Funnyman Buddy Hackett Dead at 79

www.fownews.com ^ | 06/30/03 | fox nres

[BOBWADE]

I just saw this on Fox. It always happens in threes...First Hepburn, now Buddy...Who is next?

[Mo1]

Oh wow .. Sad news

[College Repub]

Probably hope.

[BOBWADE]

I also noticed that Buddy Epsen is in the hospital so I thought of "ole Jed".

[F16Fighter]

"I just saw this on Fox. It always happens in threes...First Hepburn, now Buddy...Who is next?"

Hitlery?? ;-)

[WSGilcrest]

I remember Buddy in the Love Bug movies when I was a kid. My jaw dropped when I saw him do an R rated stand up routine on HBO.

R.I.P. Buddy

[stylin19a]

um.....which group of threes were Gregory Peck & David Brinkley in ?

[Keith in Iowa]

No - Hepburn was 3...if you're counting move types..Hume Cronin, Gregory Peck, & Ms. Hepburn. Buddy appears to be the start of a new group of 3...

[BOBWADE]

The old guy from "cacoon"

[Keith in Iowa]

2003 Celebrity Deaths

• Katharine Hepburn, actress, died June 29 at the age of 96.
• Strom Thurmond, ultra conservative US politician, died June 26 at the age of 100.
• Leon Uris, author best known for novels such as Exodus and Trinity, died June 21 at the age of 78.
• Hume Cronyn, actor most recently known for Cocoon, died June 15 at the age of 91.
• Gregory Peck, movie star best known as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, died June 12 at the age of 87.
• David Brinkley, news anchorman, died June 11 at the age of 82.
• June Carter Cash, country music star, died May 15 at the age of 73.
• Robert Stack, actor best known for starring in TV's The Untouchables, died May 14 at the age of 84.
• Robert C. Atkins, diet doctor, died April 17 at the age of 72.
• Cardinal Gerald Emmett Carter, archbishop emeritus of Toronto, died April 6 at the age of 91.
• Daniel Patrick Moynihan, one time US senator for New York, died March 26 at the age of 76.
• Joseph Coors, brewing giant, died March 16 at the age of 85.
• Fred Rogers, of Mr. Rogers fame, died February 27 at the age of 74.
• Nell Carter, known for her role in Gimme a Break, died January 23 at the age of 54.
• Richard Crenna, actor known for such films as The Sand Pebbles and Wait Until Dark, died January 17 at the age of 76.
• Maurice Gibb, star of the Bee Gees, died January 11 at the age of 53.
• Sydney Omarr, astrologer to the stars, died January 2 at the age of 76.

[Tall_Texan]

Then there's Strom Thurmond, Don Regan, Larry Doby. Sorta like a big door has just swung open, eh?

[rvoitier]

Donald Regan.

Mr. Hackett is in with Hepburn and Strom.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Who is next?"

[krb]

The old guy from "cacoon"

Hehehe...I think that by definition, they all were old :-)

[BOBWADE]

Funnyman Buddy Hackett Dies at 79







Tuesday, July 01, 2003

LOS ANGELES — Buddy Hackett (search), the squat, round, rubbery-faced funnyman who appeared for more than 50 years as a top act in nightclubs, Broadway shows, on television and in such movies as The Music Man, The Love Bug and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, has died, his son confirmed Monday night. He was 79.



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Hackett died at his Southern California beach house either late Sunday or early Monday, Sandy Hackett told The Associated Press Monday night. His body was found Monday.

"He was one of the greatest ever. He was a terrific father. He was my best friend. He prepared me very well for this day, but no matter how much you prepare it still hurts," Sandy Hackett said as he arrived at his mother's house in Los Angeles.

The younger Hackett, who is also a comedian, said he had driven to Los Angeles from his Las Vegas home as soon as he got word of his father's death.

Hackett was invited to join the Three Stooges (search) when "Curly" Howard, the bald-headed member of the comedy team, suffered a stroke in 1946. But Hackett declined, believing he could develop his own comedy style. Playing for small money on the Borscht Circuit for New York City vacationers in the Catskill Mountains, he learned to get laughs with his complaints about being short, fat and Jewish.

His career grew with appearances on the variety TV shows of Jack Paar, Arthur Godfrey and others. Soon he was earning top money in Las Vegas, Florida and Las Vegas. In the beginning his material was suitable for family audiences, but in later years nightclubs advertised his show "For Mature Audiences Only." His performances in those days were noted for their prolific use of four-letters words at a time when that just wasn't done.

"Compared to motion pictures," he remarked in 1996, "I'm very mild these days."

[isthisnickcool]

Some years ago Buddy Hackett was involved in a business with a friend of my dads. They opened a new location in Houston and when we went to the opening Mr. Hackett was there. I was in a room with him for several hours. Some people wanted him to tell dirty jokes. But there were children around and he refused.

He seemed like a very kind and gentle soul. Just a real nice man.

RIP Buddy Hackett

[rvoitier]

Ever have one of those days where you're one minute late on everything you do?

This is my second dis on the same subject!

[Keith in Iowa]

>>..The Music Man...

I live in the shadows of Meredith Wilson's home town - the model for "River City" - my grandmother even went to shcool with him, lived just down the street...

[BOBWADE]

ping

[Moonmad27]

Sorry to hear that. Saw him at the Hollywood Collectors Show a few months back where he was still jovial with the autograph seekers. There aren't very many folks from It's a Mad Mad (etc) World who are still with us - what a classic film.

[rvoitier]

From "It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad World as Benjy Benjamin

Benjy Benjamin: Now look! We've figured it seventeen
different ways, and each time we figured it, it was no
good, because no matter how we figured it, somebody
don't like the way we figured it! So now, there's only one
way to figure it. And that is, every man, including the
old bag, for himself!
Ding Bell: So good luck and may the best man win!
Benjy Benjamin: Except you lady, may you just drop dead!

[BOBWADE]

Really sad that he has left us but in a much better place I am sure. I will always remember him for "here tis"

[ALOHA RONNIE]

BUDDY HACKETT =


A C-I-N-E-R-A-M-A Star =

"It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"

"The Adventures of the Brothers GRIMM"

Unforgettable.

[JennysCool]

One of the funniest men EVER ... Great in "The Music Man" as well!

[Moonmad27]

The Brothers Grimm - the Singing Bone! (How creepy could a kid's fairy tale get?!) Thanks for mentioning that!

[beckett]

just saw this on Fox. It always happens in threes...First Hepburn, now Buddy...Who is next?

Strom, Hepburn and Hackett...three already. OR if you don't feel Strom is a good fit with the Hollywood crowd (even though "death comes in 3s" usually just means any old 3 famous people), number 3 could be 95 year old Beverly Hillbilly Buddy Epsen, who last week was reportedly admitted to the hospital. He'd have the extra spooky advantage of sharing the same first name with another of the dear departed.

On a different note, I just saw Buddy Hackett on TV a few weeks ago as one of the judges in Last Comic Standing. He got in a foul mouthed fight with one of the other judges, the host from the Fear Factor, over whether or not a gay comic they were judging had stolen some jokes. Hackett took the gay guy's side. So it looks like in his last appearance before a large TV audience Hackett, a notorious libertine leftwinger and down and dirty blue comic, showed his nasty side, and he did it paying obeisance to political correctness, Hollywood style, i.e., the defense of gays.

[ladyinred]

Been more than three! They are dropping like flies!

[sinkspur]

Right, Ronnie.

Hackett, and Ethel Merman, and Milton Berle, all running to find the Big "W" in "Mad, Mad Mad, Mad World."

God bless Buddy Hackett. Anybody who makes other people laugh is doing God's work.

[ladyinred]

I really liked that guy. He was so funny, and so cute in a squishy little way.
RIP

[Tall_Texan]

Soon he was earning top money in Las Vegas, Florida and Las Vegas.

Nobody proofreads obits anymore! Hepburn's obit said she was born in 1909 and died yesterday at 96!

[JennysCool]

Buddy Hackett was recently reliving his days as soldier assigned to a motor pool unit. One day he answered the phone.

"Soldier, can you tell me what equipment is available for use immediately?" the voice commanded.

"Well, sir, we have two tanks, a half-dozen half-tracks, two armoured personnel carriers, couple of motorcycles, and Fat-Ass Johnson's command Jeep, sir."

"Soldier? Do you know who you are speaking to?"

"No, sir."

"This is Major Johnson, your commander!"

"Uh, sir? Do you know who you are speaking to?"

"No, I do not!"

"That's good. Goodbye, Fat-Ass!"

[BCrago66]

All these deaths have got me spooked. I really liked Buddy Hacket. We still have Jonanthan Winters, who I think is great.

[John Beresford Tipton]

"In his last appearance before a large TV audience Hackett, a notorious libertine leftwinger and down and dirty blue comic, showed his nasty side"

Oh, but he would have a long way to go to be as tasteless as some posters.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

"It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" =

BUDDY HACKETT -&-
Katherine Hepburn's SPENCER TRACY

[BCrago66]

I think you're making it up as you go along when you call Hacket a left-winger.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

"It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World"

Stayin' Alive =

SID CEASAR
MICKY ROONEY
& more...

[beckett]

Oh, but he would have a long way to go to be as tasteless as some posters.

I admit it's in very poor taste to make negative remarks on an obituary thread. I was never a Hackett fan, so I guess I let my lack of enthusiasm for his talent get the better of my judgement.

Rest in Peace on God's Little Acre, Buddy Hackett.

[lawgirl]

That is one of the funniest movies ever. Period.

[Crowcreek]

What about Buddy Ebson?

Ebson, Hepburn, and Hackett. The rule of threes . . .

[DoctorZIn]

Good Bye Old Friend

[MattAMiller]

The Grim Reaper is on roll with these celebrity deaths. He's been slacking off for the last few years, especially with the top tier death pool candidates.

[beckett]

What about Buddy Ebson?

Epsen didn't die. He was admitted to the hospital, but I just did a google search and it looks like he is scheduled to be released soon.

[Keith in Iowa]

See above

[Centurion2000]

That Matlock guy ... Andy Griffith.

[lowbridge]

Benjy Benjamin: Except you lady, may you just drop dead!

I just LOVE the line from Jonathan Winters that followed that: "Okay, now we all agree on that.", followed by a stunned take from Ethel Merman.

[Texas Mom]

I just saw this on Fox. It always happens in threes...First Hepburn, now Buddy...Who is next?

Gregory Peck just died. Think it was the same day as David Brinkley..

[Crowcreek]

Oops, sorry Buddy . . .