Shecky Greene facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shecky Greene
Shecky Greene in The Love Machine (1971)
Born	Fred Sheldon Greenfield (1926-04-08)April 8, 1926 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	December 31, 2023(2023-12-31) (aged 97) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Education	Sullivan High School, Wilbur Wright College
Occupation	Comedian
Years active	1954–2003; 2009–2023
Spouse(s)	Nalani Kele ​ ​ (m. 1972; div. 1982)​ Marie Musso ​ (m. 1985)​

Shecky Greene (born Fred Sheldon Greenfield; April 8, 1926 – December 31, 2023) was a famous American comedian. He was best known for his funny performances in nightclubs. He became a top performer in Las Vegas during the 1950s and 1960s.

Shecky Greene also appeared in several movies. These included Tony Rome, History of the World, Part I, and Splash. On television, he was a guest star on shows like Love, American Style and Combat!. Later, he appeared on Laverne & Shirley and Mad About You.

Early Life and Education

Fred Sheldon Greenfield was born on April 8, 1926. His parents were Carl and Bessie Greenfield. He grew up in Chicago, Illinois.

When he was young, Greene loved to perform. He enjoyed singing and was part of a drama club. He formed this club while attending Sullivan High School. He often copied his older brother, who was good at speaking in different accents.

During World War II, Greene served in the United States Navy. He was in the Navy for three years and left in 1944. He also briefly attended Wright Junior College more than once.

Comedy Career

Shecky Greene first planned to become a gym teacher. However, he started performing stand-up comedy in Chicago nightclubs. He also performed in other places in the Midwest.

His comedy career officially began at the Prevue Lounge in New Orleans, Louisiana. He worked there for six years. After that, he performed in Miami, Chicago, and Reno/Lake Tahoe.

In 1954, an agent convinced him to move to Las Vegas. He opened for Dorothy Shay at the Last Frontier. His show was so popular that it stayed for 18 weeks. This was a first for that hotel. He then started performing at The Tropicana Hotel in 1957. He was one of their main performers for five years.

Many other comedians respected Greene, including Johnny Carson. Carson was a big fan of Greene's work. Greene appeared on The Tonight Show 40 times. He also sometimes filled in as a guest host. He mentioned that he helped Arnold Schwarzenegger and Luciano Pavarotti appear on national television for the first time. He also appeared on game shows like Match Game and Tattletales in the 1970s.

When the MGM Grand Hotel opened in 1975, Dean Martin was the main performer. Shecky Greene was the second main act. His salary reached a very high amount each week.

Starting in 2003, Greene faced a challenge. For six years, he had trouble performing on stage. He returned to performing in Las Vegas in 2009. Over the years, Greene owned several nightclubs in different cities, including New Orleans.

Personal Life

Outside of comedy, Greene's biggest hobby was Thoroughbred racing. This is a type of horse racing. There was even a horse named Shecky Greene (1970–1984). This horse was a champion in 1973. It led the famous 1973 Kentucky Derby for most of the race. But then, Secretariat won the race. A race called the Shecky Greene Handicap was held at Arlington Park in Illinois until the park closed.

Greene was married two times. He was married to Nalani Kele from 1972 to 1982. She had a very successful nightclub show called the Nalani Kele Polynesian Revue. In 1985, he married Marie Musso. Her father, Vido Musso, was a musician in Las Vegas. Greene lived in Beverly Hills, California, Palm Springs, California, and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Shecky Greene also helped create St. Jude's Ranch. This was a shelter for children in need in Boulder City, Nevada.

Greene passed away at his home in Las Vegas on December 31, 2023. He was 97 years old.

Awards and Recognition

• Las Vegas Entertainment Award—Best Lounge Entertainer
• Jimmy Durante Award—Best Comedian
• Las Vegas Academy of Variety and Cabaret Artists—Male Comedy Star

Movies Shecky Greene Appeared In

Images for kids

See also

In Spanish: Shecky Greene para niños