Charlie Callas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charlie Callas |
|
|---|---|
Callas in 1966
|
|
| Birth name | Charles Callias |
| Born | December 20, 1924 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | January 27, 2011 (aged 86) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Years active | 1964–2011 |
| Genres | Stand-Up, Dark Comedy |
| Subject(s) | Nervous Chattering, Rubber Face |
| Spouse | Evelyn Callas (1942–2010; her death) |
| Children | 2 |
Charlie Callas (born Charles Callias; December 20, 1924 – January 27, 2011) was an American actor and comedian. He was best known for working with famous people like Mel Brooks, Jerry Lewis, and Dean Martin. He also made many stand-up appearances on TV talk shows in the 1970s.
Charlie Callas was also known for his role as Malcolm Argos. This character was a restaurant owner and former con man on the TV show Switch (1975–1978). He was also the voice of Elliott the Dragon in Disney's live-action and animated musical film Pete's Dragon (1977).
Contents
Life and Career: How Charlie Callas Became a Star
Charlie Callas was born on December 20, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York. His birth name was Charles Callias. His father was Greek and his mother was German.
He served in the United States Army during World War II. After the war, he started his career as a drummer. He played in bands with famous musicians like Tommy Dorsey and Buddy Rich. When he started performing on stage, he changed his last name from Callias to Callas. He simply dropped one letter!
Charlie's Unique Comedy Style
Callas was famous for his funny, "rubbery" face. He also had a special way of talking with nervous sounds and silly noises. His comedy was very unique and often made people laugh a lot.
His first TV appearance was in 1963 on The Hollywood Palace. Soon after, he started performing before Frank Sinatra in nightclubs. In 1965, he appeared on The Munsters TV show. He played a character named Lefty.
Charlie Callas appeared almost 50 times on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. One of his most famous acts was about two men hunting ducks. He would make strange, nervous sounds like "Fert, fert! WOW! Ga-digga-digga..." He would also move his arms, twitch his face, and get very excited. He would often stop and ask the audience, "Did'ja ever see a guy tryin' to make a buck this way?"
From Talk Show to Movies
Charlie did his famous "shotgun bit" many times on talk shows. In 1965, he performed it on The Merv Griffin Show. One of the guests, Jerry Lewis, laughed so hard he almost fell off his chair! Jerry Lewis told Merv Griffin that he had to use Charlie in his next movie.
This one TV appearance helped Charlie get a role in the 1967 Jerry Lewis film The Big Mouth. Years later, Jerry Lewis talked about this story on his own talk show. Charlie Callas was his sidekick on that show and performed the shotgun routine again.
Charlie was also a regular guest on The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast. On this show, he would playfully make fun of famous people. These included Frank Sinatra and Don Rickles. Sometimes, Charlie would even dress up in an Army uniform. He would pretend to be an old-time comedian named George Jessel. Everyone found it very funny!
Other TV Appearances
Charlie Callas became friends with singer Bobby Vinton in Las Vegas. When Bobby Vinton got his own TV show in 1975, Charlie made a special appearance. He also appeared on The Andy Williams Show as "Captain Weird." This was a funny copy of superheroes.
Charlie Callas also had a serious acting role. He played a restaurant owner named Malcolm Argos in the 1970s TV show Switch. He was also a regular performer on The ABC Comedy Hour in 1972. He was a frequent guest on The Flip Wilson Show and helped host The Joey Bishop Show. His last TV appearances were on Christmas specials with Larry The Cable Guy in 2007 and 2008.
Death
Charlie Callas passed away on January 27, 2011. He was 86 years old. He died of natural causes at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was survived by his two sons, Mark and Larry. His wife, Evelyn, had passed away six months earlier.
Tony Belmont, who worked for the National Comedy Hall of Fame, spoke about Charlie after he died. He said Charlie could think very fast and made many amazing sounds with his voice. He explained that Charlie could tell a simple joke about hunting. But Charlie made it hilarious by adding sounds like a gun cocking, a duck flying, an explosion, and the duck falling and screaming.
Filmography
- The Monkees (1966 TV Series) – Ice Cream Man
- The Big Mouth (1967) – Rex
- The Wacky Weeki Wachee and Silver Springs Singing and Comedy Thing! (1973 TV Special) – Himself
- Switch (1975–1978, TV Series) – Malcolm Argos
- Silent Movie (1976) – Blind Man
- Pete's Dragon (1977) – Elliott the Dragon (voice)
- High Anxiety (1977) – Cocker Spaniel
- The Carpenters...Space Encounters (1978) – Himself
- Legends of the Superheroes (1979, TV Series) – Sinestro
- History of the World, Part I (1981) – Soothsayer - The Roman Empire
- Rooster (1982, TV Movie) – Francis A. Melville
- Hysterical (1983) – Count Dracula
- Gallavants (1984) – Azor (voice)
- The Dom DeLuise Show (1987, TV Series) – Charlie
- Amazon Women on the Moon (1987) – Himself
- Silk Stalkings (1993, TV Series) – El Cid
- Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995) – Man in Straitjacket
- Vampire Vixens from Venus (1995) – Bartender
- Crooks (2002) – Sol Solzberg
- Horrorween (2010) – Himself (final film role)
See also
In Spanish: Charlie Callas para niños
