Updated: May 19, 2024

Paul Lynde Born in Mount Vernon, Ohio / USA June 13, 1926 Died: January 10, 1982 ( Heart Attack )

Biography:

Paul Lynde brought sarcasm to 1960's TV like few had seen it before. Born in Mount Vernon, Ohio, the son of local sheriff turned butcher, Hoy Lynde, his acerbic wit always seemed more suited to a big city boy than someone from small-town Ohio. When Lynde's Mount Vernon High School drama teacher, Ruth Domigan Truxall, encouraged him to attend Northwestern University, Lynde found his calling, earning Best Student Actor of the Year" honors upon his graduation in 1948. He also found an ally in fellow student Cloris Leachman who helped encourage the 260-pound Lynde to shed his extra weight. After struggling through his early years looking for acting work in New York City, surviving by waiting tables and selling pints of his blood, he struck gold as one of the new faces in the hit Broadway show New Faces of 1952 among the other Faces were Eartha Kitt and Alice Ghostley. When the show was made into the film New Faces in 1954, Lynde had his first screen role. It was not the last show that Lynde would appear in both on stage and screen, as later Lynde played Harry McAfee in Bye Bye Birdie, both on Broadway and in the film version. He is probably best remembered as the snide Uncle Arthur on the 1960's TV sitcom Bewitched. In 1972, he was given a star turn in The Paul Lynde Show, but the series was canceled after only one season. Late 1970's TV viewers will also remember him as the "center square" on the TV game show The Hollywood Squares. His final screen appearance was as the fittingly named Nervous Elk in the film The Villain. Lynde died of a heart attack in 1982, at the age of only 55.

Filmography: ( Films )

Send Me No Flowers New Faces Son of Flubber How Sweet It Is Beach Blanket Bingo Journey Back to Oz ( Voice ) The Glass Bottom Boat Charlotte's Web ( Voice ) Rabbit Test Under the Yum Yum Tree The Villain For Those Who Think Young Bye Bye Birdie

TV:

Stanley Bewitched The Pruitts of Southampton The Jonathan Winters Show Dean Martin Presents the Golddiggers Gidget Grows Up The Cattanooga Cats The Paul Lynde Show The Perils of Penelope Pitstop Gidget Gets Married Where's Huddles Donny and Marie The Perry Como Show The Hollywood Squares Temperatures Rising The Red Buttons Show

TV Guest Appearances:

Henry Fonda and the Family The Andy Williams Show The Jack Paar Show The George Gobel Show The Lux Show The Phil Silvers Show Hallmark Hall of Fame The Ed Sullivan Show The Jackie Gleason Show Burke's Law The Patty Duke Show The Jack Benny Show The Munsters The Farmer's Daughter Hollywood Palace Bob Hope Chrysler Theater Gidget That Girl The Flying Nun The Mothers-In-Law That's Life Kraft Music Hall The Carol Burnett Show The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour Love, American Style The Martha Raye Show The Andy Williams Show The Arthur Godfrey Show The Colgate Comedy Hour The Mike Douglas Show The Gypsy Rose Lee Show The Pierre Berton Show Truth or Consequences F Troop The Mothers-In-Law I Dream of Jeannie The Beverly Hillbillies Hey, Landlord

Personnel Note: I grew up watching Paul Lynde on television. He was a talented and gifted man. He was quick whitted and fast with the punch-lines. Paul had a laugh that would bring tears to my eyes. He was one one the last of the real comedians. Thanks Paul for all the laughs, you are truly missed here. The new Hollywood Squares center square is empty without you!