Phil Austin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Phil Austin |
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| Birth name | Philip Baine Austin |
| Born | April 6, 1941 Denver, Colorado, United States |
| Died | June 18, 2015 (aged 74) Fox Island, Washington, United States |
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| Nationality | American |
| Education | High school |
| Years active | 1966–2015 |
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| Spouse | Annalee Austin, Oona Elliot |
Philip Baine Austin (born April 6, 1941 – died June 18, 2015) was an American comedian and writer. He was most famous for being a member of a comedy group called the Firesign Theatre.
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About Phil Austin
Early Life and Learning
Philip Austin was born in Denver, Colorado. He grew up in Fresno, California. His mother was a drama teacher. This helped him get interested in acting from a young age.
He went to Bowdoin College in Maine. He also studied at Fresno State College and UCLA. He did not finish college at any of these schools.
Starting His Career
In the late 1960s, Phil Austin worked at a radio station called KPFK in Los Angeles. There, he met other talented people like David Ossman and Peter Bergman. They all teamed up with Bergman's friend Phil Proctor. Together, they formed their famous comedy group, The Firesign Theatre.
The Firesign Theatre
The Firesign Theatre started by performing live on the radio. They became well-known for their unique and funny comedy albums. These albums often had a surrealistic style, which means they were dream-like and imaginative. Their humor was very popular with a special group of fans.
Phil Austin played many memorable characters in the group. One of his most famous roles was a private investigator named Nick Danger. He also played (Happy) Harry Cox in Everything You Know Is Wrong. Another character he played was Bebop Loco/Lobo in Give Me Immortality or Give Me Death. Besides acting, Phil Austin also helped with music and producing the group's records.
Other Creative Works
Phil Austin also wrote his own solo comedy work. It was called Roller Maidens From Outer Space. He also directed and acted in a project called Eat Or Be Eaten.
He wrote short stories too. His collection of stories, Tales of the Old Detective and Other Big Fat Lies, was published as an audio book. Some of his stories also appeared in a book called Mirth of a Nation.
Several of The Firesign Theatre's stage shows were published as plays. These included Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers and The Further Adventures of Nick Danger, Third Eye.
Later Life and Passing
Phil Austin passed away at his home in Fox Island, Washington. He died on June 18, 2015, when he was 74 years old.
