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Red Skelton (1913–1997)


The son of a former circus clown turned grocer and a cleaning woman, Red Skelton was introduced to show business at the age of seven by Ed Wynn, at a vaudeville show in Vincennes. At age 10, he left home to travel with a medicine show through the Midwest, and joined the vaudeville circuit at age 15... See full bio »

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Won Golden Globe. Another 8 wins & 4 nominations See more awards »

Known For


Filmography

Hide HideActor (51 titles)
1981 Standing Room Only (TV series)
Freddie the Freeloader
 
1976 Rudolph's Shiny New Year (TV movie)
Father Time (voice) / Baby Bear (voice)
 
1951-1971 The Red Skelton Hour (TV series)
Clem Kadiddlehopper / Freddie the Freeloader / George Appleby / …
Humperdoo's Magic Tire (1971) … Prof. Ludwig von Humperdoo
 
1970 Swing Out, Sweet Land (TV movie)
Newspaper Printer
 
1966 Clown Alley (TV movie)
Freddie the Freeloader
 
1962 The Garry Moore Show (TV series)
Clem Kadiddlehopper
 
1960 Ocean's Eleven
Gambler
 
1958 The Milton Berle Show (TV series)
Clem Kadiddlehopper / Freddie the Freeloader
 
1957 Public Pigeon No. One
Rusty Morgan
 
1956 Playhouse 90 (TV series)
Buddy McCoy
The Big Slide (1956) … Buddy McCoy
 
1956 Around the World in Eighty Days
Drunk in Barbary Coast Saloon
 
1955 Climax! (TV series)
Rusty Morgan
Public Pigeon #1 (1955) … Rusty Morgan
 
1955 Shower of Stars (TV series)
All-Star Line-Up (1955)
 
1954 Red Skelton Revue (TV series)
Willie Lump Lump / Freddie the Freeloader / Sheriff Deadeye / …
Episode #1.3 (1954) … Willie Lump Lump / Mike Chisel
Episode #1.2 (1954) … Sheriff Deadeye
 
1954 Susan Slept Here
Oswald from North Dakota (uncredited)
 
1954 The Great Diamond Robbery
Ambrose C. Park
 
1953 Half a Hero
Ben Dobson
 
1953 The Clown
Dodo Delwyn
 
1952 Lovely to Look at
Al Marsh
 
1951 Texas Carnival
Cornie Quinell
 
1951 Excuse My Dust
Joe Belden
 
1950 Watch the Birdie
Rusty Cammeron/Pop Cammeron/Grandpop Cammeron
 
1950 Duchess of Idaho
Guest Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
 
1950 The Yellow Cab Man
Augustus 'Red' Pirdy
 
1949 Neptune's Daughter
Jack Spratt
 
1948 A Southern Yankee
Aubrey Filmore
 
1948 The Fuller Brush Man
Red Jones
 
1945 Ziegfeld Follies
J. Newton Numbskull ('When Television Comes')
 
1944 Bathing Beauty
Steve Elliot
 
1943 I Dood It
Joseph 'Joe' Rivington Renolds
 
1943 Thousands Cheer
Red Skelton
 
1943 Du Barry Was a Lady
Louis Blore / King Louis XV
 
1942 Panama Hattie
Red
 
1942 Maisie Gets Her Man
Herbert P. 'Hap' Hixby
 
1942 Ship Ahoy
Merton K. Kibble
 
1940 Flight Command
Lieut. 'Mugger' Martin
 
1939 Seeing Red (short)
Red/Doorman/Coatroom Attendant/Waiter/Emcee
 
1939 The Broadway Buckaroo (short)
Red
 
1938 Having Wonderful Time
Itchy (as Richard 'Red' Skelton)
 
Show ShowWriter (11 titles)
1983 Red Skelton's More Funny Faces (TV movie)
 
1981 Standing Room Only (TV series)
Red Skelton's Christmas Dinner (1981) (story)
 
1980 Red Skelton's Funny Faces (TV movie)
 
1951-1971 The Red Skelton Hour (TV series)
Ironside Spoof (1971) (writer)
The Candidate's Director (1971) (writer)
Sheriff Hater (1971) (writer)
Humperdoo's Magic Tire (1971) (writer)
Appleby's Garage Sale (1971) (writer)
 
1966 Clown Alley (TV movie)
 
1960 Red Skelton Timex Special (TV movie)
 
1959 The Red Skelton Chevy Special (TV movie)
 
1945 Ziegfeld Follies (segment "When Television Comes" - uncredited)
 
1939 The Broadway Buckaroo (short) (additional dialogue)
 
Show ShowProducer (1 title)
1951-1965 The Red Skelton Hour (TV series) (producer - 23 episodes)
Episode #15.12 (1965) (producer)
Episode #15.11 (1965) (producer)
Weepy Talks Turkey (1952) (producer)
Whistle Stop (1952) (producer)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (17 titles)
1976 Rudolph's Shiny New Year (TV movie) (performer: "The Moving Finger Writes", "Have a Hap-Hap-Happy New Year", "Turn Back the Year", "What A Wonderful World We Live In")
 
1976 That's Entertainment, Part II (documentary) (performer: "Three Little Words" 1930 - uncredited)
 
1961-1968 The Red Skelton Hour (TV series)
Episode #17.21 (1968) (writer: "The Everett McKinley Dirksen March")
Freddie and the Yuletide Doll (1961) (performer: "Invitation to the Dance")
 
1966 Made in Paris (music: "My True Love")
 
1952 Lovely to Look at (performer: "Lafayette" - uncredited)
 
1951 Texas Carnival (performer: "The Carnie's Pitch")
 
1950 Moments in Music (documentary short) (performer: "Baby, It's Cold Outside")
 
1950 Three Little Words (performer: "My Sunny Tennessee", "So Long! Oo-Long How Long You Gonna Be Gone?", "Nevertheless", "Thinking of You", "Three Little Words")
 
1949 Neptune's Daughter (performer: "Baby, It's Cold Outside", "I Love Those Men")
 
1946 The Show-Off (performer: "I've Got You Under My Skin")
 
1944 Bathing Beauty (performer: "I'll Take the High Note" 1943 - uncredited, "Waltz of the Flowers" 1891-2 - uncredited / "Magic is the MoonlightTe quiero dijiste" 1929, "Bridal Chorus Here Comes the Bride" 1850 - uncredited)
 
1943 I Dood It (performer: "Star Eyes" 1943)
 
1943 Du Barry Was a Lady (performer: "I Love an Esquire Girl" 1943, "Ladies of the Bath" 1943, "Madame, I Like Your Crepe Suzettes" 1943, "Friendship" 1939)
 
1942 Whistling in Dixie (" I Wish I Was in Dixie's Land" 1860 - uncredited, "Yankee Doodle" ca. 1755 - uncredited)
 
1942 Panama Hattie (performer: "Fresh as a Daisy" 1940, "Good Neighbors" 1942 - uncredited)
 
1942 Ship Ahoy (music: "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" 1932 - uncredited / performer: "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" 1932 - uncredited, "I'll Take Tallulah" 1942, "How About You?" 1941, "Poor You" 1942 / "The Last Call for Love" 1942)
 
1941 Lady Be Good (performer: "Oh ! Lady Be Good" 1924)
 
Show ShowComposer (1 title)
Show ShowThanks (1 title)
1978 Flying High (TV series) (special thanks - 1 episode)
Palm Springs Weekend (1978) (special thanks)
 
Show ShowSelf (56 titles)
2008 Pioneers of Television (TV mini-series documentary)
Himself
Variety (2008) … Himself (also archive footage)
 
1995 Pioneers of Primetime (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1995 Inside the Dream Factory (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1993 The First Annual Comedy Hall of Fame (TV movie)
Himself
 
1989 The 3rd Annual American Comedy Awards (TV special)
Himself
 
1986 The 38th Annual Emmy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Winner: Governor's Award
 
1985 All-Star Party for 'Dutch' Reagan (TV movie)
Himself
 
1984 Unrehearsed Antics of the Stars (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1984 Red Skelton: A Royal Command Performance (TV special)
Himself / Various Characters
 
1984 Red Skelton's Funny Faces III (TV movie)
Himself - Host / Gertrude and Heathcliffe / Clem Kadiddlehopper
 
1971-1983 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV series)
Himself / Freddie the Freeloader / Gertrude and Heathcliffe / …
Episode dated 6 December 1983 (1983) … Himself - Guest / Gertrude and Heathcliffe
Episode dated 7 February 1971 (1971) … Himself
 
1983 Red Skelton's More Funny Faces (TV movie)
Himself - Host / Clem Kadiddlehopper / Freddie the Freeloader / …
 
1977-1981 The Mike Douglas Show (TV series)
Himself - Co-Host / Himself / Clem Kadiddlehopper / …
Episode dated 16 August 1981 (1981) … Himself/Clem Kadiddlehopper/Gertrude and Heathcliff
Episode #15.148 (1977) … Himself - Co-Host
Episode #15.147 (1977) … Himself
Episode #15.146 (1977) … Himself - Co-Host
Episode #15.145 (1977) … Himself - Co-Host / Freddie the Freeloader
 
1980 Red Skelton's Funny Faces (TV movie)
Himself - Host / Freddie the Freeloader / Clem Kadiddlehopper / …
 
1980 Sinatra: The First 40 Years (TV special)
Himself
 
1979 Good Morning America (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 22 August 1979 (1979) … Himself
 
1978 Bob Hope All Star Christmas Special (TV movie)
Himself/Freddie the Freeloader
 
1978 General Electric's All-Star Anniversary (TV documentary)
 
1978 Happy Birthday, Bob (TV special)
Himself
 
1978 The 35th Annual Golden Globe Awards (TV documentary)
Himself - Cecil B. DeMille Award Winner
 
1977 The 49th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Presenter: Best Sound
 
1976 CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1970 Jack Benny's Twentieth Anniversary Special (TV special)
Himself
 
1954-1969 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV series)
Himself / Himself - Comedian / Himself - Guest / …
Episode #23.1 (1969) … Himself - Guest
Episode #21.1 (1967) … Himself - Comedian
Episode #20.1 (1966) … Himself - Comedian
Episode #19.2 (1965) … Himself - Comedian
Episode #12.2 (1958) … Himself
 
1968 The Dean Martin Comedy Hour (TV series)
Himself
1968 Christmas Show (1968) … Himself (uncredited)
 
1951-1968 The Red Skelton Hour (TV series)
Himself - Host / Himself / Cauliflower McPugg / …
United Nations Second Show (1968) … Himself - Host
Red Skelton One-Man Show (1968) … Himself - Host
The Seven Ages of Man (1967) … Himself/Pantomimic/Junior the Mean Widdle Kid
Love at First Fright (1966) … Himself
The Red Skelton Scrapbook (1965) … Himself
 
1967-1984 The Bob Braun Show (TV series)
Himself
 
1967 The Jonathan Winters Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode #1.1 (1967) … Himself
 
1966 Clown Alley (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 1 March 1966 (1966) … Himself
 
1959-1961 The Jack Paar Tonight Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 13 November 1961 (1961) … Himself
Episode #3.52 (1959) … Himself
 
1961 CBS Fall Preview Special: Seven Wonderful Nights (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1960 The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode #5.2 (1960) … Himself
 
1954-1960 What's My Line? (TV series)
Himself - Mystery Guest
Episode dated 25 September 1960 (1960) … Himself - Mystery Guest
Episode dated 26 September 1954 (1954) … Himself - Mystery Guest
 
1959-1960 Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (TV series)
Himself
The Man in the Funny Suit (1960) … Himself
Lucy Goes to Alaska (1959) … Himself
 
1958-1959 The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (TV series)
Himself - Cameo / Himself - Recipient
10th Annual Magazine Awards (1959) … Himself - Recipient
'Steve Allen Show' Continues from Hollywood (1958) … Himself - Cameo
 
1958-1959 The Garry Moore Show (TV series)
Himself / Clem Kadiddlehopper / Monolog
Episode #1.23 (1959) … Himself / Clem Kadiddlehopper
Episode #1.1 (1958) … Himself/Monolog
 
1959 The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour (TV series)
Freddie the Freeloader / Himself
 
1956-1958 The Jack Benny Program (TV series)
Himself
Jack and Gisele MacKenzie (1958) … Himself
George Gobel/Red Skelton Show (1956) … Himself
 
1957 This Is Your Life (TV series)
Himself
Buster Keaton (1957) … Himself
 
1954-1957 The Jackie Gleason Show (TV series)
Freddie the Freeloader / Himself / Himself - Guest Host
At Sixty-Five (1957) … Himself
Episode #2.19 (1954) … Himself - Guest Host / Freddie the Freeloader
 
1956 Playhouse 90 (TV series)
Himself - Announcing Next Week's Show
The Country Husband (1956) … Himself - Announcing Next Week's Show
 
1956 The Herb Shriner Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 2 October 1956 (1956) … Himself
 
1955-1956 Shower of Stars (TV series)
Himself - Guest Host / Himself - Guest Comedian / Himself - Guest Star
More Gold Records (1956) … Himself - Guest Star
Gold Records (1955) … Himself - Guest Host
Ethel Merman's Show Stoppers (1955) … Himself - Guest Host
Show Stoppers (1955) … Himself - Guest Comedian
 
1955 Ford Star Jubilee (TV series)
Himself
I Hear America Singing (1955) … Himself
 
1954 Red Skelton Revue (TV series)
Himself
Episode #1.7 (1954) … Himself
Episode #1.4 (1954) … Himself
 
1954 Juvenile Jury (TV series)
Himself - Guest
Episode dated 28 February 1954 (1954) … Himself - Guest
 
1954 Hollywood Goes to War (short)
Himself
 
1953 Carson's Coffee Break (TV series)
Himself - Guest
 
1952 All Star Revue (TV series)
Himself - Guest Comedian
Episode #3.5 (1952) … Himself - Guest Comedian (also archive footage)
 
1950 The Fuller Brush Girl
Himself - Fuller Brush Man (uncredited)
 
1949 Some of the Best: Twenty-Five Years of Motion Picture Leadership (documentary short)
Himself (uncredited)
 
1947 A Crime Does Not Pay Subject: The Luckiest Guy in the World (short)
Himself - Comedian on Radio (voice) (uncredited)
 
1947 Week End in Hollywood (documentary short)
Himself
 
1946 Rough But Hopeful (short)
Himself
 
1944 Radio Bugs (short)
Himself (voice)
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (26 titles)
2012 American Masters (TV series documentary)
 
2008 Mike Douglas: Moments & Memories (video)
Himself
 
2006 A/k/a Tommy Chong (documentary)
Himself
 
2004 Christmas in Tinseltown (video documentary short)
Himself
 
2001 I Love Lucy's 50th Anniversary Special (TV documentary)
 
2001 Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1994-2000 Biography (TV series documentary)
 
1999 The Rat Pack (TV series documentary)
Himself
 
1998 The 70th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Himself (Memorial Tribute)
 
1996 Classic Stand-Up Comedy of Television (TV special documentary)
Himself
 
1995 Ed Sullivan All-Star Comedy Special (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1994 Entertaining the Troops (documentary)
Himself
 
1993 Bob Hope's Bag Full of Christmas Memories (TV special)
Himself
 
1992 Legends of Comedy (TV documentary)
 
1985 That's Dancing! (documentary)
Himself (clips from "Bathing Beauty"/"Three Little Words")
 
1984 The Great Standups (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1983 Errol Flynn: Portrait of a Swashbuckler (video documentary)
Himself
 
1979 The Hollywood Clowns (video documentary)
 
1976 That's Entertainment, Part II (documentary)
Clip from 'Three Little Words'
 
1974 That's Entertainment! (documentary)
Himself - at Banquet (uncredited)
 
1964 The Big Parade of Comedy (documentary)
Aubrey Filmore in 'A Southern Yankee'
 
1963 CBS: The Stars' Address (TV movie)
Himself
 
1963 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV series)
 
1950 Moments in Music (documentary short)
Himself, edited from: Neptune's Daughter (uncredited)
 

Related Videos

Saturday Night Live: Season 10: Episode 14 -- Joe Franklin talks to some more interesting characters, including an Alan Alda impressionist and Red Skelton. Du Barry Was a Lady -- Trailer for this king size musical extravaganza
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Personal Details

Other Works:

book, Gertrude and Heathcliffe (Scribner, 1974) See more »

Publicity Listings:

3 Print Biographies  | 4 Articles  | 1 Magazine Cover Photo  | See more »

Official Sites:

Official Site | See more »

Alternate Names:

Richard 'Red' Skelton

Height:

6' 2" (1.88 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

I'm nuts and I know it. But so long as I make 'em laugh, they ain't going to lock me up. See more »

Trivia:

Inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame in 1989. See more »

Trademark:

Performs and does characters with his brown hat. He performs different characters by changing the way the hat looks and how he wears it See more »

Nickname:

The Marcel Marceau of Television See more »

Star Sign:

Cancer