Cardis Cardell Willis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cardis Cardell Willis |
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Willis on stage before a comeback on a heckler
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| Born | August 3, 1937 Forest, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | February 10, 2007 (aged 69) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Medium | Stand-up comedy |
| Nationality | American |
| Years active | c. 1950s–1990s |
| Genres | Satire, observational comedy, black comedy, improvisational comedy, character comedy |
| Subject(s) | Race relations, American politics, African-American culture, human ..., self-deprecation, everyday life, family |
Cardis Cardell Willis (born August 3, 1937 – died February 10, 2007) was a very important comedian from Milwaukee, U.S. He was known as Cardell Willis and often called C. Cardell Willis. People in Milwaukee knew him best in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. He used the name Cardell for his work and in his daily life, but his full legal name was Cardis Cardell Willis.
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Who Was Cardell Willis?
Cardell Willis was born in 1937 in Forest, Mississippi. His exact birth date is a bit unclear, either April 20 or August 3. This was because his hometown was very remote. Births had to be reported in the capital city of Jackson, Mississippi back then.
His Early Life
Cardell was born to William and Pearlie Mae Willis. He was the youngest of eight children. His brothers and sisters included William, Joseph, Lilly Mae, and Geneva.
A Mentor to Other Comedians
Cardell Willis was a mentor to many other comedians. He helped them learn and grow in their comedy careers. Some of the comedians he mentored were Will Durst, Dobie Maxwell, Richard Halasz, and Chris Barnes. All of these comedians were also from Milwaukee.
Remembering Cardell Willis
Later in his life, Cardell Willis developed Alzheimer's disease. This illness made it hard for him to tell the amazing jokes he was famous for. He passed away on February 10, 2007, at the age of 69. He had suffered two strokes before his death. Cardell Willis was buried at Graceland Cemetery in Milwaukee.
A special show was held to honor Cardell Willis. This tribute celebrated his contributions and how generous he was to his friends and community. Dobie Maxwell, one of the comedians he mentored, was the host of the show. Dobie called Cardell his "comedy father." The show collected donations, and the money left over went to the Boy Scouts of America. Cardell Willis had been a Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts and had even received the Silver Beaver Award, which is a very high honor.
Cardell Willis Day
To further honor him, Mayor Barrett of Milwaukee officially named April 22, 2012, as Cardell Willis Day. This was a way to remember his impact on the city and its comedy scene.
