Tony Vitale

Tony Vitale (born Anthony Neal Vitale; May 24, 1964) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for the film Kiss Me, Guido.

Early Years

Vitale was born in the Bronx and grew up in a predominately African-American/Hispanic neighborhood.

Vitale took a job as DJ for Club Med in the mid-1980s, and befriended his gay boss. "He had the most dynamic personality of anybody I ever met, and I wanted to be like him, but as straight guy," Vitale said. The two quickly became best friends, and because of their conflicting backgrounds, people described them as "The Odd Couple." One night at a group dinner someone commented, "It would be great if somebody made a sitcom out of you two," which sparked an idea in Vitale's head for a television show.

Film & Television Career

Vitale studied film at New York University whilst working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. After the death of his mother in 1990, Vitale began working in the film industry as a location assistant, eventually working as a second unit director for the opening shot of Robert De Niro’s, A Bronx Tale.