Anthony Joseph Scotti (born December 22, 1939) is an American actor, television and film producer, and co-founder of Scotti Brothers Records. He is married to French singer Sylvie Vartan. He was previously married to German actress Susan Denberg.

Early life

Scotti and his brother Ben both played football for the University of Maryland. As declared on 25 February 2024 during the Italian TV show Domenica In, Tony's family originates from Gesualdo (Avellino).

Career

Acting

Born in Newark, New Jersey, Scotti was performing as a night club singer in Las Vegas when he met his future first wife, Susan Denberg; in an interview in the tabloid Midnight, she said the marriage lasted less than four months, although they did not divorce until 1968. Scott began his acting by portraying Sharon Tate's love interest, Tony Polar, in the 1967 film, Valley of the Dolls; he performed the song "Come Live with Me" in the film and on the film's soundtrack. Scotti's second and final acting appearance was the title role in an unaired 1968 television pilot film, Nick Quarry, based on the 1967 film, Tony Rome.

Scotti Bros.

While pursuing film work, Tony Scotti had a mildly successful recording career with three low-chart national singles as a soloist, and two as the leader of Heaven Bound.

In 1971, Scotti abandoned his film career and joined the record production department of MGM as a senior vice president. In 1974, Scotti, along with older brother Ben, formed Ben Scotti Productions, a music marketing firm. The company eventually branched out into television and produced the pop music series, America's Top 10. The success of the show prompted the brothers to form a television syndication company, All American Television in 1981. The company would go on to distribute shows like Baywatch and Acapulco H.E.A.T.

In the mid-1980s, the company began producing movies under Scotti Brothers Pictures and would go on to release Eye of the Tiger and Lady Beware.

Filmography

Film

YearFilmRoleNotes
1967Valley of the DollsTony Polar
1986Eye of the Tiger—N/aProducer
1987Lady Beware—N/aProducer
He's My Girl—N/aExecutive producer
1989The Iron Triangle—N/aProducer
1992The Resurrected—N/aExecutive producer

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1968Nick QuarryNick QuarryUnaired television series
1980–1993America's Top 10—N/aProducer
1986–1987Wordplay—N/aExecutive producer (2 episodes)

In popular culture

Scotti signed pop music parodist "Weird Al" Yankovic to the Scotti Bros. label in 1981. Scotti was portrayed by Yankovic himself in the 2022 film Weird: The Al Yankovic Story; the film is a satirical biopic loosely based on Yankovic's own life in which "Weird Al" is portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe.

External links