Red Skelton Overview:

Legendary actor, Red Skelton, was born Richard Bernard Skelton on Jul 18, 1913 in Vincennes, IN. Skelton died at the age of 84 on Sep 17, 1997 in Rancho Mirage, CA and was laid to rest in Forest Lawn (Glendale) Cemetery in Glendale, CA.

MINI BIO:

Red-haired American comedian, the son of a circus clown, who usually wore clothes slightly too big, and mugged madly through MGM comedies and musicals for 14 years, whether as leading man or in black and white comedies or comic relief in big color musicals. It's said that he was at his best as a radio comedian: certainly his visual style has dated. His TV show though, which started in 1951, ran for 20 years. Died from pneumonia.

(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Film Stars).

HONORS and AWARDS:

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He was honored with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the categories of Television and Radio. Red Skelton's handprints and footprints were 'set in stone' at Grauman's Chinese Theater during imprint ceremony #64 on Jun 18, 1942. In addition, Skelton was inducted into the TV Hall of Fame and Radio Hall of Fame and was immortalized on a US postal stamp in 2009. Skelton was never nominated for an Academy Award.

BlogHub Articles:

Classic Movie Travels October:

By Annette Bochenek on Oct 5, 2023 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

Classic Movie Travels October: Richard was born on July 18, 1913, in Vincennes, Indiana. He was the fourth son born to Joseph and Ida Skelton. Skelton had three older brothers named Denny, Christopher, and Paul. Skelton?s father, a grocer and former Hagenbec... Read full article


Classic Movie Travels: The Museum of American Comedy

By Annmarie Gatti on Jul 8, 2015 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

The Museum of American Comedy is probably one of the most endearing American comics. Maintaining a simple brand of patriotic comedy, stemming from the clowning tradition, Skelton charmed audiences through live performance, radio, and television broadcasts. Skelton stood for ... Read full article


: The Lost Episodes on DVD

By Rick29 on Feb 5, 2014 From Classic Film & TV Cafe

, the clown prince of classic television, dominated U.S. airwaves for 20 years. In fact, when CBS cancelled the The Hour in 1970--after its 19th season--Red's show still ranked in the Top Ten in the Nielsen ratings. CBS's decision was driven by its desire to attract younger, m... Read full article


By Annette Bochenek on Sep 23, 2013 From Hometowns to Hollywood

“I left home because I was hungry.” - is probably one of the most endearing American comics. Maintaining a simple brand of patriotic comedy, stemming from the clowning tradition, Skelton charmed audiences through live performance, radio, and television broadcasts. ... Read full article


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Red Skelton Quotes:

Carol Lambert: [Panicked] Oh, I hope I wake up in the morning and find it's all a dream!
Wally 'The Fox' Benton: I hope I wake up!


Augustus 'Red' Pirdy: Well I know I went to the North Pole!


Col. Weatherby: Now, if you don't mind, the map, if you please.
Aubrey Filmore: Oh, the map, the map, the map . .
[to himself]
Aubrey Filmore: The map's in the packle of the bucket with the jeckle. No, the jacket's in the buckle of the pocket with the poodle - the boodle.
Col. Weatherby: Major Drummond, the map!
Aubrey Filmore: Yes, the map, the map, the map . .
[to himself]
Aubrey Filmore: The map's in the packle of the bugle with the pickle. No, no. The pocket of the boo - with the bagel. Not the bagel, the bugle, er, the buckle
[aloud]
Aubrey Filmore: That's it, the boot with the buckle.
[He hands over the wrong document]
Aubrey Filmore: I always carry my secret papers in the boot with the buckle. They'd have to kill me to get it, Sir. A soldier always dies with his bookles on, er, his bagels buckled, er, his . . Nice pair of shoes, don't you think?


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Grauman's Imprints

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Red Skelton on the
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Red Skelton Facts
A bridge was built and named after him that spans the Wabash River separating Indiana and Illinois on US 50, just outside his hometown of Vincennes, Indiana. Vincennes University is also building a Performing Arts Center in his memory.

Although famous for his "drunk" comedy sketches, he never drank and was, in fact, allergic to alcohol.

Interred at Forest Lawn, Glendale, California, USA, in the Great Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Benediction.

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Radio Hall of Fame

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Television Hall of Fame

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