"""Crossroads"". He was survived by his wife and their son. Ted Dicks Ted Dicks (5 May 1928 – 27 January 2012) was an English composer. He is best known for composing the music for the novelty songs ""Right Said Fred"" and ""The Hole in the Ground"". They were both Top 10 hits in the UK Singles Chart in 1962, recorded by Bernard Cribbins with lyrics by Myles Rudge, and produced by George Martin for Parlophone. Another song by Dicks and Rudge, ""A Windmill in Old Amsterdam"", was a million-seller hit in 1965 for Ronnie Hilton. Dicks was born in Muswell"
"at the Arts Theatre, playing the two Dromios in ""A Comedy of Errors"", and co-starred in the first West End productions of ""Not Now Darling"", ""There Goes the Bride"" and ""Run for Your Wife"". He also starred in the revue ""And Another Thing"", and recorded a single of a song from the show titled ""Folksong"". In 1962 he released three comic songs that became hits on the UK Singles Chart. ""The Hole in the Ground"" was about an annoyed workman who eventually buries a harasser. ""Right Said Fred"" was about three workmen who struggle to move an unspecified heavy and"
"""Round the Horne"" with Kenneth Williams, and (with Ronnie Wolfe) three series of ""Something to Shout About"" (1960–62), a BBC radio sitcom set in an advertising agency. With Vince Powell, he co-wrote a religious sitcom ""Father Charlie"" (1982), starring Lionel Jeffries and Anna Quayle. He also wrote pantomime scripts, particularly for the Glasgow Citizens Theatre. Rudge was a volunteer for the Samaritans. Myles Rudge Myles Peter Carpenter Rudge (8 July 1926 – 10 October 2007) was an English songwriter, known for writing the lyrics for novelty songs. His songs ""Hole in the Ground"" and ""Right Said Fred"" were both British"
"Comedians Special Changed the Lives of 1989’s Funniest Comics"", in 2017. Fred Stoller Frederick ""Fred"" Stoller (born March 19, 1958) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, author, writer, and voice artist. He is best known for portraying Gerard on ""Everybody Loves Raymond"". He is also the voice of Stanley in the ""Open Season"" franchise, Fred the Squirrel in ""The Penguins of Madagascar"", Chuck the Evil Sandwich Making Guy in ""WordGirl"", and Rusty the monkey wrench on Disney Jr.'s ""Handy Manny"". Stoller was born to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York on March 19, 1958. He has one older sister."
"Right Said Fred (song) ""Right Said Fred"" is a 1962 novelty song written by Ted Dicks and Myles Rudge. It is about three men (the narrator, ""Fred"", and ""Charlie"") working as manual labourers who are trying to move an unidentified object (although it is clarified that it has feet, a seat, handles and candleholders) in a building without success, eventually failing and giving up after having dismantled the object, part-demolished the building (including removing a door, wall and the ceiling) and taking numerous tea breaks. The lyrics do not specify whether Fred recovers from ""half a ton of rubble falling"
"Fred Stoller Frederick ""Fred"" Stoller (born March 19, 1958) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, author, writer, and voice artist. He is best known for portraying Gerard on ""Everybody Loves Raymond"". He is also the voice of Stanley in the ""Open Season"" franchise, Fred the Squirrel in ""The Penguins of Madagascar"", Chuck the Evil Sandwich Making Guy in ""WordGirl"", and Rusty the monkey wrench on Disney Jr.'s ""Handy Manny"". Stoller was born to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York on March 19, 1958. He has one older sister. Stoller had worked as a stand-up comedian in nightclubs since the"
"place that transcends the bottom line."" Fred LaBour Frederick ""Fred"" LaBour (born June 3, 1948 in Grand Rapids, Michigan), better known by his stage name Too Slim, is a Grammy award-winning American musician, best known for his work with the Western swing musical and comedy group Riders in the Sky. LaBour plays double bass and sings lead and background vocals. Prior to joining the Riders, he played with country singer Dickey Lee's band. With the Riders, he is billed as ""a Righteous Tater"" or ""The Man of a Thousand Hats""). LaBour is the central core of the Rider's comedy, with"
"Vincent Schiavelli Vincent Andrew ""Vince"" Schiavelli (November 11, 1948 – December 26, 2005) was an American character actor and food writer noted for his work on stage, screen and television, often described as ""the man with the sad eyes."" He was notable for his numerous supporting roles. He often linked his unique facial appearance and tall stature (6 feet 5 inches (1,95 m)) to Marfan syndrome. Schiavelli gained fame as a character actor. His best-known roles include Fredrickson in ""One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"" (1975), Mr. Vargas in ""Fast Times at Ridgemont High"" (1982), the Subway Ghost in ""Ghost"""
"George Carlin George Denis Patrick Carlin (May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, author, and social critic. Carlin was noted for his black comedy and reflections on politics, the English language, psychology, religion, and various taboo subjects. He and his ""seven dirty words"" comedy routine were central to the 1978 U.S. Supreme Court case ""F.C.C. v. Pacifica Foundation"", in which a 5–4 decision affirmed the government's power to regulate indecent material on the public airwaves. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential stand-up comics; one newspaper called Carlin ""the"
"producer George Martin, who would later become famous for his work with the Beatles. The B-side was the comedy love song ""Quietly Bonkers"", another Dicks-Rudge composition. The song was also recorded in 1966 by Tommy Quickly. This version was produced by Brian Epstein and backed by Ian Whitcomb, Jimmy Page and the Blue Flames. Right Said Fred (song) ""Right Said Fred"" is a 1962 novelty song written by Ted Dicks and Myles Rudge. It is about three men (the narrator, ""Fred"", and ""Charlie"") working as manual labourers who are trying to move an unidentified object (although it is clarified that"
"Rik Mayall Richard Michael Mayall (7 March 1958 – 9 June 2014) was an English comedian, actor and writer. Mayall formed a close partnership with Ade Edmondson while they were students at Manchester University, and became a pioneer of alternative comedy in the 1980s. Mayall starred in numerous cult classic sitcoms throughout his career, including ""The Young Ones"", ""The Comic Strip Presents..."", ""Blackadder"", ""Filthy Rich & Catflap"", ""The New Statesman"", and ""Bottom"". Mayall also starred in the comedy films ""Drop Dead Fred"" and ""Guest House Paradiso"", and won a Primetime Emmy Award for his voice-over work in ""The Willows in"
"Mickey Manners Mickey Manners (October 12, 1925 – January 28, 2016) was an American actor, singer, dancer, and stand-up comedian. He was a regular panelist on the game show ""Pantomime Quiz"". He also appeared on ""Murphy Brown"", ""Here's Lucy"", ""The Ghost & Mrs. Muir"", ""Hogan's Heroes"", ""Lost in Space"", ""Get Smart"", and ""Perry Mason"". He had small roles in two Jerry Lewis films: ""The Errand Boy"" (1961) and ""Which Way to the Front?"" (1970). In the 1964-1965 season, he starred with John McGiver in the role of Joe Foley on the short-lived CBS sitcom ""Many Happy Returns"", set in the"
"by the way, those quotes from George Carlin aren't really George Carlin"". George Carlin George Denis Patrick Carlin (May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, author, and social critic. Carlin was noted for his black comedy and reflections on politics, the English language, psychology, religion, and various taboo subjects. He and his ""seven dirty words"" comedy routine were central to the 1978 U.S. Supreme Court case ""F.C.C. v. Pacifica Foundation"", in which a 5–4 decision affirmed the government's power to regulate indecent material on the public airwaves. He is widely regarded as one of"
"age of 45. He is buried at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park, in North Hollywood in a grave marked only by a brass plate with nothing engraved upon it. John West Sinclair John West Sinclair (January 6, 1900 - February 13, 1945) was an American actor who worked primarily in silent films. Tennessee-born comedian Sinclair, was a favorite stunt double for such 1920s action heroes as Ken Maynard, Billy Sullivan and Reed Howes. Later he wrote gags for W.C. Fields' comedies ""It's a Gift"" and ""Man on the Flying Trapeze"", and had uncredited walk-on roles in several sound-era films. Sinclair's"
"blocked artery. Andrew Dice Clay Andrew Dice Clay (born Andrew Clay Silverstein; September 29, 1957) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, musician, and producer. He rose to prominence in the late 1980s with a brash, macho, offensive persona known as ""The Diceman"". In 1990, he became the first stand-up comedian to sell out Madison Square Garden for two consecutive nights. That same year, he played the lead role in the comedy-mystery film ""The Adventures of Ford Fairlane"". Clay has appeared in several films and television shows and released a number of stand-up comedy albums. He continues to focus on acting"
"Bob Newhart George Robert Newhart (born September 5, 1929) is an American stand-up comedian and actor, noted for his deadpan and slightly stammering delivery. Newhart came to prominence in 1960 when his album of comedic monologues, ""The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart"", became a worldwide bestseller and reached number one on the ""Billboard"" pop album chart; it remains the 20th-best selling comedy album in history. The follow-up album, ""The Button-Down Mind Strikes Back!"", was also a success, and the two albums held the ""Billboard"" number one and number two spots simultaneously. Newhart later went into acting, starring as Chicago psychologist"
"Dan Rowan Daniel Hale ""Dan"" Rowan (July 22, 1922 – September 22, 1987) was an American comedian. He was featured in the television show ""Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In"", wherein he played straight man to Dick Martin and won the 1969 Emmy for Outstanding Variety or Musical Series. Rowan was born on July 22, 1922, on a carnival train near the small town of Beggs, Oklahoma, as Daniel Hale David. He toured with his parents, Oscar and Nellie David, who performed a singing and dancing act with the carnival. He was orphaned at the age of 11, spent four years at"
"Bud Abbott William Alexander ""Bud"" Abbott (October 2, 1897 – April 24, 1974) was an American actor, best known for his film comedy double act, as straight man to Lou Costello. Born into a showbusiness family, Abbott worked in the box office of several theatres, before becoming a comedian/producer of burlesque shows on Broadway, where he allowed Costello to appear with him when his own partner was off ill. They formally teamed up in 1935. Their signature routine, ""Who's on First?"", was carried through to radio and then to their film debut ""One Night in the Tropics"" (1940) and ""Buck"
"John Brent (comedian) John Brent (Madison, Connecticut, 14 March 1938 – 16 August 1985 in Los Angeles) was an American actor, comedian and beat poet. He was part of the Second City comedy club, and then later The Committee. He is mainly known for being half the duo behind the 1959 ""How To Speak Hip"" comedy album with Del Close. Otherwise he recorded and published little since he died at a relatively young age. He also appeared as an actor in such films as ""Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice"", ""Catch-22"", ""Steelyard Blues"", and ""American Graffiti"". A one volume"
"Harold Lloyd Harold Clayton Lloyd Sr. (April 20, 1893 – March 8, 1971) was an American actor, comedian, director, producer, screenwriter, and stunt performer who is best known for his silent comedy films. Lloyd ranks alongside Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton as one of the most popular and influential film comedians of the silent film era. Lloyd made nearly 200 comedy films, both silent and ""talkies"", between 1914 and 1947. He is best known for his bespectacled ""Glass"" character, a resourceful, success-seeking go-getter who was perfectly in tune with 1920s-era United States. His films frequently contained ""thrill sequences"" of extended"
"""Howard"" Johnson's full-length biography of Close, ""The Funniest One in the Room: The Lives and Legends of Del Close"" was published. Johnson himself was a student of Close, and remained friends with Close until his death. Del Close Del P. Close (March 9, 1934 – March 4, 1999) was an American actor, writer, and teacher who coached many of the best-known comedians and comic actors of the late twentieth century. In addition to a prolific acting career in television and film, he was considered a premier influence on modern improvisational theater. Close co-authored the book ""Truth in Comedy"", which outlines"
"Andrew Dice Clay Andrew Dice Clay (born Andrew Clay Silverstein; September 29, 1957) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, musician, and producer. He rose to prominence in the late 1980s with a brash, macho, offensive persona known as ""The Diceman"". In 1990, he became the first stand-up comedian to sell out Madison Square Garden for two consecutive nights. That same year, he played the lead role in the comedy-mystery film ""The Adventures of Ford Fairlane"". Clay has appeared in several films and television shows and released a number of stand-up comedy albums. He continues to focus on acting while still"
"Cliff Edwards Clifton Avon Edwards (June 14, 1895 – July 17, 1971) — known as ""Ukulele Ike"" — was an American musician, singer, actor and voice actor, who enjoyed considerable popularity in the 1920s and early 1930s, specializing in jazzy renditions of pop standards and novelty tunes. He had a number-one hit with ""Singin' in the Rain"" in 1929. He also did voices for animated cartoons later in his career, and is best known as the voice of Jiminy Cricket in Walt Disney's ""Pinocchio"" (1940) and ""Fun and Fancy Free"" (1947). Edwards was born in Hannibal, Missouri. He left school"
"Bernie Mac Bernard Jeffrey McCullough (October 5, 1957 – August 9, 2008), better known by his stage name Bernie Mac, was an American comedian, actor, and voice actor. Born and raised on Chicago's South Side, Mac gained popularity as a stand-up comedian. He joined fellow comedians Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and D. L. Hughley in the film ""The Original Kings of Comedy"". After briefly hosting the HBO show ""Midnight Mac"", Mac appeared in several films in smaller roles. His most noted film role was as Frank Catton in the remake ""Ocean's Eleven"" and the title character of ""Mr. 3000""."
"Dick Gregory Richard Claxton Gregory (October 12, 1932 – August 19, 2017) was an American comedian, civil rights activist, social critic, writer, conspiracy theorist, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. During the turbulent 1960s, Gregory became a pioneer in stand-up comedy for his ""no-holds-barred"" sets, in which he mocked bigotry and racism. He performed primarily to black audiences at segregated clubs until 1961, when he became the first black comedian to successfully cross over to white audiences, appearing on television and putting out comedy record albums. Gregory was at the forefront of political activism in the 1960s, when he protested the Vietnam"
"Dick Gregory Richard Claxton Gregory (October 12, 1932 – August 19, 2017) was an American comedian, civil rights activist, social critic, writer, conspiracy theorist, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. During the turbulent 1960s, Gregory became a pioneer in stand-up comedy for his ""no-holds-barred"" sets, in which he mocked bigotry and racism. He performed primarily to black audiences at segregated clubs until 1961, when he became the first black comedian to successfully cross over to white audiences, appearing on television and putting out comedy record albums. Gregory was at the forefront of political activism in the 1960s, when he protested the Vietnam"
"Rodney Dangerfield Jack Roy (born Jacob Rodney Cohen, November 22, 1921 – October 5, 2004), popularly known by the stage name Rodney Dangerfield, was an American stand-up comedian, actor, voice artist, filmmaker, musician and author known for his self-deprecating one-liners humor, his catchphrase ""I don't get no respect!"" and his monologues on that theme. He began his career working as a stand-up comic in the Borscht Belt resorts of the Catskill Mountains north of New York City. His act grew in notoriety as he became a mainstay on late-night talk shows throughout the 1960s and 1970s, eventually developing into a"
"married Silvia Ward and had a son, Django Ward. After they divorced, he married Marie-France Boisselle in 1995 and she filed for divorce in August, 2013, but they reconciled later that year. Fred Ward Freddie Joe ""Fred"" Ward (born December 30, 1942) is an American character actor, producer and model. He began his film career in 1979 alongside Clint Eastwood in ""Escape from Alcatraz"". His notable roles include ""Southern Comfort"", ""The Right Stuff"", """", his self-produced movie ""Miami Blues"", ""Tremors"", ""Henry & June"", ""The Player"", ""Short Cuts"", ""Big Business"", """", """", ""Chain Reaction"", ""Road Trip"", ""Management"" as well as character"
"Godfrey Cambridge Godfrey MacArthur Cambridge (February 26, 1933 – November 29, 1976) was an American stand-up comic and actor. Alongside Bill Cosby, Dick Gregory, and Nipsey Russell, he was acclaimed by ""Time"" magazine in 1965 as ""one of the country's four most celebrated Negro comedians."" Cambridge was born Godfrey MacArthur Cambridge in New York City on February 26, 1933, to Alexander and Sarah Cambridge, who were immigrants from British Guiana. His parents, dissatisfied with the New York Public School System, sent him to live with his grandparents in Sydney, Nova Scotia during his primary school years. When he was 13,"
"the ""quirky melodies"" written by Dicks. Noël Coward chose ""Hole in the Ground"" as one of his records on ""Desert Island Discs"", saying he would pass the time on his desert island by translating it into French. Richard and Fred Fairbrass adopted ""Right Said Fred"" as the name of their pop group. Dicks and Rudge also wrote ""A Windmill in Old Amsterdam"" which was a hit for Ronnie Hilton in 1965 and won an Ivor Novello Award in 1966 for the Year’s Outstanding Novelty Composition. Other examples of their collaborative output were Petula Clark's ""The Happiest Christmas"", Val Doonican's ""Annabelle"","
"to the reason for the stops. Chris Rock Christopher Julius Rock III (born February 7, 1965) is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer, and director. After working as a standup comic and appearing in small film roles, Rock came to wider prominence as a cast member of ""Saturday Night Live"" in the early 1990s. He went on to more prominent film appearances, with starring roles in ""Down to Earth"" (2001), ""Head of State"" (2003), ""The Longest Yard"" (2005), the ""Madagascar"" film series (2005–2012), ""Grown Ups"" (2010), its sequel ""Grown Ups 2"" (2013), ""Top Five"" (2014), and a series of acclaimed"
"Vaughn Meader Abbott Vaughn Meader (March 20, 1936 – October 29, 2004) was an American comedian, impersonator, musician, and film actor. Meader began his career as a musician but later found fame in the early 1960s after the release of the 1962 comedy record ""The First Family"". The album spoofed President John F. Kennedy – who was played by Meader – and became the fastest selling album in history and went on to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1963. At the peak of his popularity, he performed his Kennedy impersonation on variety shows and in"
"Foot in Hell"" (1960), ""Underworld U.S.A."" (1961), ""The Young Savages"" (1961), ""Ada"" (1961), ""Toys in the Attic"" (1963), ""Cattle King"" (1963), ""The Sand Pebbles"" (1966), ""In the Heat of the Night"" (1967), ""Hour of the Gun"" (1967), ""Death of a Gunfighter"" (1969), ""Airport"" (1970), ""Lucky Luciano"" (1973), and ""Funny Lady"" (1975). On television, Gates had numerous roles on such anthology drama series as ""Philco Television Playhouse"", ""Alfred Hitchcock Presents"", ""The Twilight Zone"", ""Goodyear Television Playhouse"", ""Kraft Television Theatre"", ""Studio One"", and ""Playhouse 90"". He continued to make dozens of guest appearances in a wide variety of primetime series, including ""Bonanza"","