Posted on 06/29/2009 6:19:31 AM PDT by Dahoser
Impressionist Fred Travalena, a headliner in Vegas showrooms and a regular on late-night talk shows with his takes on presidents, crooners and screen stars, has died in Los Angeles. He was 66.
(Excerpt) Read more at 2.tbo.com ...
This is shaping up to be a banner month for celebrity deaths.
RIP, Fred.
Not a good year for impressionists, first Danny Gans, now Travelena. If I were Rich Little, I wouldn’t be feeling too good right now.
If I were Rich Little, I would feel great right now. He’s practically the last big impressionist left! He might even be in demand again.
FYI - CNBC broke the news this morning that Billy Mays was found dead at home. He was 50 years old.
Impressionists will go the way of tap dancing and accordion playing. The “stars” of today have no unique vocalizations or styles that can be imitated. They are all cookie-cutter acting school people..............
Yikes!
He was in An American Carol!
RIP Fred.
They said he had been fighting cancer for the past 6 years. RIP
That ‘news’ is more than 24 hours old.
I tend to agree with you.
I remember talking to my father - who died years ago - about exactly that when I was a teenager. We were watching some old movie (remember when AMC actually played old movies?), and my father remarked that the actors he grew up with seemed to be more talented than more recent stars. The older generation of actors often could act, sing, dance, do comedy and many of them could write as well. Many of today’s stars seem to be more out of the unidimensional mold. My father also remarked, and I’ll never forget this for some reason, that today’s stars didn’t even seem to have distinctive voices or mannerisms.
Faith!
RIP to another funny guy that helped make my world a little happier place.
As a young adult he served in Special Services with the US Army.
FRED was honored recently when he was asked to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC. on behalf of the USO, which FRED is very dedicated to and travels to foreign countries to entertain our servicemen. He was also honored by Club Italia with a Merit Achievement Award for his contributions to society. He has been honored as Angel of the Year by The Women in Show Business, an Award of Excellence by the Film Advisory Board, Congressman's Merit Award for his contribution and support to the POW and MIA cause, BEST SINGER by the All Army Entertainment Award, and Man of the Year by the National Italian American Foundation.
Patrick Swayze can’t be far behind.
Frad Travalena was so talented. I always enjoyed seeing him on tv. RIP. I’ll bet he’ll keep the angels laughing too.
Your Dad was right. Some actors were trained by the old studio system, some were vaudeville-trained, others came from Broadway.
He was quite conservative. Here’s a link to his blog - http://blog.fredtravalena.com/
Thank you. Seems he was. RIP Fred.
I read yesterday that Gayle Storm, the actress that played ‘My Little Margie’, died too. She was 87.
They all use those computer-enhanced vocals. I swear if I hear one more song with computer-enhanced vocals, I'm going to take a flamethrower to something.
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