Red Skelton

Red Skelton

writer, actor, producer

Red Skelton was born on Jul 18, 1913 in USA. Red Skelton's big-screen debut came with Having Wonderful Time directed by Alfred Santell in 1938, strarring Itchy (as Richard 'Red' Skelton). Red Skelton is known for Swing Out, Sweet Land directed by Stan Harris, John Wayne stars as John Wayne - Host and Ann-Margret as Entertainer at Valley Forge. Red Skelton has got 10 awards and 4 nominations so far. The most recent award Red Skelton achieved is Online Film & Television Association. The upcoming new movie Red Skelton plays is Rudolph's Shiny New Year which will be released on Dec 10, 1976.

The son of a former circus clown turned grocer and a cleaning woman, Red Skelton was introduced to show business at the age of seven by Ed Wynn, at a vaudeville show in Vincennes. At age 10, he left home to travel with a medicine show through the Midwest, and joined the vaudeville circuit at age 15. At age 18, he married Edna Marie Stilwell, an usher who became his vaudeville partner and later his chief writer and manager. He debuted on Broadway and radio in 1937 and on film in 1938. His ex-wife/manager negotiated a seven-year Hollywood contract for him in 1951, the same year The Red Skelton Show (1951) premiered on NBC. For two decades, until 1971, his show consistently stayed in the top twenty, both on NBC and CBS. His numerous characters, including Clem Kaddiddlehopper, George Appleby, and the seagulls Gertrude and Heathcliffe delighted audiences for decades. First and foremost, he considered himself a clown, although not the greatest, and his paintings of clowns brought in a fortune after he left television. His home life was not completely happy--two divorces and a son Richard who died of leukemia at age nine--and he did not hang around with other comedians. He continued performing live until illness, and he was a longtime supporter of children's charities. Red Skelton died at age 84 of pneumonia in Rancho Mirage, California on September 17, 1997.

  • Birthday

    Jul 18, 1913
  • Place of Birth

    Vincennes, Indiana, USA

Known For

Awards

10 wins & 4 nominations

Online Film & Television Association
2011
Actors and Actresses
Winner - OFTA TV Hall of Fame
American Comedy Awards, USA
1989
Winner - Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy
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Movies & TV Shows

All
Movies
TV Shows