Remembering Red Skelton

Richard Red Skelton July 18, 1913 – September 17, 1997

When I was a kid Red Skelton was a standard of comedy. I was known to watch his television show weekly and enjoyed the many characters he portrayed. Sometimes there were interspersed poignant moments of serious reminscing which punctuated the comedy and pantomime slapstick schtick which was the hallmark of the program.

I recall in particular his tribute to his young son Richard who passed from leukemia ten days prior to his tenth birthday. This was at the height of Red Skelton's popularity. It was entitled "Little Boy" and was performed during one of his television shows while he was in costume as a hobo clown character from the previous skit.

Though I recall this performance from my childhood, I never knew the details behind that performance until recently.

He was a performer of radio and television pioneer who did vaudeville, burlesque, night clubs, casinos, and even feature films and short subjects. He authored books and was a big box office draw during the years from 1944 through 1952. He was also an accomplished artist and many of his clown paintings are valued by collectors all over.

He considered making people laugh to be his life's work. His career in comedy spanned 70 years and generations of American audiences. His final year of regularly scheduled television ran through 1971 after which there were public appearances and painting

Red Skelton died on September 17, 1997 at the age of 84 in Rancho Mirage, California from an undisclosed illness.