SKELTON, RED

orig. Richard Bernard Skelton

born July 18, 1913, Vincennes, Ind., U.S.

died Sept. 17, 1997, Rancho Mirage, Calif.

U.S. comic actor.

He joined a touring medicine show at age 10, performed in minstrel shows, burlesque, and vaudeville, and was a hit on Broadway in 1937 with his trademark doughnut-dunking pantomime. His 1938 screen debut was followed by appearances in more than 35 film comedies. He starred in the popular The Red Skelton Show on radio (1941–44, 1945–53) and television (1951–71). Noted for his broad humour and warm personality, Skelton developed characters such as the Mean Widdle Kid, Clem Kadiddlehopper, and Freddie the Freeloader.