Vinny Guadagnino

Vinny Guadagnino Headshot

Personality

Birth Date: November 11, 1987

Age: 36 years old

Birth Place: Staten Island, New York

Vinny Guadagnino had the best summer of his life when he joined the cast of "Jersey Shore" (MTV, 2009-12), a reality series in which cameras followed every hookup, every boardwalk fight and every fist pump from a group of young Italian-Americans living together in New Jersey. Guadagnino walked into the shore house as a "mama's boy" with a mission - to celebrate his 21st year surrounded by plenty of single women and alcohol - and it helped turn the freshman series into a reality franchise for the network. Even though "Jersey Shore" was mired by controversy, with Italian-American organizations offended by the housemates' questionable use of the terms "Guido" and "Guidette," Guadagnino maintained a positive attitude and unwavering pride for his traditional Italian roots throughout the show's breakout first season.

Vinny Guadagnino was raised in a traditional Italian household in Staten Island, NY. The self-confessed "mama's boy" had just turned 21 when he packed up and moved to Seaside Heights, NJ in the summer of 2009 to film "Jersey Shore." The MTV reality series followed a rambunctious and outspoken group of individuals - all advertised as of Italian-American descent - as they lived, worked and partied together. The cast included New York party girl Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi and fitness club manager Michael "The Situation" Sorrentino, who also hailed from Staten Island. While Polizzi and Sorrentino became instant viewer favorites - for her notorious bar fight with a male patron during the fourth episode and his constant third-person reference to his toned abdominals as "The Situation" - Guadagnino maintained a relatively low profile on the show. It was evident from the first episode, however, that the Staten Island native was also the most impressionable cast member. He had the least amount of experience when it came to flirting with the opposite sex while his co-stars boasted of nightly conquests and random hookups. In an effort to outdo his male housemates in the romance department, Guadagnino flirted with his boss' daughter as well as Sorrentino's sister during the show's first season.

Guadagnino's "mama's boy" persona and youthful energy - his "fist pump" dance was imitated by nightclub-goers across the country - made a lasting impression on the show's female viewers. However, not everyone was happy with the series' portrayal of Italian-Americans. The cast's frequent use of the terms "Guido" and "Guidette" angered cultural groups such as the National Italian-American Foundation and UNICO National, which called for a boycott of the show. Several advertisers including Dell and Domino's Pizza pulled their commercials after the first episode of "Jersey Shore" aired. MTV declined to give in to the threats by UNICO and its advertisers and defended the program, even releasing a statement that said the cast's use of the term "Guido" was meant in a positive manner. The controversy helped boost the show's ratings and furthered its stars' "promotional" careers. Suddenly Guadagnino commanded a $3,500-per-club appearance following the first season. In January 2010, the reality star confirmed to The New York Daily News that the original cast of "Jersey Shore" was asked to appear for the show's second season.

By Marc Cuenco

Credits

Jerztory: How Jersey Shore Changed TV

Self
Show
2022

Revenge Prank

Host
Show
2020

GMA3: Strahan, Sara & Keke

Guest
Show
2019

Double Shot at LoveStream

Host
Reality
2019

Today With Hoda & Jenna

Guest
Show
2019

Strahan & Sara

Guest
Show
2019

GMA Day

Guest
News
2018

Jersey Shore: Family Vacation: Extras

Actor
Show
2018

Jersey Shore: Family Vacation: Extras

Self
Show
2018

Jersey Shore Family VacationStream

Actor
Vinny
Reality
2018

Jersey Shore Family VacationStream

Self
Reality
2018

Access Live

Guest
Show
2017

Floribama ShoreStream

Host
Reality
2017

TRL

Host
Show
2017

Vinny & Ma Eat America

Self
Show
2016

Celebrity PageStream

Guest
News
2016

Crazy Talk

Guest
Show
2015

Bethenny

Guest
Show
2013

The Show With Vinny: Extras

Actor
Show
2013

The Show With Vinny

Host
Show
2013

Anderson Live

Guest
Show
2012

Anderson Live

Host
Show
2012

Jersey Shore Shark Attack

Actor
Conte
Movie
2012

LIVE with Kelly

Guest
Talk
2011

Dish Nation

Guest
Talk
2011

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

Talk Stoop

Guest
Show
2010

Jersey ShoreStream

Actor
Reality
2009

Jersey ShoreStream

Self
Reality
2009

Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

Guest
Talk
2009

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

Wild 'N OutStream

Guest
Game Show
2005

Dancing With the StarsStream

Contestant
Reality
2005

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Guest
Talk
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

Live With Regis and Kelly

Guest
Show
2001

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

Guest
Talk
1992

Entertainment Tonight

Guest
News
1981

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutVinny Guadagnino

Vinny Guadagnino of All Star Shore 2023
Q&A

Vinny Guadagnino Compares MTV’s ‘All Star Shore’ to Old Days of ‘Jersey Shore’

Jersey Shore Family Vacation
Exclusive

Sammi ‘Sweetheart’ Feels Like Old Times in ‘Jersey Shore’ Family Vacation’ Sneak Peek (Video)

Heidi D'Amelio, Artem Chigvintsev, Vinny Guadagnino, and Koko Iwasaki on 'Dancing With the Stars'

What You Didn’t See Between Heidi D’Amelio & Daughter Charli on ‘DWTS,’ Plus Vinny Guadagnino on His Exit

Vinny, Koko, Trevor, and Emma on 'Dancing With the Stars'
Spoiler Alert

‘Dancing With the Stars’: [Spoiler] Sent Home in ’90s Night Double Elimination (RECAP)

Dancing With the Stars Season 31 premiere
Spoiler Alert

‘DWTS’ Season 31 Premiere: [Spoiler] Gets Eliminated in First Live Show on Disney+

DWTS Season 31 Poster
Exclusive

See ‘DWTS’ Contestants Go Head-to-Head in New Season 31 Poster (PHOTOS)

Dancing with the Stars Season 31 cast
Preview

‘DWTS’ Season 31 Stars & Pros Talk First Impressions, Diversity and More

Jersey Shore Family Vacation
Q&A

‘Jersey Shore: Family Vacation’ Cast on Living Their Best Life Amid All the Drama

Jersey Shore Family Vacation Season 5
Q&A

‘Jersey Shore Family Vacation’ Cast on Taking the Party to the Florida Keys

Vinny, Pauly D and Nikki
Q&A

‘Jersey Shore’ Bros Pauly D & Vinny on Taking Another ‘Double Shot at Love’

Bill Nye revealed as Ice Cube with Craig Robinson on The Masked Dancer

Bill Nye, Tony Hawk and More of the Most Shocking ‘Masked Singer’ & ‘Dancer’ Reveals

Jersey Shore Family Vacation recap
Spoiler Alert

‘Jersey Shore Family Vacation’: Jenni’s Divorce Party Ends With a Surprise From Angelina (RECAP)

What happened on Jersey Shore Family Vacation
Spoiler Alert

‘Jersey Shore Family Vacation’: The Situation Walks Free — But Not Yet (RECAP)

Vinny Guadagnino
Preview

Vinny Guadagnino on His ‘Jersey Shore Family Vacation’ Experience

Jersey Shore

‘Jersey Shore Family Vacation’: What Are Snooki, Pauly D and the Rest of the Gang up to Now?