Comedian Red Buttons dead at 87

[AnOhioan]

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Red Buttons, the carrot-topped burlesque comedian who became a top star in early television and then in a dramatic role won the 1957 Oscar as supporting actor in "Sayonara," died Thursday. He was 87.

Buttons died of vascular disease at his home in the Century City area of Los Angeles, publicist Warren Cowan said. He had been ill for some time, and was with family members when he died, Cowan said.

With his eager manner and rapid-fire wit, Buttons excelled in every phase of show business, from the Borscht Belt of the 1930s to celebrity roasts in the 1990s. He was well known at the latter for his "never got a dinner" routine.

His greatest achievement came with his "Sayonara" role as Sgt. Joe Kelly, the soldier in the post-World War II occupation forces in Japan whose romance with a Japanese woman (Myoshi Umeki, who also won an Academy Award) ends in tragedy.

More at http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/07/13/obit.buttons.ap/index.html?section=cnn_us

[Sherman A1]

1. He was one of the good guys

Always enjoyed his work.

[Roland99]

2. :-(

:-(

[displacedtexan]

3. How sad!

He was the master of live TV!

[wicket]

4. Loved him as a kid in "Pete's Dragon"

RIP Mr. Buttons :patriot:

[benburch]

5. There is a picture in the family album of him holding me as a toddler.

Taken in Miami in 1960.

He had a good long run, and the world is better off for having had him in it.

[Canuckistanian]

6. I remember him from the Dean Martin Roasts

It seemed like he was on every single one.

[CottonBear]

7. RIP Mr. Buttons. n/t

[Vidar]

8. A wonderful character acter, RIP Mr. Buttons.

[chelsea0011]

9. I always remember him hanging from the church from "The Longest Day"

[5thGenDemocrat]

11. "Bonjour, mademoiselle..."

"Je suis americain..."
John
At least Red had a good, happy life and brought joy to many people. Ya could do worse.

[fudge stripe cookays]

13. Yep, that's my biggest memory of him.

Watching his friends get mowed down right below him and having to pretend to be dead....

[noonwitch]

17. I always think of him from "The Poseidon Adventure"

He was the older, geeky kind of guy who got the pretty blonde.

[roguevalley]

10. he was so funny. RIP, friend.

[Algorem]

12. Who's next?Grey Zipper?Blue Velcro?

[Danmel]

14. And he was a clue on Jeopardy last night!

Shades of the twilight zone


They had a "red" category and he was a clue- obviously the show was taped weeks ago- it was pretty weird that he was a clue on the day he died.

RIP Red- I'll always remember you selling condos in Century Village in Florida "That Red Buttons Place"

[Joe Bacon]

15. A very nice man.

Had the pleasure of meeting him back in the 80s, you never met a kinder man.

Rest in peace, Red. :-(

[Mad_Dem_X]

16. He seemed like a very sweet person

Rest in Peace, Mr. Buttons.

[Javaman]

18. Rest in Peace Red...

I loved watching him on the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts when I was a kid. Funny funny guy.
A favorite line he would build an act around, "never got a dinner!"

[wicket]

19. kick for Red

:kick:

[Paladin]

20. Another of the Old Timers Gone

I can remember watching his TV show when I was very young, many years ago. A long life, well lived.....