Red Buttons, who died today at 87, was a serious comedian. Serious in that he was one of the first funnymen to show that comics could be Oscar-winning thespians as well, thanks to his Supporting Actor trophy for 1957′s Sayonara, in which he co-starred with Marlon Brando as a U.S. airman who embarks on a tragic romance with a Japanese woman. And serious in that he was such a quick-witted master of his craft that he was a longtime fixture at Friar’s Club roasts, where few could touch him.
Buttons got his start in showbiz 70 years ago as a teenage singing bellhop (the uniform and his red hair became the source of young Aaron Chwatt’s stage name). Over the years, he conquered the Borscht Belt comedy circuit, Broadway, movies (younger viewers probably best remember him from the original Poseidon Adventure), and TV (where his 1950s sketch comedy show once rivaled Milton Berle’s in popularity). He never really slowed down; in 2000, he and several other old-school comics launched Laugh.com, an e-store for comedy recordings and videos. Last year, he earned an Emmy nomination for a guest role as a patient on ER.
And his wit and timing never slowed either. A year ago today, at a TV Critics Association press conference to promote a PBS special called Pioneers of Primetime, Mickey Rooney hijacked a panel of legends to spin his own nostalgic stories, until Buttons hijacked it back. ”By the way, Mickey,” Buttons said, ”was Lincoln a nice guy?” (You can read more of Buttons’ quips from the event here and here.) Until the end, it seems, Buttons wasn’t going to allow anyone to steal his spotlight, especially if he could win it back with a joke.
awwww.
Love the the Buttons but if no one remembers June Allison, there’s no hope for Red, sorry.
I love and remember June Allyson.
a true gem of comedy, and i’m only 32 so hopefully others will remember his charm
A kind,gentle,and intelligent man who always knew how to make us laugh and cry.I first saw Red Buttons in a Disney movie titled, Pete’s dragon.He was wonderful then and will remain wonderful for all eternity.America has truly lost one of the great ones.
I was so sad to hear of both deaths. The world has lost 2 more “great ones” May you both soar high, and as he said in one of my favorite movies “God Bless”
I’m probably the only 29 year old who knew who Red Buttons was. I loved him in Hatari! and I remember watching many of his other movies and roasts. No one my age or younger knows anything of any value or substance any more. For instance, they, like, don’t even, like, know the proper usage of the word “random.” (Must be said with dumb ass accent, too.) It’s just shame, that’s all. He will be missed.
Red Buttons
From the Catskills to the cinema, on stage and screen, versatile Oscar-winning actor/comic Red Buttons tickled funnybones and brought us to tears.
I KNEW RED BUTTONS FROM THE BRONX WHERE WE WERE BOTH FROM.HE WAS PART OF A GROUP OF FRIENDS THAT HUNG OUT TOGETHER. HE WAS ALWAYS FUNNY AND ALWAYS KEPT EVERYONE IN THE GROUP LAUGHING. THIS WAS WAY BEFORE HE BECAME FAMOUS BUT WE ALL KNEW THAT HE WOULD BECOME FAMOUS. SORRY TO HEAR THAT HE HAS PASSED AWAY BUT HE WILL BE IN HEAVEN AND KEEP EVERYONE LAUGHING
I grew up in Omaha watching Red perform and as a guess on the Ed Sullivan Show as well. Good man and very funny, very. Made me laugh until I blew from my nose and that is funny.
Oh, man! I only just found out as I clicked to this site. R.I.P. Red.
He and June are now having cocktails in heaven.
I remember him as my “mother’s boyfriend.” They went out a couple of times when they were in their 20s. If I’m not mistaken, he was older than 87 since my mother passed three years ago and she was almost 91.
Still, I love watching old movies and will remember him and June Allyson fondly while enjoying their timeless performances.
The one performer I remember from the Dean Martin Roasts when I was growing up was Red Buttons. His “never got a dinner” routines were fall-off-the-couch funny EVERY SINGLE TIME.
To me one of the best roles he ever played was Mr. Rubedu on ER . He had plenty of dramatic ability as well as comedic.
Didn’t Red Buttons hijack an episode of “The Gary Schandling Show”? Absolutely hysterical… he told Biblical jokes (Noah’s Ark, etc)… and the fact that he told such jokes on Gary Schandling’s show was so odd and off-beat, it was killer.
Red, we’ll miss ya…