Brainchild Behind Showbiz Pizza's Fatz The Gorilla, Burt Wilson, Passes Away
Image Source: YouTube
Before the rise of the popular horror franchise Five Nights at Freddy's, there was a pizza/arcade chain known as "ShowBiz Pizza." While mostly known for Chuck E. Cheese's, many also have nostalgia for the sister brand of "ShowBiz Pizza Place." For ShowBiz specifically, it featured an animatronic band known as "The Rock-afire Explosion", with characters such as Billy Bob Brockli, Mitzi Mozzarella, and Fatz Geronimo.
The keyboard-playing gorilla was quite a popular character, being performed by Louisiana voice actor Burt "Bubba" Wilson. While he voiced a few other characters from ShowBiz, Fatz was his most famous role. Giving the gorilla a boisterous, self-important air that often mingled with the other animatronics humorously.
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Unfortunately, as of December 28th, 2023, a Facebook post from Smitty's Super Service (an 80s-style pizzeria that uses refurbished animatronics for stage shows) broke the news that Wilson passed away on December 28th, 2023.
Even if ShowBiz Pizza Place is no longer in business, and even if Wilson is no longer around to provide his voice to the animatronic gorilla, his boisterous personality will live on in the hearts and minds of many. There can only be one Grand Poo-bah of the Collander Head Movement, and Bubba Wilson holds that title even now. Rest easy, Burt Wilson, and thank you for providing unforgettable memories for the young and old.
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Sources: Facebook
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