Biografia
Joe Bevilacqua, also known as Joe Bev, is best recognized as a radio theater dramatist. His career, however, spans all facets of show business, including stage, film, and television, where he has worked as a producer, director, writer, actor, and cartoonist.
In 1971, at age 12, Bevilacqua created his first audio story, Willoughby and the Professor, on a cassette recorder his father bought him, performing all the voices himself.
In 1975, after hearing a 120-minute cassette of Bev's Willoughby improvisations, Daws Butler—the voice behind Yogi Bear and numerous Hanna-Barbera and Jay Ward characters—became Joe Bev's personal mentor.
Since 1980, Bevilacqua has produced many award-winning radio programs for National Public Radio, Sirius XM Radio, and other outlets.
In 2012, he signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Blackstone Audio, covering over 40 years of his audio work. He is releasing hundreds of hours of audio documentaries, comedies, dramas, autobiographies, and more.
Not content to remain solely behind the microphone, Bevilacqua is set to appear in upcoming feature films including The Green Blade Rises (directed by A.J. Edwards), The Fly Room (directed by Alexis Gambis), Cold in July (directed by Jim Mickle), and Hits (directed by David Cross).
Joe Bev is skilled in hundreds of voices, dialects, and impressions. For The Fly Room, he not only played the on-screen role of Uncle Dwight but was also hired by director Alexis Gambis as vocal coach for the cast throughout filming. Additionally, he wrote, produced, and voiced several audio sound beds in the style of old-time radio for the movie.
Bevilacqua is also active on stage, performing roles such as Martin Dysart in Equus, and parts in Bedroom Farce, Applause, Black Comedy, and others. He tours as Bud Abbott alongside Bob Greenberg as Lou Costello in A Tribute to Bud & Lou, and will portray Jimmy Durante in the October 2013 production of Coney Island Criminals, staged that month at Coney Island.
He has authored several books, including Daws Butler Characters Actor and Uncle Dunkle and Donnie.
Bevilacqua received the 2013 Kean University Distinguished Alumni Award. His documentary Lady Bird Johnson Legacy of a First Lady won the 2001 New York Festivals Award. In 2007, he earned a New York Festivals Award for his Tribute to Joe Barbera, which aired on NPR's All Things Considered. His NPR Weekend Edition story A Guy Named Joe Bevilacqua won the 2004 National Federation of Community Broadcasters Award.
Joe Bev also produces and hosts four weekly podcasts: The Jazz-O-Rama Hour, Cartoon Carnival, The Comedy-O-Rama Hour, and The Joe Bev Experience.
Sound Stages Radio broadcasts two unique Joe Bev Audio Theater shows each week.
