Red Buttons has died - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

flat5 · 07-13-2006, 01:30 PM

Comedian Red Buttons Dies in L.A. at 87
By BOB THOMAS

Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES — Red Buttons, the carrot-topped burlesque comedian who became a top star in early television and then in a dramatic role won the 1957 Oscar as supporting actor in "Sayonara," died Thursday. He was 87.

Buttons died of vascular disease at his home in the Century City area of Los Angeles, publicist Warren Cowan said. He had been ill for some time, and was with family members when he died, Cowan said.

With his eager manner and rapid-fire wit, Buttons excelled in every phase of show business, from the Borscht Belt of the 1930s to celebrity roasts in the 1990s.

His greatest achievement came with his "Sayonara" role as Sgt. Joe Kelly, the soldier in the post-World War II occupation forces in Japan whose romance with a Japanese woman (Myoshi Umeki, who also won an Academy Award) ends in tragedy.

Josh Logan, who directed the James Michener story that starred Marlon Brando, was at first hesitant to cast a well-known comedian in such a somber role.

"The tests were so extensive that they could just put scenery around them and release the footage as a feature film," Buttons remarked.

Buttons' Academy Award led to other films, both dramas and comedies. They included "Imitation General," "The Big Circus," "Hatari!" "The Longest Day," "Up From the Beach," "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" "The Poseidon Adventure," "Gable and Lombard" and "Pete's Dragon."

A performer since his teens, Buttons was noticed by burlesque theater owners and he became the youngest comic on the circuit. He had graduated to small roles on Broadway before being drafted in 1943.

Along with dozens of other future stars, including Mario Lanza, John Forsythe, Karl Malden and Lee J. Cobb, Buttons was enlisted for "Winged Victory," the play that famed director-playwright Moss Hart created for the Air Force. Buttons also appeared in the 1944 film version, directed by George Cukor.

Discharged in 1946, Buttons returned to nightclub and theater work. In 1952, CBS signed him for a weekly show as the network's answer to NBC's Milton Berle.

"The Red Buttons Show" was first broadcast on CBS Oct. 14, 1952, without a sponsor since the star was virtually unknown. Within a month, the show became a solid hit and advertisers were clamoring.

Buttons drew on all his past experience for monologues, songs, dances and sketches featuring such characters as a punch-drunk fighter, a scrappy street kid, a Sad Sack GI and a blundering German. The hit of the show was a silly song in which he pranced about the stage singing, "Ho! Ho!... He! He!... Ha! Ha!... Strange things are happening!" It became a national craze.

After a sensational first season, "The Red Buttons Show" began to slide. Reports circulated that the star had fits of temper and frequently fired writers, and the show ended after three seasons.

"Certainly I made mistakes, and mistakes were made for me," he said in 1960. "When you go into TV cold, as I did, it's murder."

While the failure was a severe blow to the normally optimistic comedian, he soon recovered and resumed his career as a guest star on TV shows. A straight role on "Suspense" brought him to the attention of Logan, who cast him for the career-making "Sayonara."

In 1966, Buttons starred in another series, "The Double Life of Henry Phyfe," as a humble accountant enlisted as a government spy. The show lasted only six months.

Over the years Buttons remained a steady performer on television, appearing on such series as "Knots Landing," "Roseanne" and "ER." He also took his act on the road, appearing at Las Vegas, Atlantic City, conventions, and returning to his beginnings in the Catskills.

Still in good health at 76 ("They call me the only Yiddish leprechaun"), he appeared in New York in 1995 with an autobiographical one-man show, "Buttons on Broadway."

It was his first Broadway show since 1948, when he appeared in a play with the unfortunate title of "Hold It." One critic, Buttons recalled, began his review: "`Hold It?' Fold it."

Buttons was born Aaron Chwatt on Feb. 15, 1919, son of an immigrant milliner, in a tough Manhattan neighborhood where, he once said, "you either grew up to be a judge or you went to the electric chair."

He struggled through schools in Manhattan and the Bronx — "Mom and Pop went to school as often as I did; they should have graduated with me." He started performing at the age of 12, winning an amateur contest singing "Sweet Jenny Brown" in a sailor's suit.

At 16 he was working as a singer and bellhop in a gin mill on New York's City Island. Since all bellhops were called Buttons and Chwatt had red hair, he got his new name.

During his summer vacation, he worked as a singer on the Borscht Circuit — the string of Catskills resorts catering to a largely Jewish clientele where Danny Kaye, Sid Caesar, Mel Brooks, Hart and others trained for stardom.

In later years, Buttons became a favorite at testimonial/roast dinners with his roaringly funny "Never had a dinner" routine. He cited famous figures who had never been so honored. Examples: "Abe Lincoln, who said `A house divided is a condominium,' never had a dinner"; "(Perennial presidential candidate) Jerry Brown, whose theme song is `California, Here I Go,' never had a dinner." (When he did "Buttons on Broadway," he altered the routine and named people who never did one-man shows.)

In 1982, Red Buttons finally had a dinner. The Friars Club honored him with a star-filled roast and a life-achievement award.

"When I was a kid in the Bronx and watching and dreaming from the second balcony," the guest of honor said, "in my wildest imagination I couldn't have written this scenario tonight."

Buttons was married and divorced twice in his early career. He is survived by his third wife, Alicia, their children, Amy and Adam, and a sister.
Comedian Red Buttons Dies in L.A. at 87

Charlatan · 07-13-2006, 01:31 PM

Wow. I thought he was already dead.

I can remember seeing him in Longest Day when I was a kid and my Mom explaining that he was actually a pretty good comedian.

Cynthetiq · 07-13-2006, 01:36 PM

i loved him in Pete's Dragon...

so far Shelley Winters and now Red Buttons.

Derwood · 07-13-2006, 02:22 PM

I remember him mostly as the White Rabbit in the TV produced "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" from back in the early 80's (look it up on IMDB, it's the definition of "star-studded")

EDIT: Here you go:

Sheila Allen .... Alice's Mother
Steve Allen .... Gentleman in the Paper Suit
Selma Archerd .... Queen of Diamonds
Scott Baio .... Pat (The Guinea Pig)
Ernest Borgnine .... Lion
Beau Bridges .... Unicorn
Lloyd Bridges .... White Knight
Red Buttons .... White Rabbit
id Caesar .... Gryphon
Carol Channing .... White Queen
Imogene Coca .... Cook
Patrick Culliton .... Red King
John Walter Davis .... Seven of Spades
Sammy Davis Jr. .... Caterpillar/'Father William'
Charles Dougherty .... Duck
Patrick Duffy .... Goat
Eydie Gormé .... Tweedledee
Natalie Gregory .... Alice
Merv Griffin .... Conductor
Sherman Hemsley .... Mouse
Ann Jillian .... Red Queen
Arte Johnson .... Dormouse
Troy Jordan .... Black Cat
Harvey Korman .... White King
Steve Lawrence .... Tweedledum
Karl Malden .... Walrus
Roddy McDowall .... March Hare
Jayne Meadows .... Queen of Hearts
Donna Mills .... The Rose
Pat Morita .... Horse
Robert Morley .... King of Hearts
Anthony Newley .... Mad Hatter
Louis Nye .... Carpenter
Donald O'Connor .... Lory Bird
Ernie F. Orsatti .... Bill (The Lizard)
Martha Raye .... Duchess
Telly Savalas .... Cheshire Cat
John Stamos .... Messenger
Ringo Starr .... Mock Turtle
Sally Struthers .... Tiger Lily
Jack Warden .... Owl
Jonathan Winters .... Humpty Dumpty
Shelley Winters .... Dodo Bird

Grancey · 07-13-2006, 04:26 PM

Red Buttons was an amazing man. I still, on occasion, catch his portrayal of Jake on Roseanne. What a treat.

07-13-2006, 01:30 PM	#1 (permalink)
flat5 Very Insignificant Pawn Location: Amsterdam, NL	Red Buttons has died Comedian Red Buttons Dies in L.A. at 87 By BOB THOMAS Associated Press Writer LOS ANGELES — Red Buttons, the carrot-topped burlesque comedian who became a top star in early television and then in a dramatic role won the 1957 Oscar as supporting actor in "Sayonara," died Thursday. He was 87. Buttons died of vascular disease at his home in the Century City area of Los Angeles, publicist Warren Cowan said. He had been ill for some time, and was with family members when he died, Cowan said. With his eager manner and rapid-fire wit, Buttons excelled in every phase of show business, from the Borscht Belt of the 1930s to celebrity roasts in the 1990s. His greatest achievement came with his "Sayonara" role as Sgt. Joe Kelly, the soldier in the post-World War II occupation forces in Japan whose romance with a Japanese woman (Myoshi Umeki, who also won an Academy Award) ends in tragedy. Josh Logan, who directed the James Michener story that starred Marlon Brando, was at first hesitant to cast a well-known comedian in such a somber role. "The tests were so extensive that they could just put scenery around them and release the footage as a feature film," Buttons remarked. Buttons' Academy Award led to other films, both dramas and comedies. They included "Imitation General," "The Big Circus," "Hatari!" "The Longest Day," "Up From the Beach," "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" "The Poseidon Adventure," "Gable and Lombard" and "Pete's Dragon." A performer since his teens, Buttons was noticed by burlesque theater owners and he became the youngest comic on the circuit. He had graduated to small roles on Broadway before being drafted in 1943. Along with dozens of other future stars, including Mario Lanza, John Forsythe, Karl Malden and Lee J. Cobb, Buttons was enlisted for "Winged Victory," the play that famed director-playwright Moss Hart created for the Air Force. Buttons also appeared in the 1944 film version, directed by George Cukor. Discharged in 1946, Buttons returned to nightclub and theater work. In 1952, CBS signed him for a weekly show as the network's answer to NBC's Milton Berle. "The Red Buttons Show" was first broadcast on CBS Oct. 14, 1952, without a sponsor since the star was virtually unknown. Within a month, the show became a solid hit and advertisers were clamoring. Buttons drew on all his past experience for monologues, songs, dances and sketches featuring such characters as a punch-drunk fighter, a scrappy street kid, a Sad Sack GI and a blundering German. The hit of the show was a silly song in which he pranced about the stage singing, "Ho! Ho!... He! He!... Ha! Ha!... Strange things are happening!" It became a national craze. After a sensational first season, "The Red Buttons Show" began to slide. Reports circulated that the star had fits of temper and frequently fired writers, and the show ended after three seasons. "Certainly I made mistakes, and mistakes were made for me," he said in 1960. "When you go into TV cold, as I did, it's murder." While the failure was a severe blow to the normally optimistic comedian, he soon recovered and resumed his career as a guest star on TV shows. A straight role on "Suspense" brought him to the attention of Logan, who cast him for the career-making "Sayonara." In 1966, Buttons starred in another series, "The Double Life of Henry Phyfe," as a humble accountant enlisted as a government spy. The show lasted only six months. Over the years Buttons remained a steady performer on television, appearing on such series as "Knots Landing," "Roseanne" and "ER." He also took his act on the road, appearing at Las Vegas, Atlantic City, conventions, and returning to his beginnings in the Catskills. Still in good health at 76 ("They call me the only Yiddish leprechaun"), he appeared in New York in 1995 with an autobiographical one-man show, "Buttons on Broadway." It was his first Broadway show since 1948, when he appeared in a play with the unfortunate title of "Hold It." One critic, Buttons recalled, began his review: "`Hold It?' Fold it." Buttons was born Aaron Chwatt on Feb. 15, 1919, son of an immigrant milliner, in a tough Manhattan neighborhood where, he once said, "you either grew up to be a judge or you went to the electric chair." He struggled through schools in Manhattan and the Bronx — "Mom and Pop went to school as often as I did; they should have graduated with me." He started performing at the age of 12, winning an amateur contest singing "Sweet Jenny Brown" in a sailor's suit. At 16 he was working as a singer and bellhop in a gin mill on New York's City Island. Since all bellhops were called Buttons and Chwatt had red hair, he got his new name. During his summer vacation, he worked as a singer on the Borscht Circuit — the string of Catskills resorts catering to a largely Jewish clientele where Danny Kaye, Sid Caesar, Mel Brooks, Hart and others trained for stardom. In later years, Buttons became a favorite at testimonial/roast dinners with his roaringly funny "Never had a dinner" routine. He cited famous figures who had never been so honored. Examples: "Abe Lincoln, who said `A house divided is a condominium,' never had a dinner"; "(Perennial presidential candidate) Jerry Brown, whose theme song is `California, Here I Go,' never had a dinner." (When he did "Buttons on Broadway," he altered the routine and named people who never did one-man shows.) In 1982, Red Buttons finally had a dinner. The Friars Club honored him with a star-filled roast and a life-achievement award. "When I was a kid in the Bronx and watching and dreaming from the second balcony," the guest of honor said, "in my wildest imagination I couldn't have written this scenario tonight." Buttons was married and divorced twice in his early career. He is survived by his third wife, Alicia, their children, Amy and Adam, and a sister. Comedian Red Buttons Dies in L.A. at 87

07-13-2006, 01:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	Wow. I thought he was already dead. I can remember seeing him in Longest Day when I was a kid and my Mom explaining that he was actually a pretty good comedian. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke

07-13-2006, 01:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	i loved him in Pete's Dragon... so far Shelley Winters and now Red Buttons. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

07-13-2006, 02:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
Derwood Who You Crappin? Location: Everywhere and Nowhere	I remember him mostly as the White Rabbit in the TV produced "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" from back in the early 80's (look it up on IMDB, it's the definition of "star-studded") EDIT: Here you go: Sheila Allen .... Alice's Mother Steve Allen .... Gentleman in the Paper Suit Selma Archerd .... Queen of Diamonds Scott Baio .... Pat (The Guinea Pig) Ernest Borgnine .... Lion Beau Bridges .... Unicorn Lloyd Bridges .... White Knight Red Buttons .... White Rabbit id Caesar .... Gryphon Carol Channing .... White Queen Imogene Coca .... Cook Patrick Culliton .... Red King John Walter Davis .... Seven of Spades Sammy Davis Jr. .... Caterpillar/'Father William' Charles Dougherty .... Duck Patrick Duffy .... Goat Eydie Gormé .... Tweedledee Natalie Gregory .... Alice Merv Griffin .... Conductor Sherman Hemsley .... Mouse Ann Jillian .... Red Queen Arte Johnson .... Dormouse Troy Jordan .... Black Cat Harvey Korman .... White King Steve Lawrence .... Tweedledum Karl Malden .... Walrus Roddy McDowall .... March Hare Jayne Meadows .... Queen of Hearts Donna Mills .... The Rose Pat Morita .... Horse Robert Morley .... King of Hearts Anthony Newley .... Mad Hatter Louis Nye .... Carpenter Donald O'Connor .... Lory Bird Ernie F. Orsatti .... Bill (The Lizard) Martha Raye .... Duchess Telly Savalas .... Cheshire Cat John Stamos .... Messenger Ringo Starr .... Mock Turtle Sally Struthers .... Tiger Lily Jack Warden .... Owl Jonathan Winters .... Humpty Dumpty Shelley Winters .... Dodo Bird __________________ "You can't shoot a country until it becomes a democracy." - Willravel Last edited by Derwood; 07-13-2006 at 02:25 PM..

07-13-2006, 04:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
Grancey Life's short, gotta hurry... Location: land of pit vipers	Red Buttons was an amazing man. I still, on occasion, catch his portrayal of Jake on Roseanne. What a treat. __________________ Quiet, mild-mannered souls might just turn out to be roaring lions of two-fisted cool. Last edited by Grancey; 07-15-2006 at 07:48 AM..