Charles Nelson Reilly, Tony-Winning Comic Actor, Dies at 76

nytimes.com ^ | May 28, 2007 | By PATRICK McGEEHAN

[TxCopper]

At age 76, I don't think it was that "long illness."

[PetroniusMaximus]

“know why?”

Do I want to know?

[jdm]

Bump. Also, here's some Match Game photos for you [courtesy of http://mywebpages.comcast.net/matchgame/]

	Chuck's Birthday
	Filmed on January 13, 1980 • Episode 144 • Syndicated Version

[FreeReign]

The Dirty Bubble no more.

[FreeReign]

[ExtremeUnction]

"Nobody loves an old fag.."

It's an old saying. I hope it didn't apply to Mr. Reilly. He was a funny entertainer and he made me laugh.

[avenir]

RIP Charles. He was funny and flaming, and what I find interesting is that my Grandparents and Parents and most people never seemed to care or make a big deal out of the flaming aspect. They just accepted him as a character.

I know some FReepers hate Alec Baldwin, but he is one of the best hosts SNL has ever had. This clip of him and Will Ferrel doing a bit on The Actors Studio w/Charles Nelson Reilly is a hoot (I imagine Charles would have found it funny):

SNL Alec Baldwin does Charles Nelson Reilly

[dirtbiker]

("The colors are so bright and GAAAAAAYYYY!").

Back in the days when "gay" was an adjective instead of a noun....

[dragonblustar]

This was the only pic I had of him....

[dirtbiker]

He was funny and flaming, and what I find interesting is that my Grandparents and Parents and most people never seemed to care or make a big deal out of the flaming aspect.

True.

He didn't demand that you accept him as normal, nor have you sent to "sensitivity training sessions" if you didn't....

He was what he was, and what he was....was funny!

[TxCopper]

He was always funny. You could tell on Match Game, that he and Brett Somers were very good friends. He was funny without trying.

[upsdriver]

“Yes, he was a homosexual. And I hope God will forgive him for it, as I hope He will pardon me for my own weaknesses and sins. But he never made a big deal out of it, and never used it as an excuse for acting like an animal in public”

Only if he asked for forgiveness and was repentant of his sins. I do hope he was as I always liked CNR,too, but we shouldn’t sugar coat God’s Word in order to make ourselves feel better. By doing so, it also deceives others from knowing the true path to salvation.

[norton]

How do you manage to inject Alec Baldwin into a generally (and properly) very nice, very favorable, appreciative, discussion of Charles Nelson Reilly?

Reilly was funny and that's what we hope comedians will be - what they can do for the rest of us.

He was gay, big deal, that was his source for levity and - before it became politicized - everyone was just fine with that.

I'm very sorry he is gone, I hope there is someone other than his 'partner' and unrelated fans who also miss him.

Please don't equate him with a fat ass, unfunny, self righteous, political hairball.

[Grizzled Bear]

For the love of God. Is that really necessary? Please take it somewhere else.

[Dad yer funny]

FR *bookmark*

[L.N. Smithee]

And don't forget Hoo Doo in Krofft Brothers' Lidsville, possibly the trippiest thing every put on television, much less kids' TV. And I don't care if the Krofft brothers say they never did drugs. The evidence to the contrary is overwhelming.

Once again we lose a true entertainer, someone who had to work for his stardom. There are fewer and fewer every day.

Well said. He was the epitome of the working actor, in which the credo was "no small roles, only small actors." He was not afraid to dress like a giant banana so he could work in legitimate theater.

[sonic109]

I don’t think God would punish him . My vision of God is all loving and all forgiving.I don’t know but he seemed like a really nice guy who was gifted and brought laughter to many RIP

[jimfree]

Once again we lose a true entertainer, someone who had to work for his stardom.

Thanks HGC. I wouldn't necessarily have phrased it that way if I had made this comment first, but somehow it clicks with me. CNR was an entertainer who worked hard acting and directing and trying to reach us through other channels. He didn't force his politics down us but was trying to engage us in his art. Sometimes it was through pedestrian gameshow appearances, sometimes it was as a director, writer, or award winning actor. I loved seeing Charles perform in any of these roles and I mourn his passing and honor his life.

[MichiganMan]

While such sentiments may be out of place on a "Discussion" board, I've always found speculation as to which departed souls He chose to bestow his ultimate grace upon to be distasteful, and not really within the scope of a proper Christian humility.

[Clemenza]

Yet another member of Burt Reynold’s entourage (and a fixture of my childhood) is gone. Some may have thought of CNR as the poor man’s Paul Lynde, but he clearly had a style all his own, one that one Michael Musto does an AWFUL job of copying!