Salvatore Francis Martin Piro (June 29, 1950 – January 22, 2023) was an American actor who was the president of The Rocky Horror Picture Show Fan Club, a position he held from 1977 until his death. Piro's 1990 book Creatures of the Night, about The Rocky Horror Picture Shows cult following, is set to be adapted into a film.

Theatre career

Piro was a part of the original Waverly Theatre audience for The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Piro would shout humorous responses to the show's dialogue, from which the unique audience participation elements and much of the film's cult following were born. He was later instrumental in getting the venue moved to the 8th St. Playhouse. The Rocky Horror Picture Shows following has become a worldwide phenomenon.

Piro appeared as himself in the 1980 film Fame as well as in several documentaries, and had a nonspeaking, unnamed cameo as a man using a payphone in Rocky Horrors pseudo-sequel Shock Treatment. He also cameoed as "The Photographer" in the 2016 television remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. As an actor, he performed in both film and television.

Piro wrote two books about the Rocky Horror cult following, Creatures of the Night and Creatures of the Night II. Creatures of the Night is in development to be adapted into a film, with Adam Schroeder, Lou Adler, and Jill Mazursky set to produce. Mark Loughlin is writing the screenplay.

Personal life

Salvatore Francis Martin Piro was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1950. He attended Seton Hall University. In the mid-1970s, he was a theology teacher and theater director at Catholic schools in New Jersey. He was gay.

In Cherry Grove, New York, on Fire Island, Piro managed the Ice Palace and Grove Hotel for 23 years and executive produced the Miss Fire Island Pageant, Mr. Fire Island Leather, and the Miss Grove Hotel contest. He also played competitive tournament chess and Scrabble.

Piro died from an aneurysm at his home in Manhattan on January 22, 2023, at the age of 72.

References

External links

Official Facebook fan page The Rocky Horror Picture Show Official Fan Site