Mystery Theatre Unlimited

Bert Furioli

Principal actor (1998–2016); continued as co-author through 2025

In Memoriam — Bert Furioli (d. May 20, 2025): A pillar of MTU’s creative spirit, Bert co-authored more than fifty original comedy mysteries and performed as a primary cast member for 18 years. His wit, energy, and generosity shaped the company.

Bio: A longtime collaborator with Butch Maxwell (and earlier with Bob Athey) from the West Liberty State College comedy troupe The Generic Players to MTU, Bert also helped launch the late-1990s Cornerstone Project’s Company B, performed with Towngate Theatre’s improv group Left of Centre Players, appeared in regional stage productions (including A Midsummer Night’s Dream and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), and was a familiar voice on local AM radio as a talk-show sidekick.

Scary Godmother — Happily Never After — Scary Godmother — *Happily Never After*

Chef O-Boy-R-Dee — Who Killed the Top Chef? — Chef O-Boy-R-Dee — *Who Killed the Top Chef?*

Frosty D. Snowman — Slay Ride II — Frosty D. Snowman — *Slay Ride II*

Milburn Dripdrysdale — The Capitol Hillbillies — Milburn Dripdrysdale — *The Capitol Hillbillies*

Perry Normal — E.A.T. (The Extra Added Terrestrial) — Perry Normal — *E.A.T.*

Sir John Feelgood — Who Wants to Murder a Millionaire? — Sir John Feelgood — *Millionaire*

Wicked Witch — Wizard of Odds — Wicked Witch — *Wizard of Odds*

Bongo — Johnny B. Dead — Bongo — *Johnny B. Dead*

Chuckie Brown — You’re a Dead Man, Chuckie Brown — Chuckie Brown — *Dead Man, Chuckie Brown*

Tom Bastic — Who Wants to Murder a Millionaire? — Tom Bastic — *Millionaire*

County Coroner — Coleslaw & Order — County Coroner — *Coleslaw & Order*

Dr. Phil — Kill Phil — Dr. Phil — *Kill Phil*

Rotten — Super-Duper Party Pooper — Rotten — *Super-Duper Party Pooper*

Ratso — Indiana Smith and the Restaurant of Doom — Ratso — *Restaurant of Doom*

Tank Hughes — Dead of the Class — Tank Hughes — *Dead of the Class*

Barney Colander — Mission: Unpossible — Barney Colander — *Mission: Unpossible*

Hector Barbasol — The Pirates of Poughkeepsie — Hector Barbasol — *Pirates of Poughkeepsie*

Cheap Throat — Coleslaw & Order — Cheap Throat — *Coleslaw & Order*

Morey Schwartzmeyer — Rock ’em Dead — Morey Schwartzmeyer — *Rock ’em Dead*

Emperor Palipitation — Star Bores — Emperor Palipitation — *Star Bores*

Mystery Theatre Credits

As principal actor:

Vishnu Withu — Happiness Is a Warm Gun (1997)
McGuffin — Murder in the Mansion Museum (1998, 2005)
Harry Who — License to Spy (2000)
Tom Bastic — Who Wants to Murder a Millionaire? (2000)
Mr. Spork — Space Trek (2001, 2002)
Rotten — The Menace of the Super Duper Party-Pooper (2001, 2006)
Odd Sterling — Once Upon a Crime (2001, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2012)
Manny Claus — Slay Ride III (2001, 2002, 2009)
Skippy — Survivor on Killigan's Island (2002)
Tyler Thwart — One Life to Lose (2002)
Perry Normal — E.A.T. (The Extra Added Terrestrial) (2003)
Ratso — Indiana Smith and the Restaurant of Doom (2003)
Boris Kissoff — Tales from the Script (2003, 2004, 2007, 2010)
Tooth Fairy — Slay Ride IV (2003, 2004, 2008)
Rocky Rhodes — Murder on the Love Boat (2004, 2006, 2008)
Jethro and Jethrene Bovine — The Capitol Hillbillies (2004, 2007)
Colonel Ketchup — Elliot Brick's Case of the Maltese Ferret (2005, 2006, 2012)
Cranky the Clown — Murder Under the Big Top (2005)
Joe Friedegg — Slay Ride Five — CSI: North Pole (2005, 2007)
Claude Hammer — Murder at the Kit Kat Klub (2006, 2008)
Mr. Gulp / Wicked Witch — Wizard of Odds (2006, 2008)
Fred Hurtz — I Killed Lucy (2007, 2009)
Harvey Brashman — Nothing Much About Doo-Doo (2007, 2009, 2015)
Chuckie Brown — You're a Dead Man, Chuckie Brown (2007)
Dr. Phil — Kill Phil (2008, 2011)
Sir Harry — Indiana Smith and the Raiders of the Lost Sequel (2008, 2012)
James Charville / County Coroner / Cheap Throat — Coleslaw & Order (2009, 2012)
Lug — Mind Over Murder (2009)
Andy — Mayberry R.I.P. (2010, 2013, 2015)
Morey Schwartzmeyer — Rock 'em Dead (2010)
Tooth Fairy — Slay Ride Six: Santa's Last Christmas (2010, 2015)
Hector Barbasol — The Pirates of Poughkeepsie (2011, 2014)
Dr. Watson — The Strange Case of Dr. Jackal and Mr. Hype (2011)
Bob Cratchit / Ghost of Past — A Deadly Christmas Carol (2011)
Chef O-Boy-R-Dee — Who Killed the Top Chef? (2012)
Barney Colander — Mission: Unpossible (2012–2013)
Tank Hughes — Dead of the Class (2013)
Mrs. Cadaver — The Calamityville Horror (2013)
McGuffin — Overture for an Undertaker (2014)
Mild Bill Hiccup — How the West Was Dumb (2014)
Scary Godmother — Happily Never After (2015)
Bongo — Johnny B. Dead (2015)
Emperor Palipitation — Star Bores (2016)

As an understudy:

Charlie Blind Eagle — Shoot-Out at the Double-U Dude Ranch (1997)
Chuck George — Il Morte di Figaro (1998)
Cookie — Avast Ye Murderous Swabs (1999)
Sir John Feelgood — The Case of the Ms. and the Show Biz Whiz (1999)
The Sheriff of Nottingham — Damn! Damn! That Rotten Old Nottingham (2000)
Michael Obits — The Case of the Ms. and the Show Biz Whiz (2000)
Barney N. Bailey — Murder Under the Big Top (2005, 2009)

In revival:

Tooth Fairy — Slay Ride (1997, 2000)
Frosty D. Snowman — Slay Ride II: Screaming All the Way (2000, 2012)
Svetlana Tickov — Indiana Smith and the Restaurant of Doom (2007)
Sir Harry — Indiana Smith and the Restaurant of Doom (2007)
Carey McDonald — One Life to Lose (2009)
Percy Q. Tedman — Salon, Farewell, Auf Weidersehen, You're Dead (2010)
Frank Cannon — Slay Ride V — CSI: North Pole (2014)
Thirsty Bowell III — Survivor on Killigan's Island (2015)
Milburn Dripdrysdale — The Capitol Hillbillies (2016)
Mugsy — Speakeasy, Die Hard (20th Anniversary Edition) (2016)
Emcee — Dr. Jackel and Mr. Hype (2017 revival)

The Mystery Theatre Unlimited, at various times, features:

Sean Decker

Pete Fernbaugh

Dustin Heavilin

Karissa Martin

Butch Maxwell

Melody Meadows

Joel Nau

Renee (Zelinski) Storm

Micah Underwood

Emeritus Members

Gino Angelo

Vera Barton-Maxwell

Cheryl Burke

Bert Furioli

Dee (McCorkle) Gregg

Arlene Merryman

Michael Moran

Ryan Sears

Frank Wilson

Others Who Have Appeared with the Company

Last updated: September 21, 2025