Paul Lynde facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paul Lynde
Lynde in 1972
Born	Paul Edward Lynde (1926-06-13)June 13, 1926 Mount Vernon, Ohio, U.S.
Died	January 10, 1982(1982-01-10) (aged 55) Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Resting place	Amity Cemetery, Amity, Ohio, U.S.
Alma mater	Northwestern University
Occupation	Comedian actor TV personality
Years active	1954–1982
Notable work	Bewitched Bye Bye Birdie Hollywood Squares

Paul Edward Lynde (June 13, 1926 – January 10, 1982) was a famous American comedian, actor, and TV personality. He was known for his funny and unique style. Paul Lynde was a character actor, meaning he was great at playing specific types of roles.

He became very popular for playing Uncle Arthur on the TV show Bewitched. He also played the confused father Harry MacAfee in the movie Bye Bye Birdie. Many people remember him as the regular "center square" panelist on the game show The Hollywood Squares from 1968 to 1981. He also lent his voice to several cartoon characters for Hanna-Barbera productions.

Paul Lynde was often voted as one of the most liked TV stars. Other famous people admired his talent. Comedian Mel Brooks once said that Lynde could make people laugh by reading almost anything. Lynde himself said that he wanted to be a serious actor, but he realized that making people laugh was an important contribution to the world.

Early Life

Paul Lynde was born in Mount Vernon, Ohio. His parents were Sylvia Bell Lynde and Hoy Corydon Lynde, who owned a meat market. Paul was the fifth of six children. He had three older siblings and two younger ones.

His older brother, Coradon, passed away in 1944 during World War II. Five years later, in 1949, both of his parents passed away.

Lynde finished high school in Mount Vernon in 1944. He played the bass drum in the school band. After high school, he studied speech and drama at Northwestern University in Illinois. Many of his classmates also became famous actors, like Cloris Leachman and Patricia Neal. He was very active in school plays and graduated in 1948.

Career Highlights

After college, Paul Lynde moved to New York City. He took various small jobs while trying to start his acting career. His first performance as a stand-up comic was at a famous club called Number One Fifth Avenue.

He made his first appearance on Broadway in 1952 in a popular show called New Faces of 1952. He starred alongside other new talents like Eartha Kitt. In this show, he performed a funny story about a man on crutches who had a bad African safari trip. The show was later made into a movie called New Faces in 1954.

After that, Lynde appeared in a short TV show called Stanley in 1956. He worked with Buddy Hackett and Carol Burnett, who were also just starting their careers.

Lynde returned to Broadway in 1960. He played Harry MacAfee in the musical Bye Bye Birdie. He also played this role in the 1963 movie version. In 1960, he recorded a live comedy album called Recently Released. He wrote all the jokes for this album himself.

Paul Lynde was very busy in the 1960s. He was a regular on The Perry Como Show from 1961 to 1962. He also appeared on many other popular TV shows. These included The Munsters, The Patty Duke Show, I Dream of Jeannie, and F Troop. He was also a guest on variety shows like The Ed Sullivan Show. Lynde also acted in several movies during the 1960s, such as Send Me No Flowers.

Bewitched

Lynde as Uncle Arthur with Elizabeth Montgomery in the 1968 Bewitched episode "The No Harm Charm"

In 1965, Lynde first appeared on the show Bewitched. He played a nervous driving instructor named Harold Harold. Viewers really liked his performance. The show's star, Elizabeth Montgomery, and her husband, producer William Asher, were also impressed. They created a special role for Lynde as Endora's brother, Uncle Arthur. Uncle Arthur was a beloved character who loved playing practical jokes.

Lynde appeared as Uncle Arthur ten times on Bewitched. His first appearance was in October 1965, and his last was in February 1971. Paul Lynde, Elizabeth Montgomery, and William Asher became good friends.

TV Show Ideas

Paul Lynde starred in four TV show ideas (called pilots) in the 1960s. These shows were not picked up to become full series. One of them, Sedgewick Hawk-Styles: Prince of Danger, was almost chosen. However, the network had concerns about Lynde's behavior.

The Hollywood Squares

In 1966, Lynde started appearing on the game show The Hollywood Squares. He quickly became a favorite guest star. He eventually got a permanent spot as the "center square." This meant contestants would almost always pick him at least once.

On The Hollywood Squares, Lynde was able to show off his amazing comedic skills. He would deliver short, funny one-liners with his unique, snickering voice. Many of his jokes were clever and made people laugh.

Lynde appeared on the show 707 times. He became very famous and earned a lot of money from it. He left the show in 1979 because he felt stuck in that role. However, he returned in 1980 and stayed until the show ended in 1981.

Voice Acting

Between 1969 and 1973, Paul Lynde did a lot of voice work for animated cartoons. He worked mostly for Hanna-Barbera Productions. Some of his most famous voice roles include:

• Templeton, the hungry rat in the movie Charlotte's Web;
• Mildew Wolf, from It's the Wolf!;
• Claude Pertwee, a neighbor on Where's Huddles?; and
• Sylvester Sneekly (also known as "Hooded Claw") in The Perils of Penelope Pitstop.

His unique voice made these characters memorable. Many people still try to imitate his distinctive way of speaking.

The Paul Lynde Show and Temperatures Rising

In 1972, Lynde starred in his own TV show called The Paul Lynde Show. It was a comedy about an uptight lawyer named Paul Simms who often disagreed with his son-in-law. The show also featured his wife, daughters, and his son-in-law's parents.

Critics thought the show was similar to another popular show, All in the Family. Lynde was nominated for a Best Actor Golden Globe for his role. However, the show had low ratings and was canceled after one season.

Later, Lynde moved to another ABC show called Temperatures Rising for the 1973–74 season. This show was also canceled after its ratings dropped. ABC tried to bring the show back for a short time in 1974, but it was permanently canceled after that.

Summer Theater

Paul Lynde was a regular performer in summer stock theater plays. He appeared in many productions, including Don't Drink the Water and Plaza Suite. He performed in nine Kenley Players productions, more than any other main actor. In 1980, Lynde toured the United States and Canada with a show called 'Neil Simon's Suite'.

TV Specials and Variety Shows

Because he was so popular, ABC asked Paul Lynde to host a series of TV specials from 1975 to 1979. Some of these included:

• The Paul Lynde Comedy Hour (1975) with Nancy Walker and the Osmonds;
• The Paul Lynde Halloween Special (1976) which featured the band KISS and Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz.
• The Paul Lynde Comedy Hour (1977) with Cloris Leachman;
• 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (1977);
• Paul Lynde at the Movies (1979) with Betty White and Gary Coleman.

Lynde was also a frequent guest on the variety show Donny & Marie from 1976 to 1978.

Other Appearances and Film Roles

As his acting jobs became less frequent, Lynde took on a wider range of roles. In 1978, he was a guest weatherman for a TV station in Ohio.

His last movie role was in the 1979 comedy The Villain. He played an Indian chief named Nervous Elk alongside his former Bye Bye Birdie co-star Ann-Margret.

In 1976, Paul Lynde received an award for being the funniest man of the year from the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA). Lynde immediately gave his award to the host, Jackie Gleason, saying Gleason was "the funniest man ever."

Personal Life

Paul Lynde kept his private life very separate from his public image. During his lifetime, the media did not discuss his personal relationships. A 1976 People magazine article mentioned Stan Finesmith, who was described as Lynde's hairstylist and "suite mate." This was as close as the media came to hinting at his private life. A friend of Lynde, Cathy Rudolph, later said that having to keep his personal life a secret was frustrating for him.

With the money he earned from Hollywood Squares, Lynde bought the Hollywood mansion that once belonged to actor Errol Flynn. He spent a lot of money making it his own. He lived there with his dog, Harry MacAfee, until Harry passed away in 1977. After that, Lynde found it hard to stay in the house without his dog, so he bought a new home.

Lynde also struggled with his weight. He was honored by Weight Watchers in 1977 for his efforts.

Death

On January 10, 1982, Paul Lynde did not show up for a birthday celebration. His friend, Paul Barresi, became worried. When Barresi and another friend could not reach Lynde, Barresi entered Lynde's home in Beverly Hills, California. He found Lynde had passed away in his bed. Paul Lynde was 55 years old.

There were some rumors about his death, but evidence showed they were not true. Lynde always turned on his house alarm before bed. When his friend entered, the alarm went off, which meant Lynde was alone when he passed away. The medical examiner determined that Lynde died from a heart attack.

Paul Lynde's ashes are buried at Amity Cemetery in Amity, Knox County, Ohio. He is buried next to his brother Johnny and his sister Helen. His parents and his brother Coradon are also buried in the same cemetery.

Legacy

A book about Paul Lynde, Center Square: The Paul Lynde Story, was published in 2005. The authors described him as a "frustrated bit player and character actor on a daytime game show" to many viewers in the 1970s.

Paul Lynde's unique voice has been imitated by many people:

• Cartoon creator Seth MacFarlane said that the voice of Roger the Alien on American Dad! was based on Lynde.
• Actor and comedian Michael Airington performs shows where he portrays Lynde.
• In 2018, drag queen BenDeLaCreme won an episode of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars with her portrayal of Lynde.
• In 2020, it was announced that actor Billy Eichner is developing a movie about Lynde's life.

Filmography

Film

Television

Unsold Pilots

Recordings

• Recently Released (1960)

Images for kids

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  Lynde in 1972

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  Lynde as Uncle Arthur with Elizabeth Montgomery in 1968

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  The Paul Lynde Comedy Hour (1975) with Nancy Walker

See also

In Spanish: Paul Lynde para niños