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Red Buttons (1919–2006)

Actor | Soundtrack

Composer, actor, comedian and author, he joined ASCAP in 1963 and wrote several popular songs (which he often personally performed), including "Strange Things Are Happening" and "The Ho-Ho Song". See full bio »

Born:

Aaron Chwatt
in New York City, New York, USA

Died:

(age 87) in Century City, California, USA
Red Buttons Billy Crystal and Red Buttons Still of Gene Hackman and Red Buttons in The Poseidon Adventure Red Buttons and Susan Hayward at a Hollywood Party circa 1973 Red Buttons
26 photos | 12 videos | 32 news articles »

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Won Oscar. Another 6 wins & 6 nominations See more awards »

Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideActor (82 titles)
1995-2005 ER (TV series)
Jules 'Ruby' Rubadoux
– Ruby Redux (2005) … Jules 'Ruby' Rubadoux
– The Right Thing (1996) … Jules 'Ruby' Rubadoux
– True Lies (1996) … Jules 'Ruby' Rubadoux
– Dead of Winter (1996) … Jules 'Ruby' Rubadoux
– A Miracle Happens Here (1995) … Jules 'Ruby' Rubadoux
 
2002 Presidio Med (TV series)
Chick
– Milagros (2002) … Chick
 
2002 Street Time (TV series)
Sam Kahan
– Reversal of Fortune (2002) … Sam Kahan
– Random Act (2002) … Sam Kahan
– Pilot: Part 1 (2002) … Sam Kahan
– Pilot: Part 2 (2002) … Sam Kahan
 
2002 Philly (TV series)
Murray Klopman
– The Curse of the Klopman Diamonds (2002) … Murray Klopman
 
2001 Odessa or Bust (short)
The Old Man
 
2000 Family Law (TV series)
Carl Porter
– Second Chance (2000) … Carl Porter
 
1999 The Story of Us
Arnie Jordan
 
1999 Early Edition (TV series)
Walter Stites
– Pinch Hitters (1999) … Walter Stites
 
1997 Cosby (TV series)
Mr. Tibbles
– My Dinner with Methuseleh (1997) … Mr. Tibbles
 
1994 It Could Happen to You
Walter Zakuto
 
1993-1994 Roseanne (TV series)
Jake
– Body by Jake (1994) … Jake (uncredited)
– Playing with Matches (1993) … Jake
 
1991 The Cosby Show (TV series)
Jake Bennett
– Cliff and Jake (1991) … Jake Bennett
 
1990 The Ambulance
Elias Zacharai
 
1988 18 Again!
Charlie
 
1987 Knots Landing (TV series)
Al Baker
– Flight of the Sunbirds (1987) … Al Baker
– Love In (1987) … Al Baker
– Say Uncle (1987) … Al Baker
– There Are Smiles (1987) … Al Baker
– Under Pressure (1987) … Al Baker
See all 6 episodes »
 
1987 227 (TV series)
Toots
– The Audit (1987) … Toots
 
1985 Alice in Wonderland (TV movie)
The White Rabbit
 
1985 Reunion at Fairborough (TV movie)
Jiggs Quealy
 
1978-1983 Fantasy Island (TV series)
Cornelius Kelly / Tony Emerson
– King of Burlesque/Death Games (1983)
– Cornelius and Alphonse/The Choice (1979) … Cornelius Kelly
– Return/The Toughest Man Alive (1978) … Tony Emerson
 
1978-1983 The Love Boat (TV series)
Buddy Redmond / Jimmy Morrow / Uncle Cyrus Foster
– Vicki's Dilemma/Discount Romance/Looser & Still Champ (1983) … Jimmy Morrow
– Doc's Ex' Change/Gift, The/Making the Grade (1979) … Buddy Redmond
– The Where Is It Written?/Julie's Aunt/Big Deal (1978) … Uncle Cyrus Foster
 
1982 Off Your Rocker (TV movie)
Seymour Saltz
 
1981 Side Show (TV movie)
Harry
 
1981 Leave 'em Laughing (TV movie)
Roland
 
1981 Aloha Paradise (TV series)
Nick
– Catching Up/Warbling Out to You/Black Day at Black Rock (1981) … Nick
 
1980 The Dream Merchants (TV movie)
Bruce Benson
 
1980 When Time Ran Out...
Francis Fendly
 
1980 Power (TV movie)
Solly Weiss
 
1979 C.H.O.M.P.S
Bracken
 
1979 Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (TV movie)
Milton (voice)
 
1979 Here It Is, Burlesque! (TV movie)
Host and skits
 
1978 Vega$ (TV series)
Tommy Cirko
– Serve, Volley and Kill (1978) … Tommy Cirko
– High Roller (1978) … Tommy Cirko
 
1978 Movie Movie
Peanuts/Jinks Murphy
 
1978 The Users (TV movie)
Warren Ambrose
 
1977 Telethon (TV movie)
Mart Rand
 
1977 Pete's Dragon
Hoagy
 
1977 Viva Knievel!
Ben Andrews
 
1977 The Sunshine Boys (TV movie)
Willie Clark
 
1976 Gable and Lombard
Ivan Cooper
 
1976 Flannery and Quilt (TV movie)
Luke Flannery
 
1976 Louis Armstrong - Chicago Style (TV movie)
Red Cleveland
 
1975 The New Adventures of Wonder Woman (TV series)
Ashley Norman / Carl
– The New Original Wonder Woman (1975) … Ashley Norman/Carl
 
1975 Little House on the Prairie (TV series)
William 'Willie' O'Hara
– Circus Man (1975) … William 'Willie' O'Hara
 
1973 ABC Afterschool Specials (TV series)
Alexander
– Alexander (1973) … Alexander
 
1972 The Poseidon Adventure
Martin
 
1971 Who Killed Mary Whats'ername?
Mickey
 
1970 Breakout (TV movie)
Pipes
 
1970 George M! (TV movie)
Sam H. Harris
 
1969 They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
Sailor
 
1969 Love, American Style (TV series)
Norman (segment "Love and the Geisha")
– Love and the Advice Givers/Love and the Geisha/Love and Take Me Along (1969) … Norman (segment "Love and the Geisha")
 
1966-1969 The Bob Hope Show (TV series)
– Episode dated 22 September 1969 (1969)
– Episode dated 19 October 1966 (1966)
 
1967 The Danny Thomas Hour (TV series)
Al Risko
– The Zero Man (1967) … Al Risko
 
1966 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (TV series)
– Murder at N.B.C. (1966)
 
1966 The Double Life of Henry Phyfe (TV series)
Henry Wadsworth Phyfe
– Will the Real U-31 Try to Stand Up? (1966) … Henry Wadsworth Phyfe
– Phyfe Goes Skiing (1966)
– A Shot in the Dark (1966) … Henry Wadsworth Phyfe
– Spend a Million Phyfe (1966) … Henry Wadsworth Phyfe
– Jailbird Phyfe (1966) … Henry Wadsworth Phyfe
See all 17 episodes »
 
1966 Stagecoach
Peacock
 
1965/I Harlow
Arthur Landau
 
1965 Up from the Beach
Pfc. Harry Devine
 
1965 Ben Casey (TV series)
Bill Jacoby
– Journeys End in Lovers Meeting (1965) … Bill Jacoby
 
1964 Your Cheatin' Heart
Shorty Younger
 
1964 The Greatest Show on Earth (TV series)
Walter Wallace
– The Last of the Strongmen (1964) … Walter Wallace
 
1964 The Eleventh Hour (TV series)
Cody Evans
– Sunday Father (1964) … Cody Evans
 
1963 The Jimmy Dean Show (TV series)
– Episode dated 23 November 1963 (1963)
 
1963 A Ticklish Affair
Flight Officer Simon 'Uncle Cy' Shelley
 
1962 Gay Purr-ee
Robespierre (voice)
 
1962 The Longest Day
Pvt. John Steele
 
1962 Saints and Sinners (TV series)
Joe Roganyan
– All the Hard Young Men (1962) … Joe Roganyan
 
1962 Five Weeks in a Balloon
Donald O'Shay
 
1962 Hatari!
Pockets
 
1962 Frontier Circus (TV series)
Earl Youngblood
– Never Won Fair Lady (1962) … Earl Youngblood
 
1959-1961 G.E. True Theater (TV series)
Lieutenant George Poole / Tippy-Top
– Tippy-Top (1961) … Tippy-Top
– The Tallest Marine (1959) … Lieutenant George Poole
 
1961 One, Two, Three
MP Sergeant (uncredited)
 
1960 The United States Steel Hour (TV series)
Inspector Plover
– The Case of the Missing Wife (1960) … Inspector Plover
 
1960 Death Valley Days (TV series)
Levi Strauss
– The Million Dollar Pants (1960) … Levi Strauss
 
1959 Startime (TV series)
Joe Henders
– Something Special (1959) … Joe Henders
 
1959 The Big Circus
Randy Sherman
 
1959 Playhouse 90 (TV series)
Jerry
– A Marriage of Strangers (1959) … Jerry
 
1958 Imitation General
Cpl. Chan Derby
 
1958 Hansel and Gretel (TV movie)
Hansel
 
1957 Sayonara
Joe Kelly
 
1956 Studio One in Hollywood (TV series)
St. Emergency
– The Tale of St. Emergency (1956) … St. Emergency
 
1951 Suspense (TV series)
– Merryman's Murder (1951)
 
1947 13 Rue Madeleine
Second Jump Master (uncredited)
 
1944 Winged Victory
Whitey/Andrews Sister (as Cpl. Red Buttons)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (4 titles)
1985 Alice in Wonderland (TV movie) (performer: "Welcome Queen Alice", "Can You Hear Us, Alice?")
 
1979 Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (TV movie) (performer: "You're Everything I Ever Wanted")
 
1977 Pete's Dragon (performer: "Passamashloddy" - uncredited, "Every Little Piece" - uncredited)
 
1962 Gay Purr-ee (performer: "Bubbles")
 
Show ShowThanks (1 title)
2000 The Life and Times of Kirk Douglas (video documentary short) (special thanks)
 
Show ShowSelf (87 titles)
2004 Goodnight, We Love You (documentary)
 
2003 The 75th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Past Winner
 
2002 Milton Berle: An All-Star Tribute to 'Mr. Television' (video)
Himself
 
2001 Backstory (TV series documentary)
Himself
– The Poseidon Adventure Backstory (2001) … Himself
 
2000 Let Me In, I Hear Laughter (documentary)
Himself
 
1999 Dennis Miller Live (TV series)
Himself
– Growing Old (1999) … Himself
 
1999 American Veteran Awards (TV movie)
Himself
 
1998 The 70th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Past Winner (uncredited)
 
1995-1998 Biography (TV series documentary)
Himself / Friend / Himself - Actor
– John Wayne: American Legend (1998) … Himself
– Phil Silvers: Top Banana (1997) … Himself
– Gypsy Rose Lee: Naked Ambition (1996) … Himself
– Darryl F. Zanuck: 20th Century Filmmaker (1995) … Himself - Actor/Friend
 
1998 M*A*S*H, Tootsie & God: A Tribute to Larry Gelbart (TV special documentary)
Himself
 
1997 20th Century-Fox: The First 50 Years (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1996 The Real Las Vegas (TV series documentary)
Himself
 
1995 Great Performances (TV series)
Himself
– Itzhak Perlman: In the Fiddler's House (1995) … Himself
 
1995 The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1995 The 49th Annual Tony Awards (TV special)
Himself - Presenter
 
1994 The Second Annual Comedy Hall of Fame (TV special)
Himself
 
1994 The 10th TV Academy Hall of Fame (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1992 The 9th Annual American Cinema Awards (TV movie)
Himself
 
1992 Tom Arnold: The Naked Truth 2 (TV movie)
Himself
 
1991 George Burns' 95th Birthday Party (TV special)
Himself
 
1987-1989 It's Garry Shandling's Show. (TV series)
Himself
– Mr Peck's: Part 3 (1989) … Himself
– Force Boxman (1987) … Himself
 
1989 George Burns - His Wit and Wisdom (video)
Himself
 
1988 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Jack Lemmon (TV special documentary)
Himself (uncredited)
 
1987 Las Vegas: An All-Star 75th Anniversary (TV special)
Himself
 
1987 The 59th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Audience Member
 
1987 The 1st Annual American Comedy Awards (TV movie)
Himself
 
1986 Josh, the Logan Legend (documentary)
Himself
 
1986 NBC 60th Anniversary Celebration (TV special documentary)
Himself
 
1986 George Burns' 90th Birthday Party: A Very Special Special (TV movie)
Himself - Cameo
 
1986 The 38th Annual Emmy Awards (TV special)
Himself
 
1985 Night of 100 Stars II (TV movie)
Himself
 
1984 Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Mr. T (TV special)
Himself
 
1984 The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Joan Collins (TV movie)
Himself
 
1984 This Is Your Life (TV series)
Himself
– Mickey Rooney (1984) … Himself
 
1983 George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business (TV movie)
Himself
 
1980 Pink Lady (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.5 (1980) … Himself
 
1980 Sinatra: The First 40 Years (TV special)
Himself
 
1979 The Royal Variety Performance 1979 (TV special)
 
1979 The Muppets Go Hollywood (TV movie)
Himself (uncredited)
 
1978 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (TV series)
Himself
– Mickey's 50 (1978) … Himself
 
1978 Science Fiction Film Awards (TV documentary)
Himself - Nominee
 
1978 The People's Command Performance (TV movie)
Himself
 
1978 Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Betty White (TV movie)
Himself - Comedian
 
1978 Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Jimmy Stewart (TV movie)
Himself
 
1977 Bob Hope's All-Star Comedy Spectacular from Lake Tahoe (TV movie)
Himself - Cameo
 
1974-1977 The Mike Douglas Show (TV series)
Himself / Himself - Actor
– Episode dated 5 January 1977 (1977) … Himself
– Episode dated 17 January 1974 (1974) … Himself - Actor
 
1977 The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Frank Sinatra (TV movie)
Himself
 
1976 Joys (TV special)
Himself
 
1976 The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Muhammad Ali (TV movie)
Himself
 
1962-1973 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 1 October 1973 (1973) … Himself
– Episode dated 24 April 1973 (1973) … Himself
– Episode dated 31 August 1970 (1970) … Himself
– Episode dated 15 June 1970 (1970) … Himself
– Episode dated 27 February 1970 (1970) … Himself
See all 8 episodes »
 
1973 Ed Sullivan Presents: The TV Comedy Years (TV movie)
Himself
 
1970-1973 The Hollywood Squares (TV series)
Guest Appearance
– Episode dated 20 August 1973 (1973) … Guest Appearance
– Episode dated 27 April 1970 (1970) … Guest Appearance
– Episode dated 13 April 1970 (1970) … Guest Appearance
 
1973 The Vin Scully Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 26 February 1973 (1973) … Himself
 
1972 The 44th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Co-Presenter: Best Film Editing
 
1972 This Is Your Life (TV series)
Himself
– Don Rickles (1972) … Himself
 
1972 The Return of the Movie Movie (documentary short)
James Martin (uncredited)
 
1970-1971 Can You Top This (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 27 June 1971 (1971) … Himself
– Episode dated 6 July 1970 (1970) … Himself
 
1967-1970 The Merv Griffin Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 24 June 1970 (1970) … Himself
– Episode dated 28 December 1967 (1967) … Himself
 
1969 The Kraft Music Hall (TV series)
Himself
– Friars Club Roast of Milton Berle (1969) … Himself
 
1968-1969 The Jackie Gleason Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #3.11 (1969) … Himself
– Episode #3.9 (1968) … Himself
 
1969 The Moviemakers (documentary short)
Himself (actor) (uncredited)
 
1967-1968 The Dean Martin Comedy Hour (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 8 February 1968 (1968) … Himself
– Episode dated 16 March 1967 (1967) … Himself
 
1967 Gypsy (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 15 May 1967 (1967) … Himself
 
1964-1967 The Hollywood Palace (TV series)
Himself - Comedian / Himself - Singer / Sketch Actor
– Episode #4.26 (1967) … Himself - Singer/Sketch Actor
– Episode #1.7 (1964) … Himself - Comedian
 
1966 The Garry Moore Show (TV series)
Himself - Guest
– Episode dated 18 December 1966 (1966) … Himself - Guest
 
1954-1966 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV series)
Himself - Comedian / Himself / Himself - Singer / …
– Episode #20.13 (1966) … Himself - Comedian
– Episode #20.2 (1966) … Himself - Comedian/Singer
– Episode #15.41 (1962) … Pantomime Act
– Episode #15.37 (1962) … Himself - Comedian
– Episode #14.1 (1960) … Himself - Singer
See all 9 episodes »
 
1966 Hollywood Talent Scouts (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 10 January 1966 (1966) … Himself
 
1965 The Andy Williams Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 19 April 1965 (1965) … Himself
 
1963 Talent Scouts (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 10 September 1963 (1963) … Himself
 
1962 Password All-Stars (TV series)
Himself - Panelist
– Jane Powell vs. Red Buttons (1962) … Himself - Panelist
 
1953-1962 What's My Line? (TV series)
Himself - Mystery Guest / Himself
– Episode dated 12 August 1962 (1962) … Himself - Mystery Guest
– Episode dated 28 June 1959 (1959) … Himself - Mystery Guest
– Episode dated 5 April 1953 (1953) … Himself
 
1962 The Tonight Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 14 May 1962 (1962) … Himself
 
1953-1959 I've Got a Secret (TV series)
Himself - Celebrity Guest / Himself - Mystery Guest
– Episode dated 5 August 1959 (1959) … Himself - Mystery Guest
– Episode dated 14 May 1953 (1953) … Himself - Celebrity Guest
 
1959 The 31st Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Presenter: Best Supporting Actress
 
1958 The Patti Page Oldsmobile Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.6 (1958) … Himself
 
1957-1958 The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #2.31 (1958) … Himself
– Episode #2.4 (1957) … Himself
 
1958 The 30th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Best Supporting Actor Winner
 
1957 Playhouse 90 (TV series)
Himself
– Around the World in 90 Minutes (1957) … Himself
 
1957 Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall (TV series)
– Episode dated 12 October 1957 (1957)
 
1957 The Arthur Murray Party (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 11 June 1957 (1957) … Himself
 
1956 The Walter Winchell Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.1 (1956) … Himself
 
1955 Person to Person (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Episode #2.29 (1955) … Himself
 
1955 The Merry Mailman (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 28 February 1955 (1955) … Himself
 
1952-1955 The Red Buttons Show (TV series)
Himself - Host
 
1951 Footlight Varieties
Himself
 
1950 This Is Show Business (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 30 April 1950 (1950) … Himself
 
1948 The Buick-Berle Show (TV series)
Himself - Comedian
– Episode #1.24 (1948) … Himself - Comedian
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (8 titles)
2010 Sid Bernstein Presents... (documentary)
Himself
 
2008 Hillary! Uncensored: Banned by the Media (video documentary)
Himself
 
2006 The 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Memorial Tribute
 
2006 Jerry Lewis - König der Komödianten (TV documentary)
Himself (uncredited)
 
2004 Comedy Central Presents: 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time (TV mini-series)
Himself #71
 
2002 Brilliant But Cancelled (TV documentary)
 
2000 Chump Change
James Martin (uncredited)
 
2000 Twentieth Century Fox: The Blockbuster Years (TV documentary)
Himself
 

Related Videos

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See all 12 »
Edit

Personal Details

Other Works:

Spoken Word Recording: Poems for My Daughter and Other Little People/Wonderland (277) See more »

Publicity Listings:

6 Articles  | See more »

Alternate Names:

Cpl. Red Buttons

Height:

5' 6" (1.68 m)
Edit

Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

"Elizabeth Taylor has a big heart. She recently built a halfway house for girls who don't want to go all the way". See more »

Trivia:

Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Actors Branch). See more »

Trademark:

His wide grin See more »

Star Sign:

Aquarius