Argentine entertainment journalism lost one of its most recognized voices. Luis Pedro Toni died at the age of 91leaving behind more than seven decades dedicated to telling stories from film, television, radio and theater. His frontal style, his humor and his unmistakable voice made him a beloved figure among colleagues and artists.
Throughout his career, Toni was privileged witness of the evolution of Argentine entertainment. From his beginnings in the ’50s to his last steps in radio, he knew how to combine journalistic rigor with an unusual closeness in the environment. Those who knew him agree that behind the journalist there was a warm, passionate man with an infectious laugh.
That same laugh, the one heard so many times behind the camera or in the channel corridors, starred in one of the most memorable bloopers on national television. A moment as unexpected as it was endearing, which made him part of the history of Argentine humor along with Sergio Gonal.
What Luis Pedro Toni died of
As it turned out, Luis Pedro Toni died of natural causesa product of the logical wear and tear of his advanced age. Although in recent years he had reduced his public appearances, he kept in touch with those close to him and continued to be interested in the news of the medium he loved so much.
At 91 years old, his health was already more fragile, but his lucidity was still intact. Those who knew him say that I continued watching television “as a journalist”analyzing every format, every driving tone, as if he were still working.
The family asked for respect and privacy at this time. His son, Diego, expressed deep gratitude for the expressions of affection receivedespecially from colleagues and entertainment figures who shared years of work with him.
Pedro Toni’s laugh that ruined a joke for Sergio Gonal
One of the most memorable moments of his time on television does not have to do with a scoop, but with a laugh. In an interview with the comedian Sergio GonalToni unintentionally became the protagonist of a legendary blooper: His laughter preceded the punchline of the joke and unleashed a general fit of laughter..
The video, recovered by the archive DiFilm and published on YouTube in 2023, shows Gonal characterized as a pirate who recounts, among exaggerations, how he lost a leg, a hand and an eye. Just before the end, Toni couldn’t contain herself and burst out laughing.breaking the tension and ruining—although also improving—the most anticipated moment of the sketch.
That fragment, which today circulates among fans of ’90s television, portrays Toni’s spontaneity and warmthhis ability to laugh at himself and to transform a mistake into an unforgettable moment. In times where everything is recorded and edited, that naturalness feels almost impossible to repeat.
For many, that fit of laughter was his most human seal. Because if Luis Pedro Toni left something behind, in addition to an immense career, it was the ability to laugh with otherseven when the script said otherwise. And that laugh—the one that interrupted a joke but became eternal—continues to resonate in the memories of those who grew up watching it on the screen.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
