Search

By Lookout Staff

November 11 -- Jay Fiondella, the colorful owner of the legendary half-century-old Santa Monica watering hole Chez Jay, died last week after a battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 82.

The former actor, treasure hunter, hot-air balloonist and raconteur presided over the tiny restaurant frequented by showbiz celebrities, including Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, Johnny Carson and Clint Eastwood.

Photographers, on-duty reporters and autograph hounds were barred from the wood-paneled joint strewn with peanut shells.

“One of the reasons I get so many stars in here is because they know I don’t talk to reporters,” Fiondella once told a reporter. “I never openly talked to Hedda Hopper, or Louella Parsons, or Harrison Carrol,” he said, referring to the trio of Hollywood gossip icons.

Known for its stiff drinks and potatoes au gratin with bananas, Chez Jay is the renowned home of the historic 'Astro-nut'---a peanut astronaut Alan Shepherd took on his round trip to the moon.

The back booth was where Daniel Ellsberg, a researcher for the neighboring RAND Corporation, reportedly leaked the Pentagon Papers that helped end the Vietnam War.

Fiondella appeared in more than 50 TV shows and feature films, including "Gunsmoke," "Perry Mason," "Batman," "Mission: Impossible" and "Fantasy Island" and three "Lethal Weapon" films and "Short Cuts" (1993).

After moving to Los Angeles, the aspiring actor lived with his first Hollywood roommate, Leonard Nimoy, who eventually earned fame as Spock on Star Trek.

Fiondella opened Chez Jay in 1959, naming it after "Chez Joey," a joint run by Sinatra in his 1957 film "Pal Joey." Fiondella was a close pal of Sinatra’s, partying with him in Vegas and hanging out in his palm Springs home.

“To be there, five feet away, with a couple of friends, and listen to Frank sing just for himself and for us, that was one of the greatest experiences of my life,” Fiondella once old a reporter.

Fiondella, who died last Thursday, is survived by his daughter, Anita Fiondella Eck, his son, Chaz Fiondella, his sister Rita Luarte and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial celebration will be held at Chez Jay on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 2-5 p.m. To RSVP, call (310) 395 -1741.