- Born
- Died
- Birth nameJohn Roventini
- Nickname
- "The world's smallest bellboy"
- Height4′ (1.22 m)
- Johnny Roventini served for more than four decades as a spokesman for Philip Morris and a living trademark for the firm's namesake brand of cigarettes. (See note.) His voice was heard on thousands of radio and television programs sponsored by the company, and he was seen in his bellboy's regalia (red-trimmed black cap; black-trimmed, bright red tunic with gold buttons; red-striped black trousers and white formal gloves) at thousands of personal appearances across the U.S. until he retired in 1974. And it was on account of his ever-present smile and outstretched hand that he was a favorite of all who met him. (Note: the Philip Morris cigarette brand ceased to exist in 1989. The company renamed the cigarette "Commander," and that brand was still available when Johnny died, some 65 years after he first represented Philip Morris. It remained an unfiltered cigarette 70 millimeters long.)- IMDb Mini Biography By: Bill Takacs <kinephile@aol.com>
- Was under lifetime contract to Philip Morris Inc. from 1933.
- The advertising executive handling the Phillip Morris account saw Johnny and the hotel where he worked. He paid him a dollar to page "Phillip Morris" in the lobby of the hotel. Johnny later said he had no idea there was a cigarette by that name. He had no idea at the time that while he was calling for "Phillip Morris" he was actually auditioning for what would become his career.
- Johnny was actually only 47" tall; and he weighed 59 pounds.
- He never married; and in fact lived with his mother until her death. He retired to White Plains, New York. In retirement he enjoyed sailing. He died in 1998 of natural causes.
- He was making $15.00 per week at the hotel. He received $100.00 for his first radio commercial. He soon was making $50,000 a year in the 1930's and 1940's when that was a lot of money.
- [His melodic trademark, known by millions]: "Call... for... Phil-lip MAH... REESS!" (Claimed to have exclaimed it more than a million times.)
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