Dick Shawn: Difference between revisions
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On April 17, 1987, while performing on stage at UC San Diego's Mandeville Hall, Shawn began a [[stand-up comedy|comedy bit]] about himself and the audience surviving [[nuclear war]]. At one point in the act, Shawn portrayed a politician reciting campaign clichés, including: "If elected, I will not lay down on the job"; later, when he collapsed face down on the stage, the audience thought it was part of the act, unaware that he had actually suffered a massive [[heart attack]] (See [[Tommy Cooper]] for a similar onstage death). |
On April 17, 1987, while performing on stage at UC San Diego's Mandeville Hall, Shawn began a [[stand-up comedy|comedy bit]] about himself and the audience surviving [[nuclear war]]. At one point in the act, Shawn portrayed a politician reciting campaign clichés, including: "If elected, I will not lay down on the job"; later, when he collapsed face down on the stage, the audience thought it was part of the act, unaware that he had actually suffered a massive [[heart attack]] (See [[Tommy Cooper]] for a similar onstage death). |
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After some time had gone by, there were catcalls. Finally, someone appeared on stage, knelt down to examine Shawn, stood up and asked: "Is there a doctor in the house?" Another person came on stage, turned him over and began administering CPR. The audience was told to go home, but almost no one left since it appeared to be part of Shawn's act. When paramedics arrived, bewildered audience members began leaving, still unsure of what they had witnessed. A notice in the following day's ''[[San Diego Union]]'' newspaper clarified that Shawn had indeed died during the performance.<ref>{{cite web | author= | title=Dick Shawn | url=http://www.answers.com/topic/dick-shawn | work=Actors Biographies | publisher=All Media Guide | year=2009 | accessdate=2009-04-22}}</ref> Dick Shawn was 63. He is laid to rest in |
After some time had gone by, there were catcalls. Finally, someone appeared on stage, knelt down to examine Shawn, stood up and asked: "Is there a doctor in the house?" Another person came on stage, turned him over and began administering CPR. The audience was told to go home, but almost no one left since it appeared to be part of Shawn's act. When paramedics arrived, bewildered audience members began leaving, still unsure of what they had witnessed. A notice in the following day's ''[[San Diego Union]]'' newspaper clarified that Shawn had indeed died during the performance.<ref>{{cite web | author= | title=Dick Shawn | url=http://www.answers.com/topic/dick-shawn | work=Actors Biographies | publisher=All Media Guide | year=2009 | accessdate=2009-04-22}}</ref> Dick Shawn was 63. He is laid to rest in Hillside Memorial Park, a Jewish only cemtery, in California. |
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==Filmography== |
==Filmography== |
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Revision as of 13:45, 24 December 2010
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2010) |
Dick Shawn | |
|---|---|
| File:Dshawn.jpg | |
| Born | Richard Schulefand |
| Other names | Richy Shawn |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, comedian |
| Years active | 1956–1987 |
| Spouse |
Rita Bachner (m. 1946–1987) |
Dick Shawn (December 1, 1923 – April 17, 1987) was an American actor and comedian.
Early life and career
Shawn was born as Richard Schulefand in Buffalo, New York. He played Sylvester Marcus, son of Mrs. Marcus (Ethel Merman), in Stanley Kramer's It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and as Lorenzo St. DuBois/Adolf Hitler in the musical Springtime for Hitler, the play within the movie The Producers. He also provided the Snow Miser's voice in The Year Without a Santa Claus.
He had continued success with his stand-up comedy act that he successfully performed for over 35 years in nightclubs around the world. His award-winning one-man stage show, The Second Greatest Entertainer in the Whole Wide World, was sometimes performed with a unique opening: When the audience entered the theater, they saw a bare stage with a pile of bricks in stage center. When the play began, Shawn emerged from the pile of bricks. The startling effect of this required complete concentration and breath control because the slightest movement of the bricks could ruin the surprise appearance.
In addition to roles in more than 30 movies and seven Broadway productions, Shawn made numerous television appearances, toured often and periodically performed a one-man show that mixed songs, sketches and pantomime. He was a frequent speaker at the infamous Friars Club Roasts in Los Angeles and New York. At one of the X-rated stag roasts that had overdosed on tasteless routines by previous speakers, Shawn simply walked up to the microphone, took a long pause and "vomited" pea soup onto himself and other speakers at the dais.
His many TV appearances ranged from The Ed Sullivan Show to TV movies, sitcoms, dramas and a music video, "Dance" by the hair metal band Ratt (1986). Among his roles in anthology TV series, he starred in an Amazing Stories episode, Miss Stardust, directed by Tobe Hooper, about a bizarre intergalactic beauty pageant.[1]
Personal life
Shawn was married to Rita Bachner in 1946, and they had four children: Amy, Wendy (married to Joey Travolta), Adam, and Jennifer. He has one grandchild, Rachel Travolta.
Death
On April 17, 1987, while performing on stage at UC San Diego's Mandeville Hall, Shawn began a comedy bit about himself and the audience surviving nuclear war. At one point in the act, Shawn portrayed a politician reciting campaign clichés, including: "If elected, I will not lay down on the job"; later, when he collapsed face down on the stage, the audience thought it was part of the act, unaware that he had actually suffered a massive heart attack (See Tommy Cooper for a similar onstage death).
After some time had gone by, there were catcalls. Finally, someone appeared on stage, knelt down to examine Shawn, stood up and asked: "Is there a doctor in the house?" Another person came on stage, turned him over and began administering CPR. The audience was told to go home, but almost no one left since it appeared to be part of Shawn's act. When paramedics arrived, bewildered audience members began leaving, still unsure of what they had witnessed. A notice in the following day's San Diego Union newspaper clarified that Shawn had indeed died during the performance.[2] Dick Shawn was 63. He is laid to rest in Hillside Memorial Park, a Jewish only cemtery, in California.
Filmography
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References
- ^ Amazing Stories: Miss Stardust http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0511106/
- ^ "Dick Shawn". Actors Biographies. All Media Guide. 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
External links
- Please use a more specific IBDB template. See the documentation for available templates.
- Please use a more specific IOBDB template. See the template documentation for available templates.
- Dick Shawn at IMDb
- Dick Shawn at Find a Grave
- 'Love Power' song clip by Dick Shawn as Lorenzo St. DuBois (LSD) in 'The Producers-1968' on Youtube