a success. As long as you don't quit and give up on yourself and others, then you're a success. And also, success is to have peace, peace of mind, peace in your heart that you're going through this world only once and you will make the best of it. Touch other people's lives. Share with others, whatever it may be, whether it's a thought, knowledge or financial. If you're not sharing it with others, it's all in vain.
Pete: To become a great entertainer one must believe in oneself and be true to oneself and others will believe in you. You must learn to put your ego aside, be assertive but not abrasive. You must also be prepared to sacrifice to achieve your goals. You must have the stamina necessary to survive in this industry and be prepared to accept rejection. Great artists in our business have paid their dues and none of us are exempt from doing so. The most important ingredient is to acknowledge God in everything that you do.
EPM: How would you like to be remembered? Pete: For the man, rather than the artist. I would like to be remembered for the man that I am, the person. I want to let people know that when all is said and done, as I walk through this world, I tried to make it a better place and to share the love, spread the love.
EPM: What can people learn from you regarding your commitment to following through on what you've started? Pete: I would say whether they're in the arts or not, but especially in the arts, you must have stamina. If you approach things with complacency, no drive and no perseverance, or give it a shot and then quit -- you can't be a quitter in anything in life, especially in this industry. Believe in yourself. There's a fine line between self confidence and ego. You have to dispense of ego and you have to believe in yourself, look in the mirror, like what you see and thank God for what he's given you. Put that to use and be persistent, be honest, be humble, do things on the up-and-up. Don't step on anyone's toes. Don't stab anyone in the back to get ahead. EPM: What do you believe are the qualifications necessary to become a great entertainer? May-June 2011 | Exceptional People Magazine | 75