Monday, June 29, 2009

Fred Travalena - TV comedian and impersonator 1942-2009


The Grim Reaper here, continuing our celebrities death watch!

Last night, comedian and impersonator Fred Travalena died in his home in Encino, Ca. He was 66 years old.

He was born in The Bronx, New York, and raised on Long Island, eventually moving to Los Angeles and developing a multi-faceted career with his characterizations of visible public figures.

His television credits began in the 1970s, as a regular performer on The ABC Comedy Hour and the Dean Martin Roasts. He had several voice credits on cartoons, as well as appearances on nationally-broadcast children's programs. Mr. Travelena made many guest appearances on game shows and dramatic programs in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. In the mid-1980s he hosted the game show Anything For Money, a game where contestants attempted to guess how much money it would take an ordinary, unsuspecting person to participate in a silly stunt. He appeared in the series premiere of the short-lived 1991 sitcom Good Sports with Ryan O'Neal and Farrah Fawcett.

He appeared at casino theaters in Las Vegas, Reno, and Atlantic City, as well as performing arts theaters and private "in-concert" performances. He took part in a USO tour to entertain troops overseas, and was honored in 2004 by Club Italia with a Merit Achievement Award for his contributions to society.

In 2005 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Travalena was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2002 and prostate cancer in 2003. Following five years' remission, the lymphoma returned in 2008.

It looks that Farrah Fawcett is taking everybody with her!

1 comment:

Sings-With-Spirits said...

So... the original voice of half the Smurf Village is gone...

No offense, but while I respect the man, his work ethic and accomplishments, he's hardly in the league of Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon.

Hm... I think it's Ed and not Farrah who's taking 'em all with him...