Dick Shawn; The Second Greatest Entertainer In The Whole Wide World
Ranked #5,322 in People, #88,533 overall
The Mad Mad Mad Mad World Of Dick Shawn
"I can't work places like Vegas or the Catskills where people are belching. Maybe I belong in colleges. At least if I die, I die in front of intelligent people who know what I'm talking about." Dick Shawn did just exactly that. On April 17, 1987 Dick Shawn died of a heart attack while performing his one man show called "The Second Greatest Entertainer in the Whole Wide World" at the University of California in San Diego. During his routine about nuclear war, he suddenly dropped to the floor. No one was shocked or surprised since doing physical comedy was always a part of Dick's act, but after several minutes passed and Dick didn't get up, they knew something was terribly wrong. An ambulance was called but it was too late, a massive heart attack claimed his life. He was only 64 years old, much too young to be taken from us.
Many considered Dick to be ahead of his time never seeming to find his place in the entertainment field. But, he did manage to make some very memorable performances in a few movies and TV Shows and because of that he will never be forgotten, he will continue to entertain and gain new fans.
Transformed From Richard Schulefand To Dick Shawn!
As A Child He Was Quiet And Shy!
He was born Richard Schulefand, December 1, 1923 (I have seen it listed as 1929 also) in Buffalo, New York. He admitted that growing up he was a shy child and that his home life was quiet and reserved, with very little conversation and ultimately he found it very difficult to talk to people.After serving in WW2, he went to the University of Miami and developed an interest in comedy which pushed him to try competing on the Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts program. He didn't win, but this did encourage him to stick around New York City and look for work. In 1948, he did manage to get a break and worked in a short lived comedy on Broadway called "For Heaven's Sake, Mother".
Wake Me When It's Over; Dick's Movie Debut
Dick's Movies of The 60's
The 1960's proved to be a decade that Dick saw a lot of work in films with his big screen debut being with Ernie Kovacs in "Wake Me When It's Over". In 1963 he would work in the zany all-star cast comedy called, "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World", playing Ethel Merman's not so bright son, Sylvester.He then went back to Broadway, in 1964, assuming the role vacated by Zero Mostel, in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum". He would also have roles in the plays, "Fade in, Fade Out" and Peterpat.
In 1966 he did another WW2 comedy movie called "What Did You Do In The War, Daddy" which was directed by Blake Edwards. He also worked in the Jerry Lewis movie, "Way....Way Out".
In 1968, he got the role of wacked out hippy Lorenzo St. DuBois (or LSD) in the Mel Brooks film, "The Producers"
What Did You Do In The War Daddy?
A Fun Snippet From The Movie
地上最大の脱出作戦 WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE WAR, DADDY?
DVD: What Did You Do In The War, Daddy?
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?
Release Date: 05/20/2008
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The Second Greatest Entertainer in the Whole Wide World
Jack Tripper's Dad on Three's Company and More
In the middle 70's, Dick developed his one man stage show called, "The Second Greatest Entertainer in the Whole Wide World", and it really wasn't stand up comedy, instead he would entertain audiences with song and dance, philosophy and personal observations. The show would earn him two awards, the first was the 1978 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience and then in 1986 the L.A. Drama Critics Award.Dick did numerous TV appearances, also. He was Jack Tripper's father in Three's Company. He did a guest appearance on the popular drama, "St.Elsewhere" and the Steven Speilberg TV show, "Amazing Stories.
His last big screen appearances were the 1987 "Maid to Order" and the 1988 "Rented Lips".
As I take a more detailed look at Dick's career, I find myself puzzled as to why a man so talented was, in a sense, over looked by movie and TV producers; it truly is our loss.
1963 It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World
Dick As Sylvester Marcus
Sylvester chases Russell and Finch - It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Spencer Tracy heads a hilariously zany cast that stars Hollywood's greatest comedians (Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Buddy Hackett, Ethel Merman, Mickey Rooney, Dick Shawn, Phil Silvers, Terry-Thomas and Jonathan Winters) and features cameo appearances by every joker and jester in the business from Don Knotts and Jerry Lewis to The Three Stooges. On a winding desert highway, eight vacation-bound motorists share an experience that alters their plans and their lives! After a mysterious stranger divulges the location of a stolen fortune, they each speed off in a mind-bending, car-bashing race for the loot and the most side-splitting laughfest in history.
Release Date: 10/07/2003
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1966 Penelope
With Natalie Wood
epoleneP Pt 3
1967 "Our Place" Variety Show
Our Place CBS 1967 Part 3 of 6
1968 Film "The Producers"... Lorenzo St. DuBois
But my friends call me LSD
Love Power - Lorenzo St. DuBois
The Producers
Dick As Lorenzo St. Dubois
The Producers (Deluxe Edition)
Low-rent Broadway producer Max Bialystock (Zero Mostel) and his high-strung accountant, Leo Bloom (Gene Wilder), discover that, with the help of a few gullible investors, they can make more money on a flop than on a hit! Armed with the worst show ever written ("Springtime for Hitler") and an equally horrific cast, this double-dealing duo is banking on disaster. But when their sure-to-offend musical becomes a surprise smash hit, they find themselves in the middle of a Broadway blitzkrieg!
Release Date: 12/13/2005
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1972 Evil Roy Slade
Bing Bell The Singing Sheriff
Evil Roy Slade,Bing Bell singing cowboy
Evil Roy Slade
Dick As Sheriff Bing Bell
Evil Roy Slade
An all-star cast headlines this hilarious made-for-television movie spoof on the western genre. John Astin (The Addams Family) plays Evil Roy Slade, the meanest villain in the West. The good guys do not have a chance, as Evil Roy turns the tables on the classic western story of good triumphing over evil. Western veteran Pat Butram narrates, the Mickey Rooney, Dick Shawn, Henry Gibson, Edie Adams, Pamela Austin, Milton Berle, Pat Morita, Ed Begley, Jr., Dom DeLuise and Penny Marshall co-star
Release Date: 01/08/2008
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1974 "Year Without A Santa Claus"...Snow Miser
He's Mr. White Christmas, He's Mr. Snow
But, Jingle and Jangle, two of his elves, want to find proof that people still do, so off they go with Vixen the reindeer and they stop is South Town. Vixen gets sick and the local dog catcher mistakes her for a dog and takes her to the pound. Jingle and Jangle, seeking to free Vixen, go the mayor trying to convince him they are elves and Vixen is a reindeer, but he scoffs and says the only way he will free her is if they can make it snow on Christmas Day...this of course requires a trip to Snow Miser and Heat Miser..
Snow Miser
The Year Without A Santa Claus
The Year Without a Santa Claus (Deluxe Edition)
At the North Pole, the Christmas rush is on. Everyone from elves to reindeer are merrily preparing for Santa Claus's yearly sleigh ride. Everyone except Santa! Feeling forgotten by the children of the world, old St. Nick decides to skip his gift-giving journey and take a vacation. Eager to help, Mrs. Claus and two spunky little elves set out to see to where all the season's cheer has disappeared. Aided by a magical snowfall, they reawaken the spirit of Christmas in children's hearts and put Santa back in action.
Release Date: 10/02/2007
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1980 "Mr. and Mrs. Dracula"
"I've Never Had Soul Food Before"
Mr. and Mrs. Dracula bumper 1980
1987 Amazing Stories: Miss Stardust
Dick Shawn as Joe Willoughby
Amazing Stories - Miss Stardust (Part 1)
Dick's TV and Movie Appearances
TV and Movies
Always looking for corrections and or additions to this list.Rented Lips (1988)..........Charlie Slater
Maid To Order (1987)..........Stan Starkey
An Evening At The Improv (1986)
Captain EO (1986)..........Commander Bog
The Check Is In The Mail (1986)..........Donald Rappaport
Amazing Stories (1985)..........Joe Willoughby
Beer (1985)..........Talk Show Host
Hail To The Chief (1985)..........Ivan Zolotov
The Twilight Zone (1985)..........Nelson Westbrook
The Tonight Show (1985)..........Guest
Water (1985)..........Deke Halliday
Angel (1984)..........Mae
Legman (1984)..........Casanova
Tales From The Darkside (1984)..........Bo Gumbs
The Secret Diary of Sigmund Freud (1984)..........The Ultimate Patient
Good-bye Cruel World (1983)..........Rodney Pointsetter/Ainsley Pointsetter
The Graduates of Mailbu High (1983)..........Professor Hoover
Shelly Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre (1982)..........The Emperor
Slaptick Studios (1982)..........Sheldon
St. Elsewhere (1982)..........Edgar Eisenberg
The Fall Guy (1981)..........Eward Seraph
Magnum P.I. (1980)..........Buzz Benoit--episode Squeeze Play
Mr. and Mrs. Dracula (1980)..........Dracula TV series
Fast Friends (1979)..........Deke Edwards
Love At First Bite (1979)..........Lt. Ferguson NYPD
Fantasy Island (1978)..........Burnstein
Mary (1978)..........Skit Characters
Looking Up (1977)..........Manny Lander
The Love Boat (1977)..........Harvey Blanchard
Three's Company (1977)..........Jack Tripper Sr.
Laverne And Shirley (1976)..........Episode called Upstairs, Downstairs
CBS Daytime 90 (1974)
The Tonight Show (1974) Guest With Guest Host Rich Little
The Year Without A Santa Claus (1974)..........Snow Miser
Evil Roy Slade (1972)..........Marshall Bing Bell
Annie, The Woman In The Life Of A Man (1970)
My Lensography
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Graple's Lensography
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A lens to highlight all of my lenses on Squidoo. Pretty cool concept. I certainly never thought that I would need one, because I never dreamed I would make as many as I have....so far. I found Squidoo by accident and after a little bit of debating, d...
Dick Shawn Second Greatest Entertainer in The Whole Wide World Guest Book
Please let me know you were here.
Swisstoons wrote...
Yessssss! Evil Roy Slade! Certainly one of the funniest made-for-TV movies ever. I have been recommending this one to friends ever since I first saw it ....when it first ran on TV. I agree, Dick Shawn was terrific in whatever he did. But John Astin as Evil Roy Slade is a classic, as well. Lensrolling this funny lens to several of my own.
Posted May 15, 2009
AslanBooks wrote...
Thank you for listing your lens on The Squidoo Ink Pot -- http://www.squidinkpot.com.
Posted February 01, 2009
theHoundDawg wrote...
I just found this lens, and am very happy to see someone else who recognizes the fabulous talent of the late, great, Dick Shawn. He was a great actor, comedians, but perhaps most of all, he had a magnificent, classically trained voice, and could captivate an audience with his singing. The few comedic numbers that are one film, such as in The Producers, do not do his voice justice. Some of his performances on talk shows from years ago, where his humor, story-telling ability, and singing, were perhaps most evident, are truly classic moments.
Posted November 28, 2008
