Red Skelton

Red Skelton

Known For:Acting
Gender:Male
Birthday:1913-07-18
Place of Birth:Vincennes, Indiana, USA
Also Known As: Ред Скелтон / Richard Red Skelton / Richard Bernard "Red" Skelton / Richard Bernard Skelton /
Known For: Acting Gender: Male Birthday: 1913-07-18 More

Biography

The son of a former circus clown turned grocer and a cleaning woman, Red Skelton was introduced to show business at the age of 7 by Ed Wynn, at a vaudeville show in Vincennes. At age 10, he left home to travel with a medicine show through the Midwest, and joined the vaudeville circuit at age 15. At age 17, he married Edna Marie Stilwell, an usher who became his vaudeville partner and later his chief writer and manager. He debuted on Broadway and radio in 1937 and on film in 1938. His ex-wife/manager negotiated a seven-year Hollywood contract for him in 1951, the same year The Red Skelton Hour (1951) premiered on NBC. For two decades, until 1971, his show consistently stayed in the top twenty, both on NBC and CBS. His numerous characters, including Clem Kaddiddlehopper, George Appleby, and the seagulls Gertrude and Heathcliffe delighted audiences for decades. First and foremost, he considered himself a clown, although not the greatest, and his paintings of clowns brought in a fortune after he left television. His home life was not completely happy--two divorces and a son Richard who died of leukemia at age 9--and he did not hang around with other comedians. He continued performing live until illness, and he was a longtime supporter of children's charities. Red Skelton died at age 84 of pneumonia in Rancho Mirage, California, on September 17, 1997. Red is interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Glendale, California, in the Great Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Benediction.
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Acting

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Inside the Dream Factory
Documentary TV Movie
That's Dancing!
Documentary Music
The Hollywood Clowns
Documentary Comedy
The People's Command Performance: '77
Music Comedy Documentary TV Movie
Rudolph's Shiny New Year
Animation Fantasy Family TV Movie Comedy
That's Entertainment!
Documentary Family Music
Clown Alley
Comedy TV Movie
Around the World in Eighty Days
Adventure Comedy Family Fantasy Romance
Climax!
Drama Mystery
Half a Hero
Comedy Music
Lovely to Look At
Comedy Music Romance
Texas Carnival
Music Comedy Romance
The Red Skelton Show
Comedy Talk Family
Watch the Birdie
Comedy Crime Romance
Three Little Words
Music Comedy Romance
The Bob Hope Show
Comedy Family Talk
The Yellow Cab Man
Comedy Drama Romance
Neptune's Daughter
Comedy Music Romance
A Southern Yankee
Comedy History War
The Fuller Brush Man
Adventure Comedy Crime Romance
Bathing Beauty
Music Comedy Romance
Whistling in Brooklyn
Comedy Crime Mystery Romance
Thousands Cheer
Music Comedy Romance
I Dood It
Music Comedy Romance
Du Barry was a Lady
Comedy Fantasy Music
Whistling in Dixie
Comedy Mystery Crime
Maisie Gets Her Man
Romance Drama Comedy
Ship Ahoy
Comedy Romance
Lady Be Good
Comedy Music Romance
Whistling in the Dark
Comedy Mystery Crime Romance
  • name:Red Skelton
  • Known For:Acting
  • Gender:Male
  • Birthday:1913-07-18
  • Place of Birth:Vincennes, Indiana, USA
  • Also Known As: Ред Скелтон · Richard Red Skelton · Richard Bernard "Red" Skelton · Richard Bernard Skelton ·
  • Biography:The son of a former circus clown turned grocer and a cleaning woman, Red Skelton was introduced to show business at the age of 7 by Ed Wynn, at a vaudeville show in Vincennes. At age 10, he left home to travel with a medicine show through the Midwest, and joined the vaudeville circuit at age 15. At age 17, he married Edna Marie Stilwell, an usher who became his vaudeville partner and later his chief writer and manager. He debuted on Broadway and radio in 1937 and on film in 1938. His ex-wife/manager negotiated a seven-year Hollywood contract for him in 1951, the same year The Red Skelton Hour (1951) premiered on NBC. For two decades, until 1971, his show consistently stayed in the top twenty, both on NBC and CBS. His numerous characters, including Clem Kaddiddlehopper, George Appleby, and the seagulls Gertrude and Heathcliffe delighted audiences for decades. First and foremost, he considered himself a clown, although not the greatest, and his paintings of clowns brought in a fortune after he left television. His home life was not completely happy--two divorces and a son Richard who died of leukemia at age 9--and he did not hang around with other comedians. He continued performing live until illness, and he was a longtime supporter of children's charities. Red Skelton died at age 84 of pneumonia in Rancho Mirage, California, on September 17, 1997. Red is interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Glendale, California, in the Great Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Benediction.
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