Mike Marino obit

Comedy World Mourns the Passing of Mike Marino, Beloved “New Jersey’s Bad Boy”

 He was not on the list.

The veteran comedian and actor built a decades-long career spanning stand-up, television, film and performances for U.S. military members around the world.

The comedy community is mourning the reported loss of veteran comedian and actor Mike Marino, the larger-than-life entertainer affectionately known to audiences around the world as “New Jersey’s Bad Boy.”

Family members, friends, and fellow comedians began sharing reports of Marino’s passing on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. At this time, an official cause of death has not been publicly announced.

Born in 1967 and raised in New Jersey, Marino spent decades building a career defined by sharp observations, unapologetic Italian-American humor and the unmistakable personality that made him a favorite with audiences across the country.

Long before becoming a fixture on comedy stages, Marino pursued acting, studying at New York’s Herbert Berghof Studio and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He would go on to appear in more than 200 national television commercials while earning a Best Actor Clio Award nomination.

His television credits included appearances on As the World Turns, One Life to Live, Becker, Nikki, Frasier and Party of Five, while his film work included Crooks, Pizza with Bullets, Hangin’ in Hedo, Stephen King’s Lucky Quarter and Criticsized.

But it was stand-up comedy where Marino developed the persona that would ultimately become his calling card.

Drawing heavily from everyday life, growing up in an Italian-American family and his unmistakable New Jersey roots, Marino transformed family stories and cultural observations into a comedy style that could be brash, animated and brutally funny while still carrying an undeniable warmth underneath it all.

Over the course of his career, Marino performed at comedy clubs, theaters, casinos and event centers throughout the United States and internationally, sharing stages with some of entertainment’s biggest names.

Television audiences also became familiar with Marino through appearances on The Tonight Show, The Martin Short Show, Canada’s Comedy TV and Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed. His comedy reached an even larger digital audience when a Comics Unleashed performance generated millions of online views.

Marino eventually turned his exaggerated political ambitions into comedy with his “Make America Italian Again” persona and the web series Marino 2016, imagining what might happen if New Jersey’s Bad Boy attempted to become America’s first Italian-American president.

His contributions went far beyond punchlines.

In 2008, Marino was inducted into the New Jersey Comedy Hall of Fame, recognizing his impact on the comedy scene of the state he proudly represented throughout his career.

He was also deeply committed to entertaining members of the United States military. After performing for troops, Marino received the USO Bob Hope Comedy Award, an honor recognizing his dedication to bringing laughter to servicemen and women.

Marino was equally generous with his time away from traditional comedy venues, lending his talents to charitable organizations, fundraising events and community causes throughout his career.

In recent years, Marino continued performing, creating content and connecting directly with fans. He hosted Live From My Mother’s Basement, recorded from the New Jersey home where he grew up, allowing audiences to experience an increasingly personal side of the comedian behind the larger-than-life stage persona.

Earlier in 2026, Marino publicly discussed a major health scare after becoming ill while performing aboard a cruise ship. Doctors discovered a brain tumor that was subsequently removed. Despite the frightening ordeal, Marino returned to performing and continued looking toward new creative projects.

That resilience reflected the performer audiences had known for decades.

Mike Marino could walk onto a stage with the swagger of a wise guy, unload jokes with a tongue as sharp as a razor and still leave audiences feeling like they had spent the evening laughing with somebody from the family.

His comedy was proudly Jersey. Proudly Italian-American. Loud when it needed to be, heartfelt when audiences least expected it, and unmistakably his own.

For generations of comedy fans, fellow performers, military members he entertained and audiences who watched him command stages around the world, Mike Marino leaves behind something every comedian spends a lifetime chasing:

A voice nobody could mistake for anyone else’s.

As news of his reported passing spreads throughout the entertainment community, tributes from friends, fans and fellow comedians are expected to continue celebrating a performer whose career stretched across television, film, stand-up and more than three decades of making people laugh.

Mike Marino was “New Jersey’s Bad Boy.”

But behind the razor-sharp tongue was, as those who knew and watched him understood, a heart of gold.

His laughter, stories and unmistakable Jersey swagger will not soon be forgotten.

 

Actor

MobSense

Rocko

Pre-production

 

From Brooklyn to Boca

Mikey the Bat

Pre-production

 

Sean Patrick Flanery, Frank Whaley, Mike Marino, Kelly Stables, David LaRosa, Bryan Lock, Lili Bordán, Mason Walker, Chase Coleman, Janine Laino, Kate A. McGrath, and Christian Chase in The Tale of Nicky Newark (2026)

The Tale of Nicky Newark

Billy

2026

 

Comics Unleashed (2006)

Comics Unleashed

3.6

TV Series

2025

1 episode

 

The Cherry Picker (2025)

The Cherry Picker

8.4

Short

Caine Cross

2025

 

James Russo and Ciro Dapagio in Silent Partners (2025)

Silent Partners

5.8

Little Leo

2025

 

Arthur Ave. (2025)

Arthur Ave.

9.4

Short

The Boss

2025

 

Mike Marino, Cody Boesen, Tatjana Bluchel, Tom Plumley, Cameron Rankin, Parker Lauren, and Emily Gateley in Glaistig (2024)

Glaistig

Short

The Ranger

2024

 

More Like Brothers (2022)

More Like Brothers

Domenic Olivieri

2022

 

The Wright Turn (2022)

The Wright Turn

8.5

TV Series

Lou Ricci

2022

2 episodes

 

Dry Bar Comedy (2017)

Dry Bar Comedy

8.0

TV Series

2022

2 episodes

 

Four Cousins & a Christmas (2021)

Four Cousins & a Christmas

2.8

Anthony

2021

 

Mr CarrotMan (2021)

Mr CarrotMan

TV Series

Mobster Pickano (voice, 2022)

2021

 

Son of a... (2018)

Son of a...

8.1

TV Series

Vic

2018

2 episodes

 

An American Dog Story (2017)

An American Dog Story

James (voice)

2017

 

Mike Marino in Make America Italian Again - Marino 2016 (2016)

Make America Italian Again - Marino 2016

4.2

TV Series

Mike Marino

2016–2017

21 episodes

 

The Avenue (2017)

The Avenue

4.9

Salvatore

2017

 

Criticsized (2016)

Criticsized

3.7

Detective Steve Sabbia

2016

 

Stark Naked (2016)

Stark Naked

7.7

TV Series

Dino

2016

2 episodes

 

Mama Needs a Ride (2013)

Mama Needs a Ride

7.3

Short

Sal

2013

 

Bronson Pinchot, Mike Marino, Raine Brown, Sean Molnar, and Sophia Disgrace in Kung Fu and Titties (2013)

Kung Fu and Titties

3.3

Gorilla

2013

 

Brett Walkow in A Guy Walks Into a Bar (2011)

A Guy Walks Into a Bar

8.8

TV Series

Guy

2011

1 episode

 

Brett Walkow in Carmageddon: The 405 (2011)

Carmageddon: The 405

Short

Insane Driver

2011

 

Ordinary Average Guys (2011)

Ordinary Average Guys

7.4

Short

Louie 'the dress' (as Michael D. Marino)

2011

 

Pizza with Bullets (2010)

Pizza with Bullets

6.6

Father Alozzo

2010

 

Concetta Tomei, Joe Grifasi, and Mike Marino in Marino's (2009)

Marino's

9.1

Short

Mike

2009

 

Hanging in Hedo (2008)

Hanging in Hedo

5.5

Jersey

2008

 

Walking on the Sky (2005)

Walking on the Sky

4.2

Karaoke Man

2005

 

Elise Robertson in Luckey Quarter (2005)

Luckey Quarter

6.8

Short

The Croupier

2005

 

nm0130337

Volare

7.7

Short

Principle Jacob

2004

 

Sabrina Culver, Deborah Wittenberg, Michael Cory Davis, and Lindsay Zir in 3 Tables (2003)

3 Tables

8.7

Jake

2003

 

Crooks (2002)

Crooks

5.9

Nicky

2002

 

Karna Chea and David A. Arnold in Shacked Up (2002)

Shacked Up

5.4

Video

Mister Mars

2002

 

Krista Allen in Totally Blonde (2001)

Totally Blonde

3.8

Condo Man #2 (as Michael D. Marino)

2001

 

Ted Danson, Shawnee Smith, and Hattie Winston in Becker (1998)

Becker

7.3

TV Series

Guy (as Michael D. Marino)

2001

1 episode

 

Troy Blendell in Love, Fear... and the 14th Street Chicken (2000)

Love, Fear... and the 14th Street Chicken

7.3

Short

Carl

2000

 

Nikki Cox and Nick von Esmarch in Nikki (2000)

Nikki

5.7

TV Series

Male Fan

2000

1 episode

 

Neve Campbell, Lacey Chabert, Matthew Fox, Taylor Porter, Scott Wolf, and Brandon Porter in Party of Five (1994)

Party of Five

6.9

TV Series

Warren

2000

1 episode

 

Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, John Mahoney, Peri Gilpin, and Jane Leeves in Frasier (1993)

Frasier

8.2

TV Series

Patrolman (as Michael Marino)

1999

1 episode

 

Jay Leno in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

5.3

TV Series

Various Characters (1995)

1992–2014

 

Cookie (1989)

Cookie

5.5

Dino's Wiseguy

1989

 

Producer

Mike Marino in Mike Marino: Back 2 School (2026)

Mike Marino: Back 2 School

TV Special

executive producer

2026

 

Mike Marino, Cody Boesen, Tatjana Bluchel, Tom Plumley, Cameron Rankin, Parker Lauren, and Emily Gateley in Glaistig (2024)

Glaistig

Short

executive producer

2024

 

Four Cousins & a Christmas (2021)

Four Cousins & a Christmas

2.8

associate producer

2021

 

Mike Marino in Make America Italian Again - Marino 2016 (2016)

Make America Italian Again - Marino 2016

4.2

TV Series

executive producer

2016–2017

21 episodes

 

Mike Marino: Live from the Borgata (2014)

Mike Marino: Live from the Borgata

Video

executive producer

2014

 

Writer

Mike Marino in Mike Marino: Back 2 School (2026)

Mike Marino: Back 2 School

TV Special

Writer

2026

 

Dry Bar Comedy (2017)

Dry Bar Comedy

8.0

TV Series

Writer

2022

2 episodes

 

Mike Marino in Make America Italian Again - Marino 2016 (2016)

Make America Italian Again - Marino 2016

4.2

TV Series

Writer

2016–2017

21 episodes

 

Thanks

Bronson Pinchot, Mike Marino, Raine Brown, Sean Molnar, and Sophia Disgrace in Kung Fu and Titties (2013)

Kung Fu and Titties

3.3

special thanks

2013

 

Self

Mike Marino in Mike Marino: Back 2 School (2026)

Mike Marino: Back 2 School

TV Special

Self

2026

 

Mob Tales with Nick Christophers (2022)

Mob Tales with Nick Christophers

Podcast Series

Self

2024

1 episode

 

The Kevin & Nikee Show (2017)

The Kevin & Nikee Show

9.3

TV Series

Self

2020–2022

2 episodes

 

Meghan McGrath, David LaRosa, Edward Heegan, Chris Ryan, Kate A. McGrath, Joe Kane, Tina LaRosa, Brad Forenza, and Sal Conca in Reel Discussions Podcast with David LaRosa (2020)

Reel Discussions Podcast with David LaRosa

Podcast Series

Self

2022

2 episodes

 

Chrissie Mayr in Chrissie Mayr Podcast (2020)

Chrissie Mayr Podcast

5.8

Podcast Series

Self

2021

1 episode

 

Comedy Doctors (2020)

Comedy Doctors

7.4

TV Series

Self - Guest

2020

2 episodes

 

Meaningless Debate (2020)

Meaningless Debate

8.5

TV Series

Self - Guest

2020

1 episode

 

Laugh Factory (1979)

Laugh Factory

5.5

TV Series

Self

2018

1 episode

 

Giorgio Gozzo, Daniele Russo, and Luca Perin in Ciao Bella: Rumatera (2017)

Ciao Bella: Rumatera

Video

Self

2017

 

Mike Marino: Live from the Borgata (2014)

Mike Marino: Live from the Borgata

Video

Self

2014

 

The Stevie D. Show (2013)

The Stevie D. Show

TV Series

Self

2014

1 episode

 

Comedy.TV (2010)

Comedy.TV

6.2

TV Series

Self

2012

1 episode

 

Who Wants to Date a Comedian? (2011)

Who Wants to Date a Comedian?

4.7

TV Series

Self

2011

1 episode

 

Actors Reporter Animation Photo by And Now Media

Actors Reporter Interviews

8.8

TV Series

Self

2010

1 episode

 

Stand Up Face the Fear

1.0

Self

2008

 

I Love Toys (2006)

I Love Toys

6.7

TV Series

Self

2006