Posted on 08/20/2012 12:59:29 PM PDT by Jess Kitting
Legendary comedienne Phyllis Diller, who blazed a trail for a generation of female comics with her bawdy, self-deprecating stand-up routines, has died at age 95, according to TMZ. (The Associated Press and The Hollywood Reporter have since confirmed.)
Diller had been suffering health problems as of late: She recently hurt her hip and wrist in a fall and has been living under hospice care at her home. She passed away there, surrounded by family.
The comedienne, known for her wild hair and distinctive laugh, enjoyed a six-decade-long career in comedy: She started out filming a local TV special entitled "Phyllis Diller: The Homely Friendmaker" in 1952, and rose to fame on TV with a series of TV specials alongside Bob Hope in the 1960s. She later starred in several TV shows based around her act ("The Phyllis Diller Show," "The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show") and often appeared on the seminal '60s variety show "Laugh-In."
(Excerpt) Read more at tv.yahoo.com ...
Mel Brooks, also.
Old school comedian who knew her craft and how to milk a “take”.
She could work “blue” or clean - either way she was a hoot!
One joke I remember her telling was one morning she was late getting her trash out to the curb and she heard the garbage truck outside. In her robe and slippers, she grabbed the garbage can and ran after the truck. As she approached the truck she asked the man on the back, “am I too late?” and he replied, “not at all lady, jump right in!”
When I was working for Reagan’s PAC “Citizens for the Republic” in the early 90s, we held a fundraiser with Dan Quayle which was attended by many prominent LA conservatives. Miss Diller was one of the Hollywood conservatives attending and she was so very nice and pleasant. Afterward I sent her a great pic of Charlton Heston and her and she sent me the most beautiful thank you letter. I’ll have to find it because I sure didn’t throw it away.
I remember her on Dean Martin’s roast of Lucille Ball, where Phyllis said of Lucy, “She like to make her hair it’s original color, but she can’t remember.”
An additional “old” one is Rodney Dangerfield (82). Bob Newhart’s still cooking at 82.
An additional “young” one is Sam Kinison (38). Sam made me laugh so hard I wasn’t making any sound anymore ... but sometimes I felt guilty later! Also Andy Kaufman (35), but I never found his stand-up /hoax comedy funny.
It is an interesting observation. But I bet there are plenty of comedians who die at a normal-ish age, neither particularly old or young. Richard Pryor passed at 65, for example.
We have deserts in America, we just don't LIVE in them A$$HOLE!
John Belush.
John Candy made it well into middle age.
Add Red Skelton (made it to 84) and Sid Ceasar (will celebrate his 90th birthday in a few weeks) to that list.
Probably Sam’s best routine ever. God, Sam, I miss your stuff.
Different source, different author, Not a duplicate.
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