John Rainone is a multifaceted individual who has established himself as an accomplished actor, musician, and wine connoisseur, making his home in Dallas since the early 1970s. After attending the prestigious Southern Methodist University's (SMU) Clown College, Rainone earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in 1972.
During his time at Clown College, Rainone had the privilege of performing alongside notable classmates and later friends, including Beth Henley, Stephen Tobolowsky, and Kathy Bates. This esteemed group of artists has gone on to achieve great success in the entertainment industry.
Rainone's extensive career has taken him to various stages and venues across the country, including the Theatre Three, Dallas Theater Center, Stage #1, Shakespeare Festival of Dallas, Stage West, Barn Theater in Connecticut, and the Lortell Theater in New York. His impressive repertoire includes leading roles in productions such as American Buffalo, Loose Ends, K-2, Waiting for Godot, Galileo, The Tempest, Getting Out, Season's Greetings, and a unique Kabuki version of Shakespeare entitled Shogun MacBeth.
In addition to his stage work, Rainone has also made appearances in films and commercials produced in Dallas. His musical talents have been showcased in various sing-along piano bars, including Alley Cats, Gator's, Billy Bob's Texas, and West Side Stories, and he has served as the musical director for several stage productions.
Rainone is also the founder and performer of the Marx Brothers tribute band, The Coconuts, where he takes on the role of Chico. He is also a member of the Rat Pack cover band, The Fratelli Brothers, which translates to "brothers" in Italian. As a visiting consultant with Corporate Comedy Works!, an improv comedy troupe, Rainone brings his expertise to the world of corporate entertainment.
From 1988 to 1991, Rainone and his ex-partner/ex-wife appeared as Bonkers and Poppy the Clowns on the popular children's TV show, Club 27, on KDFI Channel 27. Over the years, Rainone has created and performed a wide range of characters, including Super Irv for Irving Mall, The Burger King for the restaurant chain, Mr. Mime for Seventeen Magazine, Captain Crud for The Fort Worth Department of Sanitation, and Mr. See It for Texas State Optical, for which he won a Bronze Quill Award for Excellence in Public Relations Programs.
Rainone's impressive accolades include being named Top Clown by the Dallas Times Herald in 1990, Entertainer of the Year by Alex Burton on KRLD, and voted "Best Birthday Party Clown" by Dallas Child Magazine Readers an unprecedented three times.
Rainone's return to film acting was sparked by his godson, Frank Mosley, who recruited him for one of his student films at the University of Texas at Arlington. Mosley has since referred to Rainone as his good luck charm, and has made a point to feature his favorite actor in every film he's made.
Rainone's first paid performing job was playing piano at the age of 15 in a French restaurant in Fort Worth for $12 a night and all the onion soup he could eat. To this day, he remains a fan of onion soup.
