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Shecky Greene, the legendary comedian known for his long career as a Las Vegas headliner and for working with Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, died Dec. 31 at his home in the city. He was 97 years old.
Greene’s wife of 41 years, Marie Musso Greene, confirmed his death to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Greene was a regular on the television talk show and guest-star circuit in his heyday in the 1960s and ’70s, when he often sported a bouffant haircut and wide-lapel suits. Early in his career, he came to represent the epitome of the Rat Pack-adjacent comedian in a tuxedo, offering anecdotal stories and slightly edgy or risqué gossip on stage.
Greene was known for his numerous appearances on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and for working as an opening act for Sinatra in Miami and Presley in Las Vegas. During the 1962-63 season, he played a recurring character on the ABC drama “Combat”, set during World War II. Her other television appearances included “Love, American Style,” “The Love Boat,” “Fantasy Island,” “Laverne & Shirley,” “The Fall Guy,” “The A-Team,” “Trapper John, MD,” “Roseanne” and “Crazy About You”. His notable film roles include “Splash,” Mel Brooks’ “History of the World: Part I” and “Tony Rome.”
He appeared as a guest on more than 60 episodes of “The Tonight Show,” including several appearances as a guest host filling in for Carson. He also made an appearance on the show in 1957 during Jack Paar’s career behind the desk. Greene also co-hosted and guest hosted “The Mike Douglas Show” and “The Merv Griffin Show.” He was a regular on game shows and variety shows ranging from “Tattletales,” “Hollywood Squares” and “Match Game” to “The Dean Martin Show” and “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour.”
Greene came from the Chicago area. He served in the Navy during World War II and began as a comedian in Milwaukee while attending college. according to Greene’s official website. Martha Raye recruited him for her nightclub in Miami. He later returned to Chicago to work at the famous Chez Paree nightclub.
Greene’s time with Sinatra inspired one of the comedian’s most oft-repeated jokes, capitalizing on Sinatra’s reputation as a tough guy. “Frank Sinatra once saved my life,” Greene joked. “A bunch of guys were beating me up and Frank said, ‘Okay, that’s enough.’ (According to ABC News, “Actually, Sinatra wasn’t there, but the beating was real.”)
Later in her career, Greene publicly struggled with mental health and substance abuse issues. In 1968, he crashed his Oldsmobile into one of the fountains outside Caesars Palace and admitted that he was drunk at the time.
In the late 2000s, Greene returned after a long period of inactivity due to chronic depression, recalls Tony Angellotti, an old friend and former public relations representative. He came roaring back, sold out the Wiltern Theater (in Los Angeles) for two nights and, as a result, was invited by Jay Leno to ‘The Tonight Show.’ Then he started working regularly,” Angellotti said. Variety.
Greene had lived in Las Vegas since the 1950s. His long association with Sin City began in 1954 when he performed on the bill with singer Dorothy Shay at the New Frontier casino, according to the Review-Journal. His last performances in the city were in 2011, according to the newspaper.
Greene was known among comedians for his ability to work without a net or script.
“The many times I was with him, two things stood out to me: He never wrote a joke, he never bought a joke, he just conjured them up, remembered them and performed them,” said Angellotti, who now runs the Angellotti Co public relations agency. . firm. “He loved to entertain. I do not care. He would call my mother, sing her a song he made up on the spot, and hang up. He would take a birthday cake we bought him and put red icing on his nose to make my little boy laugh. He lived to make and hear people laugh. It is a gift that he gave to all of us.”
In 1978, Greene ran a full-page ad in the weekly Variety to celebrate the signing of a rich new contract with the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. “It took me 30 years of trial and error, triumphs and failures, good luck and adversity to finally reach the pinnacle of the first love of my profession: nightclubs,” he wrote.
In addition to his wife, Greene’s survivors include five adult children.
From the weekly edition of August 30, 1978. Variety
