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Tony Viveiros (born c. 1952 in Charlestown, Boston, Massachusetts), best known by his stage name Tony V., is an American stand-up comedian and character actor whose career spans more than four decades of touring, television, and film.1 He is a fixture of the New England comedy circuit and appeared as Officer Jensen in Ghostbusters: Answer the Call (2016).
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Viveiros grew up in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 1975 with a bachelor's degree in psychology and began working toward a master's degree while employed as a social worker at the Somerville Mental Health Association. He held that position for several years before leaving social services to pursue a career in comedy and entertainment.1
Viveiros made his first stand-up appearance in 1983 at Boston's Comedy Connection.1 The club's emcee stumbled over his surname at the introduction and ad-libbed "Tony V.," a stage name that stuck and has defined his public persona ever since. In 1986 Showtime named him "Funniest Person in Massachusetts," a recognition that helped launch him onto the national circuit.1
Over the following decades Viveiros became a headline act at comedy clubs across the country. He shared stages with, or opened for, Jay Leno, Dennis Miller, Steven Wright, Adam Sandler, and Robin Williams, and toured as an opening act for musical acts including The Beach Boys, Joan Jett, Kenny Rogers, Billy Ray Cyrus, and The Temptations.1 From 1987 to 1992 he was the face of American Tourister luggage's long-running television commercials, playing the company's signature gorilla who destroys suitcases to demonstrate their durability.1
His television work includes multiple stand-up appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, An Evening at the Improv (A&E), and Comedy Central specials, as well as guest roles on network sitcoms including Boston Common, The Single Guy, and Seinfeld.12 He also appeared in two episodes of FX's Louie as the school principal of young Louis C.K.'s childhood flashback sequences.3
From 2006 to 2008 Viveiros played a recurring role on Showtime's crime drama Brotherhood, filmed on location in Rhode Island. The series, which followed two Irish-American brothers on opposite sides of the law in Providence, gave Viveiros one of his most sustained dramatic roles to date.1
Viveiros has accumulated a steady roster of supporting parts in New England-set productions and comedies. His film credits include One Crazy Summer (1986), Housesitter (1992), Celtic Pride (1996), The World's Greatest Dad (2009), The Town (2010), The Heat (2013), My Best Friend's Girl, Ghostbusters: Answer the Call (2016), Chappaquiddick (2017), Stronger (2017), I Feel Pretty (2018), CODA (2021, in which he played a bartender), The Love Guide, and Fourth of July.4
Viveiros co-hosts the weekly comedy podcast Dueling Comedians alongside his son Augustus Viveiros.1
In the 2016 reboot Ghostbusters: Answer the Call, directed by Paul Feig, Viveiros appears as Officer Jensen of the New York Police Department. The character is among the crowd of officers and military personnel assembled in Times Square during the film's climax. When the villain Rowan North takes possession of Kevin Beckman and overrides the minds of those nearby, Officer Jensen and his fellow officers are compelled to dance involuntarily. The character's badge number is 48088 and his collar pin identifies him as serving in the 27th precinct.
Viveiros has lived in the Charlestown and South Boston neighborhoods of Boston for much of his adult life. He has at least one son, Augustus Viveiros, with whom he co-hosts the Dueling Comedians podcast.1
Some content on this page was researched using the Ghostbusters Wiki on Fandom.
Fifty Plus Advocate, "Former Social Worker Tony Viveiros's Comedy & Acting Success" (July 31, 2019). https://www.fiftyplusadvocate.com/2019/07/31/former-social-worker-succeeds-as-stand-up-comedian-and-actor/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10
"Tony V Bio," Laugh University, accessed June 13, 2026. https://www.laughuniversity.com/tonyv ↩
The Comic's Comic, "Exclusive Man-on-the-street Interview with Boston's Tony V." (February 19, 2015). https://thecomicscomic.com/2015/02/19/exclusive-man-on-the-street-interview-with-bostons-tony-v/ ↩
"Tony Viveiros," IMDb (nm4201439), accessed June 13, 2026. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4201439/ ↩
