CNN Breaking: Tony Randall dead at 84

:(

CNN Link: http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/05/18/obit.randall/index.html

<snip>
(CNN) -- Tony Randall, the Emmy-winning actor who made the role of fussy neatnik Felix Unger his own in TV's "The Odd Couple," has died. Randall was 84.

The actor died in his sleep Monday evening at NYU Medical Center in New York, according to a statement from his publicist. The cause of death was "complications from a prolonged illness," the statement said.

Randall starred in a number of movies -- he performed in the Rock Hudson-Doris Day films "Pillow Talk" (1959), "Lover Come Back" (1961) and "Send Me No Flowers (1964) as well as the Jayne Mansfield comedy "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?" (1957) -- but he was probably best known for his television roles.

Besides "The Odd Couple," his series included "Mr. Peepers," "The Tony Randall Show" and "Love, Sidney" -- the latter the first show featuring an openly gay lead character.
</snip>

MSNBC Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5004611/

<snip>

Actor Tony Randall dies at age 84

Emmy winner best known as Felix from TV show 'The Odd Couple

The Associated Press

Updated: 10:31 a.m. ET May 18, 2004NEW YORK - Tony Randall, the comic actor best known for playing fastidious Felix Unger on “The Odd Couple,” has died. He was 84.

Randall died in his sleep Monday night at NYU Medical Center, according to his publicity firm, Springer Associates.
</snip>

I grew up watching The Odd Couple TV show and loved both Tony and Jack.

This makes me very sad...;(

damn.

RIP, Tony.

He gave us much.

What a bummer but if you gotta go, thats the way we all want to do it.

He was in the Hospital but I did not hear why.

He was a class act all the way.

See, not everyone from Oklahoma is a redneck hick.

:-(

Best wishes to his family.

He was fairly elderly I believe. I hope he went peacefully.

Thanks for the laughs and good times.........

a truly loveable character, and a truly funny and respected actor.

....RIP Tony! :cry:

When he won a long overdue Emmy for his portrayal of Felix Unger on "The Odd Couple" (1970-75) after the show had been canceled, Randall quipped: "I'm so happy I won. Now if I only had a job."

http://imdb.com/name/nm0709704/bio

He had young children too. :(

:cry:
I loved the Odd Couple as well.

Odd Couple was a great show.

Tony also hated the Bush administration.
Here's a snip of him joking about his funeral last year:

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"It's a national day of mourning, and the funeral is held in some vast, impressive place and dignitaries from all over the world come and every important person in the United States comes," he says. "George Bush and Richard Cheney come -- but they're not allowed in because everyone knew how much I hated them!"

He seems delighted by this notion. We wonder if anyone else is banned.

"Rumsfeld, if he dared show his face!"

And Ashcroft?

"Ashcroft wouldn't dare come because there are going to be naked women -- breast-exposed women -- saying, 'This would've been for you, Tony!' "


http://www.mediaresearch.org/cyberalerts/2003/cyb20030929.asp#4

http://www.broadwaytovegas.com/September28,2003.html

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I feel like I just found out a favorite uncle has died...

I can't believe I'm choking back tears. :cry:

now, the onLy 2 peopLe who finished off the 96oz steak are gone.

One of Tony's greatest attributes was the ability to laugh at himself. Damn, I'm really sad about his passing.:(

As good as he was on The Odd Couple, he was always funniest when he was just being himself on talks shows and game shows.

I totally forgot that he was the other one.

"... sinuses ... packed with meat ..."

,...we will miss you :cry:

What a sad day!

June Taylor

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) - June Taylor, the Emmy-winning choreographer for Jackie Gleason's television variety show and later the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders, died Monday. She was 86.

Taylor died at the Miami Heart Institute, hospital officials said. A cause of death was not immediately announced.

She founded the June Taylor Dancers in 1942 and made her television debut in 1948 on "The Toast of the Town," starring Ed Sullivan. Two years later, she joined Gleason's "Cavalcade of Stars," winning an Emmy for her choreography in 1954.

Gleason's show and the entourage that included Taylor helped give Miami Beach six years of showbiz glamour that is credited by some as helping change the face of South Florida.

Gleason brought his show from New York to Miami Beach before the start of the 1964-65 season. It remained in Miami Beach for the rest of its run, until September 1970.

Taylor began working with what was then known as the Dolphin Starbrites in 1978 and remained with the group until 1990. Her squad did Broadway-type routines on a stage in an end zone of the Orange Bowl during Miami's home football games and accompanied by a 22-piece brass band.

AP-ES-05-18-04 0655EDT
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAW1F4WDUD.html

The June Taylor Dancers were regulars on Gleason's show from Miami (although I was a toddler at the time, I vaguely remember it).

Rest in Peace, June and Tony...:(

At least the Odd Couple is credited with breaking down the barrier.

It had to do with a basketball team and one of the players said that he "assumed" what the coach had meant on a given play. Felix jumps up (he was there either as the coach or just as an onlooker) wrote

ASSUME on the chalkboard and then famous, "Do you know what happens when you ASSUME? (he draws two lines vertically through the word)

ASS/U/ME "You make an ASS out of U and ME"

He was doing guest spots on David Letterman until a few years ago too. Very funny.

Tony spoofs himself in all of his Doris Day/ Rock Hudson films... only this time, he's the head of the advertising Company, and David Hyde Pierce (Niles Crane) plays the Tony Randall character!

Tony defended funding for the arts. He was a great guy.

I figured he'd live to be 100......

You will be sorely missed

I loved your comedic and dramatic talents. You seemed to me to be a good and decent man.

Thanks for the laughs, Tony - you will be missed.

<>

As a little kid, it was so easy to connect with this man's largeness and warmth. He was a great guest on Carson.

i will really miss you tony randall.

He will be missed.

What a class act he was. :cry:

RIP Tony and thanks for the laughter.

I was just thinking about Tony and Jack while I was walking around NYC this past weekend.


What a classic show and want a classy guy.

Thanks Tony, you gave us so many laughs.

Randall joked in September about how he envisioned his funeral: President Bush (news - web sites) and Vice President Cheney would show up to pay their respects but they'd be turned away, because his family knows he didn't like them. During a speech to the National Funeral Directors Association, he said funerals should be planned as a celebration of life and "a touch of humor doesn't hurt a bit."

I read this too fast as "Ted Rall dead at 48" and shit a brick sideways before re-reading it. I don't think he's even 48.

I think I need more sleep.

is some of my favorite, even more so than "The Odd Couple". What a wonderful comedian he was, and a good man!

I'm sorry to hear about this. :(

it was a bright spot in a dark childhood.

Say hello to Mr. Rogers for us.

the other night during a show on TVLand about "moguls"...and he was talking about The Odd Couple and how there was some concern about two men living together!!!!

(It may have been about Garry Marshall, I think that was one of the shows he produced...he was the "mogul."

He was a great talent, and he was always a riot when he was on Letterman or another late-night show.

A very strong supporter of the arts, too. RIP.

... I have a personally autographed photo that Mr. Randall sent to me that I'll treasure always.

-- Allen

BUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE Tony Randall!!!!!!

BUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You will be remembered with Love XXXX

for all the Joy you've given us through the years...

First of all, I just want to say that I'm sorry to see the guy go.

Secondly, I managed to see him at the National Memorial Day Concert last year. It turns out he was a veteran (I forget what branch of the service). Who knew?

Thirdly, he was a true friend to the arts, founding a theater (the name of which escapes me).

Oh, and won't New York always have a little bit of Jack Klugman and Tony Randall in it? I remember when "The Odd Couple" appeared to be airing around the clock in NYC. It was as much a part of the community as the George Washington Bridge.

Wishing you joy and peace in the next life, Mr. Randall.

1942-1946. He served through all of WWII, although I don't know in what capacity.

He was a great guy--witty, urbane, unpretentious, funny as hell, and loved to tell jokes on himself.

By the way, his real last name was Rabinowitz. I think that may help account for his sort of delightful sense of irony--classic Jewish humor.

So long, Tony. We'll miss you... :cry: :toast:

His name was Leonard Rosenberg.

who knew

Guess I should have double-checked the obit beforehand. (Note to self: Engage brain before starting fingers...)

:hi:

the odd couple was a childhood favorite.

Randall's performance is the only thing I remember about this movie (from 1985). He played a quick-witted cabaret owner who is executed by the SS.

he played TV's first regular gay character on the sitcom "Love, Sidney" in the early '80s, more than a decade before "Ellen".

I can't believe no one has mentioned "The 7 Faces Of Dr. Lao" yet. IMO, one of the finest "kid's films" ever made. A real gem.

That movie brings back great childhood memories.

I was hoping he'd be around a bit longer. He has a couple kids under 10 I believe. Sad. :(

RIP Tony.

:cry: I wish he could have lived long enough to see the bushco out of office, he hated them.

Thanks for the memories and the laughs.

He has always been one of my favorites.

Tony,you are beloved and will be so missed.:cry: