Meet Tony

Born Anthony Lucidonio Jr. and raised in South Philadelphia, Tony Luke Jr. has worn many hats in his extraordinary life — performer, business owner, TV personality — but perhaps none as meaningful as his role as a national speaker sharing a raw and deeply personal story of pain, perseverance, and purpose.

Tony’s early life was steeped in music, theater, and family. A drama major and music minor at Philadelphia’s Creative and Performing Arts High School (CAPA), he spent the 1980s writing and performing songs for artists like Brandi Wells and Motown’s AC Black. He also fronted his own musical groups, including “Off The Streets,” “AJ Spats,” and “Too Cool Project.”

Tony was also the host of Tony Luke's Eaglemania, a popular show on Philadelphia’s ABC affiliate WPVI-TV during the Eagles' 2010 season. His larger-than-life personality, love of community, and authenticity continue to resonate on and off screen.

Building a Legacy

In 1992, alongside his father, Tony Sr., and brother Nicholas, Tony opened a small sandwich shop in South Philly — the now-iconic Tony Luke’s. What started as a single storefront quickly grew into a celebrated brand, with multiple locations across Philadelphia, a popular line of frozen sandwiches, and an international expansion into Bahrain through a partnership with Rastelli Foods Group.

But Tony’s public success masks a private heartbreak.

He is a father who has endured the unimaginable loss of his son — a pain that reshaped his life and deepened his mission. Out of that grief, Tony found his purpose: to speak truth, to break stigma, and to remind others they are never alone in their suffering.