RED SKELTON (1913-1997)

RICHARD BERNARD SKELTON

Born: July 18th, 1913 (Indiana)

Died: September 17th, 1997 (pneumonia)

Marriages: Edna Marie Stilwell (1932-1943), Georgia Davis (1945-1973) & Lothian Toland (1973-His death).

Children: He had two children: a boy named Richard Jr., who died of leukemia at the age of nine and a daughter named Valentina.

Awards: In 1989 he was given an Oscar as a Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy. He has also been awarded two Golden Globes, three Emmy's, a Screen Actors Guild Award and two stars on the Walk of Fame for Radio & Television. He was nominated for three other Emmy's.

Interesting Fact: Though many of his skits included characters that were humorously drunk, Skelton himself never drank a drop of alcohol. He was ironically allergic to it.

My Favorite Movie: "Neptune's Daughter" (1949). The film includes the first appearance of the classic Christmas song "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and has a fantastic cast. It's one of his comical best.

Red is the cleanest comedian I've ever seen. Not only was his humor original and incomparable, he also became the true definition of a "CLOWN." Having grown up in the Circus and watching his father perform as a clown, he learned what he saw and made it entertaining to watch on the screen. But, instead of just one character to play, he had a full arsenal to choose from. These characters gave him one of the most successful runs on Television. He also insisted on fewer takes and would often adlib during a goof in order to keep the originality of it. What I love most about Mr. Skelton was his feelings on "Blue Humor." He considered it as a cheap escape from inventing true entertainment. What I also love about him was his patriotism and support to keep "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Here is one of my favorite scenes from "Neptune's Daughter."

Here is his infamous gin routine.

Here is his feelings on the Pledge of Allegiance.

I had to include this last video he does with Jerry Lewis.

They were two of the best clowns in the world,

but in the end it is Jerry who submits to Red.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?