Johnny Dark

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JOHNNY DARK may appear to be an "overnight success", but he has paid his dues. These days and nights the multi-talented comedy star is all over the entertainment spectrum. Johnny is a frequent guest on the "David Letterman Show" and the "Tonight Show". He has guest starred in dramatic roles, in popular television shows such as"L.A. Law", "Equal Justice", "Silk Stalkings", "Superior Court" and "Point Man" (a movie of the week for Lorimar). In comedic roles, Johnny had recurring roles in "Growing Pains", "Just the Ten of Us" and currently "Running the Halls". His feature films include "Up Your Alley", "Responded", "Communion" and "Low Down Dirty Shame". To show off his comedic skills, Johnny can often be seen on HBO's "Evening at the Improv" and "Stand up Stand up". Also on A&E's "Caroline's Comedy Club" and John Byner's "Comedy on the Road".

Johnny has toured the world with some of our finest entertainers from Shirley McLaine to Engelbert. His comedy comes from his own personal point of view, never having to rely on vulgarity or shock value to "entertain" his audience.

Professionally known as Johnny Dark, he was born John J. Koletes in Philidelphia. His Italian good looks owed to his mother, whose maiden name was Federici.

"I got my start in show business in Wildwood, New Jersey, where I shined shoes", says Johnny. "You can't look neat when your shoes are beat....you got the time, I got the shine. It's only a nickel and a dime. That was my rap. The way I got around in show business was, most of the kids would go down to the Boardwalk to shine shoes, but I'd go to the night clubs. For some reason, there was an attraction there. I shined Johnie Ray's shoes when I was about nine years old, and I got to watch his show at the Manor Supper Club....then I shined Frankie Lane's shoes, and the Treniers"....

"I was always attracted to nightclubs", says Johnny. "I started playing drums when I was about thirteen, and was a drummer with a band until I was eighteen, when I started singing. Then I was drafted, spent two years in the service, and met my wife Susan. We moved to Los Angeles in 1972 where I became interested in comedy". There, Johnny learned his craft along side his peers David Letterman, Jay Leno and Robin Williams. From the early days at the Comedy Store, Johnny has gone on to work the main rooms in the biggest hotels in Las Vegas, Reno, Lake Tahoe and Laughlin, Nevada, as well as theaters and comedy clubs through out the United States, Canada and parts of Europe.

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