Paul Lynde
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| Paul Lynde | |
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| Born | June 13, 1926 Mount Vernon, Ohio |
| Died | January 10, 1982 (age 55) Beverly Hills, California |
| Occupation | actor, comedian |
| Parents | Hoy Lynde and Sylvia Bell Doup |
Paul Edward Lynde (June 13, 1926 – January 10, 1982) was an American comedian and actor. A noted character actor, Lynde was well known for his roles as Uncle Arthur on Bewitched and Harry McAfee, the befuddled father in Bye Bye Birdie. He was also the regular "center square" on the classic game show, Hollywood Squares, from 1968 to 1981.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early Life
Paul Lynde was born in Mount Vernon, Ohio and studied drama at Northwestern University in Chicago, where his classmates included Charlotte Rae, Patricia Neal, and Claude Akins. He graduated in 1948 and moved to New York City, where he initially worked as a stand-up comic.[1]
[edit] Career
Lynde made his Broadway debut in the hit revue New Faces of 1952 which he co-starred in opposite fellow newcomers Eartha Kitt, Alice Ghostley, and Carol Lawrence.[2] In one now-famous monologue, the "Trip of the Month Club," Lynde portrayed a man on crutches recounting his misadventures on the African safari he took with his late wife.[3] The show was filmed and released as a movie in 1954.
After the revue's run, Lynde co-starred in the short-lived sitcom Stanley opposite Buddy Hackett and Carol Burnett, both of whom were also starting out their careers in show business. In 1960, Lynde returned to Broadway when he was cast as the father in Bye Bye Birdie. He reprised the role in the play's film adaptation, which was released in 1963 and co-starred Dick van Dyke and Ann-Margaret.
Over the years, Lynde made regular appearances on sitcoms such as The Phil Silvers Show, The Munsters, and I Dream of Jeannie, and variety shows such as The Perry Como Show and The Dean Martin Show. He is often best remembered for his recurring role as "Uncle Arthur" on Bewitched.
Lynde also did extensive voice work on animated cartoons, particularly those of Hanna-Barbera Productions. His most notable roles included Sylvester Sneakly (a.k.a. "The Hooded Claw") in The Perils of Penelope Pitstop and Pertwee from Where's Huddles?. He also voiced the role of Templeton the gluttonous rat in the animated feature Charlotte's Web
In 1966, Lynde debuted on the fledgling game show Hollywood Squares, where he eventually won the coveted spot as the permanent center square and was able to showcase his comedic talents for the next several years.[1] He left the show in 1979, but returned for the 1980-81 season. Lynde won two Emmy Awards for his work on Hollywood Squares.
In 1972, Lynde starred in the short-lived sitcom, The Paul Lynde Show, playing an uptight attorney and father at odds with his liberal-minded son. The series was cancelled after only one season. The series’ failure reportedly exacerbated Lynde’s pre-existing drinking problem, which led to numerous run-ins with the law and frequent arrests for public intoxication.[1]
[edit] Personal life
In Hollywood, Lynde was widely known to be homosexual. But despite his stereotypically flamboyant mannerisms and sometimes rather overtly gay double entendres on Hollywood Squares, he never publicly acknowledged his homosexuality. In fact, Lynde was affectionately nicknamed "America's Most Eligible Bachelor" by the public, perhaps in seeking a logical reason for his lack of a partner.
Lynde was found dead in his Beverly Hills home by friend Paul Barresi. The coroner ruled the death a heart attack. In spite of later assumptions that he died from AIDS, his premature death may actually have been caused by his longtime alcoholism and drug abuse. In fact, the coroner said that Lynde's heart resembled that of a man about 80 years old.
Lynde is interred next to his brother Johnny at Amity Cemetery in Knox County, Ohio, some eight miles northeast of Paul's hometown.
[edit] TV Work
- The Red Buttons Show (regular performer in 1955)
- Stanley (1956–1957)
- The Perry Como Show (regular performer from 1961–1963)
- The Munsters (played "Dr. Edward Dudley", various episodes in 1964)
- Bewitched (Recurring character "Uncle Arthur" 1965–1971)
- The Hollywood Squares (center square from 1968–1981)
- Dean Martin Presents the Golddiggers (regular performer from 1968–1969)
- The Cattanooga Cats (1969–1971) (voice; uncredited)
- The Perils of Penelope Pitstop (1969–1971) (voice of arch-nemesis "The Hooded Claw"; uncredited)
- Gidget Grows Up (1969)
- Where's Huddles (1970) (voice of nosy neighbor "Claude Pertwee") (canceled after 10 episodes)
- Gidget Gets Married (1972)
- I Dream of Jeannie (1966-1968) (As Allen Kerr - 3 episodes)Somnium 02:23, 9 February 2007 (UTC)
- The Paul Lynde Show (1972-1973) (26 episodes ABC-TV)
- New Temperatures Rising (cast member from 1973–1974)
- The Paul Lynde Halloween Special (1976)
- Donny & Marie (1977) (Performed the song 'I'm My Own Grandpa').
- Paul Lynde at the Movies (1979)
[edit] Hollywood Squares quips
Q: You're the world's most popular fruit. What are you?
Lynde: Humble.
Q: What is a "dual purpose cow?"
Lynde: It gives milk and cookies. But I wouldn't recommend the cookies.
Q: It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps. One is politics. What is the other?
Lynde: Tape measures.
Q: Why do the Hells Angels wear leather?
Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles so easily.
Q: Is there such a thing as a female rooster?
Lynde: Yes, they're the ones who go a doodle-doo.
Q: Who stays pregnant for a longer period of time, your wife or your elephant?
Lynde: Who told you about my elephant?
Q: When you pat a dog on its head he will usually wag his tail. What will a goose do?
Lynde: Make him bark.
Q: Why would you throw a lemon down a garbage disposal?
Lynde: Because it was very, very naughty.
Q: True or false: Roman legend has it that God made the people of the world in a large oven.
Lynde: (looks at Leslie Uggams) Looks like you were overcooked.
Q: What do you do if you are driving downhill and your brakes give out?
Lynde: Honk if you love Jesus.
Q: Can you get an elephant drunk?
Lynde: Yes, but he still won't go up to your apartment.
Q: In Alice in Wonderland, who kept crying, "I'm late, I'm late"?
Lynde: Alice. And her mother is sick about it.
Q: What will bring tears to a monkey's eyes?
Lynde: Learning that Tarzan swings both ways.
Q: Which is better looking, a pixie or a fairy?
Lynde: I'll go for the fairy.
Q: In The Wizard of Oz, the Lion wanted courage and the Tin Man wanted a heart. What did the Scarecrow want??
Lynde: He wanted the Tin Man to notice him.
Q: Who are more likely to be romantically responsive. Women under thirty or women over thirty?
Lynde: I don't have a third choice?
Q: What is said to be wasted on the young?
Lynde: A whipping.
Q: What is the most abused and neglected part of the body?
Lynde: Well, mine may be abused but it certainly isn't neglected.
Q: If the right part comes along, will George C. Scott do a nude scene?
Lynde: You mean he doesn't have the right part?
Q: Roy Rogers has something stuffed and mounted in his study. What is it?
Lynde: Oh no, not Miss Dale!
Q: Paul, how many men on a hockey team?
Lynde: Oh, about half.
Q: What would the Lone Ranger always leave behind with the damsel in distress he'd saved?
Lynde: A masked baby!
Q: Why was Nathan Hale hung?
Lynde: Heredity.
Q: Queen Elizabeth generally swings her umbrella behind her back, and immediately something happens. What?
Lynde: Lord Snowden doubles over in pain.
Q: Is it normal for Norwegians to talk to trees?
Lynde: As long as that's as far as it goes.
Q: Why do sheep sleep huddled up?
Lynde: Because Little Boy Blue is a weirdo!
Q: True of false: At a recent hearing in New Jersey, opponents of fluorinated water argued that too much fluorine in a persons system can cause an uncontrollable desire for sex.
Lynde: HEY, CULLIGAN MAN!
Q: Paul, what profession is the most common for prostitutes after they retire?
Lynde: Smuggling.
Q: Eddie Fisher recently stated, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for them both.” Who or what was he referring to?
Lynde: His fans.
Q: Does Mark Spitz believe swimming in the nude helps you go faster?
Lynde: Well, it's easier to steer.
Q: Paul, why are forest rangers in remote locations ordering goats as standard equipment?
Lynde: Because the sheep are wising up.
Q: True or false: in the recent world kissing contest in England, two contestants were disqualified when they got too passionate.
Lynde: Yes, but they went on to win in three other categories.
Q: True or false: Paul Revere had sixteen children.
Lynde: From one midnight ride?
Q: You’re equipped with a pick, a sieve, and a shallow pan. What are you about to do?
Lynde: Joan Crawford's eyebrows.
Q: Prehistoric man had two uses for sheep. One was for food. What was the other?
Lynde: Conversation.
Q: Name a reason to beat your meat.
Lynde: Loneliness. This from an outtake that never made it on air, a film clip shown by Peter Marshall during his performance on the SS Rotterdam world cruise 1996
Q: Back in the early movies, who would you be most likely to see on top of Tony the Wonder Horse?
Lynde: Oh, My Friend Flicka.
Q: According to the World Book, what is the main reason your dog pants?
Lynde: Cause he can’t talk dirty!
[edit] Filmography
- New Faces (1954) (also writer)
- Son of Flubber (1963)
- Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
- Under the Yum Yum Tree (1963)
- For Those Who Think Young (1964)
- Send Me No Flowers (1964)
- Beach Blanket Bingo (1965)
- The Glass Bottom Boat (1966)
- How Sweet It Is! (1968)
- Charlotte's Web (1973) (voice)
- Journey Back to Oz (1974) (voice)
- Hugo the Hippo (1975) (voice)
- Rabbit Test (1978)
- The Villain (1979)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Paul Lynde Biograpy at Biography.com
- ^ Paul Lynde at What A Character!
- ^ Vincent Canby, "A Lost Theatrical Form Returns With a Smile", New York Times, June 21, 1998.
[edit] External links
- Paul Lynde at the Internet Movie Database
- Paul Lynde at NNDB.com
- Paul Lynde at the Rotten Library (also contains a list of Hollywood Squares quips)
- Paul Lynde quips from Hollywood Squares
- Sacks, Mike. Queer as folk Salon.com, August 23, 2005.
- Center Square: The Paul Lynde Story
Categories: 1926 births | 1982 deaths | American character actors | American musical theatre actors | American comedians | American film actors | American stage actors | American television actors | American voice actors | Deaths from cardiovascular disease | Gay actors from the United States | LGBT comedians | Northwestern University alumni | People from Mt. Vernon, Ohio
