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Job Actor
Years active 1937-1981
Top Roles Harry Ruby, Himself, Lieut. 'Mugger' Martin, Himself, Drunk in Saloon
Top Genres Comedy, Romance, Musical, Drama, Crime, Adventure
Top Topics Romance (Comic), Book-Based, Aviation, Money, Exotic Lands
Top Collaborators Virginia O'Brien, Roger Moore, Eleanor Powell, Esther Williams, Pierre Watkin, Lena Horne, Jack Cummings (Producer), Keenan Wynn
Also Born on July 18
Also Born in 1913
Also Born in Indiana
Also a Cancer

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.

Red Skelton BlogHub Articles:

Classic Movie Travels October: Red Skelton

Classic Movie Travels October: Red Skelton Red Skelton Richard Red Skelton 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 Hagenb... Read full article


Classic Movie Travels: The Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy

The Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy Red Skelton 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


Red Skelton: The Lost Episodes on DVD

Red Skelton, the clown prince of classic television, dominated U.S. airwaves for 20 years. In fact, when CBS cancelled the The Red Skelton 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


Red Skelton

“I left home because I was hungry.” -Red Skelton Red Skelton 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:

Wally 'The Fox' Benton: I've got cold spines running up and down my chills.

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

Louis Blore: Here's to I, May, and you - the eternal rectangle. If this was back in the glorious days of France, I would be King Louis, May would be Du Barry, and you would be one of the common folks - a peasant.

Carol Lambert: [In the dark cellar] I wonder what a ghost would say if he walked in here and saw us?
Wally 'The Fox' Benton: He'd probably say, "Hello, girls" because I wouldn't be here.

Col. Clifford M. Baker: The paper's in the pocket of the boot with the buckle. The map's in the packet in the pocket of the jacket. Understand?
Aubrey Filmore: Hmm?
Col. Clifford M. Baker: And if you get them mixed up, you're a dead goose.
Aubrey Filmore: Oh, well let's see now. The paper's in the pocket of the macket with a jacket, and the . . No, I see, the packet's in the . .
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Red Skelton Facts
In 1960 he purchased the old Charles Chaplin Studios on La Brea Ave., where he produced his weekly television shows. He established Red-Eo-Tape (Red-Tape) Video Productions. His three RCA TK-41 camera mobile units became the first live color production company in Hollywood.

The Red Skelton Performing Arts Center at 20 Red Skelton Blvd. in Vincennes, Indiana is within a block of Red Skelton's birthplace.

His first wife, a former usher, negotiated his 1951 $5 million, seven-year Hollywood contract.

At a cost of $16.8 million, Red Skelton Performing Arts Center was built on the Vincennes University campus. It was officially dedicated on Friday, February 24, 2006. The building includes an 850-seat theater, classrooms, rehearsal rooms and dressing rooms. The grand foyer is a gallery for Red Skelton paintings, statues and film posters. In addition to Vincennes University theatrical and musical productions, the theater hosts special events, convocations and conventions. Work is underway on the Red Skelton Gallery and Education Center to house the $3 million collection of Skelton memorabilia donated by Lothian Skelton. As of June 2009, part of the museum including a gift shop is open.

In a People Magazine interview late in his life, Skelton admitted that he fudged his officially accepted birth year, but did not elaborate. The year 1910 is sometimes given instead of 1913, but Skelton's biographer Arthur Marx claims that the comedian told close associates he was really born in 1906.

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