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Paul Edward Lynde (June 13, 1926 – January 10, 1982) was an American comedian and actor.
He was born in Mount Vernon, Ohio to Hoy and Sylvia (neé Bell Doup) Lynde.
A noted character actor, Lynde was well known for his roles as Uncle Arthur on Bewitched (which established the "funny uncle" cliché) and Harry McAfee, the befuddled father in Bye Bye Birdie. He was also the center square on the classic game show Hollywood Squares from 1968 to 1981.
Lynde first got recognition in the Broadway revue New Faces of 1952 in which he co-starred opposite fellow newcomers Eartha Kitt, Alice Ghostley, and Carol Lawrence. One notable skit involved Lynde as a husband in crutches coming back from an African safari. The play was filmed into a movie in 1954. After the revue's run, Lynde co-starred in the short-lived sitcom Stanley opposite Buddy Hackett and Carol Burnett, both of whom were also starting out their careers in show business. He became a regular on several sitcoms and variety shows such as The Perry Como Show.
Lynde did extensive voice work on animated cartoons, particularly those of Hanna-Barbera Productions. His most notable Hanna-Barbera roles were those of Sylvester Sneakly (a.k.a. "The Hooded Claw") in The Perils of Penelope Pitstop, Mildew Wolf from The Cattanooga Cats and Laff-a-Lympics, Pertwee from ‘’Where's Huddles?’’, and Templeton the rat from the animated feature Charlotte's Web.
Lynde was found dead in his Beverly Hills home by friend Paul Barresi. The coroner ruled the death a heart attack.
In Hollywood, Lynde was widely known to be gay. But despite his stereotypically flamboyant mannerisms and sometimes rather overtly-gay double entendres on Hollywood Squares, he never publicly acknowledged his homosexuality. In fact, Lynde was affectionately nicknamed "America's Most-Eligible Bachelor" by the public, perhaps in seeking a logical reason for his lack of a wife.
Lynde is interred next to his brother Johnny at Amity Cemetery in Knox County, Ohio, some eight miles northeast of Paul's hometown.
The character of Roger on American Dad! is evidently based on Lynde, as well as The Big Cheese, the lead villain on an earlier cartoon, Samurai Pizza Cats.
Trivia
According to the Rotten Library, "he was the inspiration for a gag which made its way into the movie Groundhog Day. After a drunken high speed chase through the San Fernando Valley one night, Lynde crashed his car into a mailbox. When the cops rushed the scene with their guns drawn, Lynde lowered his window and ordered a cheeseburger with no onions and a large Sprite." Other accounts claim he simply stated "I'll have a double cheeseburger and a chocolate shake." [http://www.nndb.com/people/953/000043824/
Hollywood Squares quips
Q: You're the world's most popular fruit. What are you?
Lynde: Humble.
Q: What is a "dual purpose cow?"
Lynde: It gives milk and cookies. But I wouldn't recommend the cookies.
Q: It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps. One is politics. What is the other?
Lynde: Tape measures.
Q: Why do the Hells Angels wear leather?
Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles so easily.
Q: Is there such a thing as a female rooster?
Lynde: Yes, they're the ones who go a doodle-doo.
Q: When you pat a dog on its head he will usually wag his tail. What will a goose do?
Lynde: Make him bark.
Q: Why would you throw a lemon down a garbage disposal?
Lynde: Because it was very, very naughty.
Q: True or false: Roman legend has it that God made the people of the world in a large oven.
Lynde: (looks at Leslie Uggams) Looks like you were overcooked.
Q: What do you do if you are driving downhill and your brakes give out?
Lynde: Honk if you love Jesus.
Q: Can you get an elephant drunk?
Lynde: Yes, but he still won't go up to your apartment.
Q: In Alice in Wonderland, who kept crying, "I'm late, I'm late"?
Lynde: Alice. And her mother is sick about it.
Q: What will bring tears to a monkey's eyes?
Lynde: Learning that Tarzan swings both ways.
Q: Which is better looking, a pixie or a fairy?
Lynde: I'll go for the fairy.
Q: In The Wizard of Oz, the Lion wanted courage and the Tin Man wanted a heart. What did the Scarecrow want??
Lynde: He wanted the Tin Man to notice him.
Q: Who are more likely to be romantically responsive. Women under thirty or women over thirty?
Lynde: I don't have a third choice?
Q: What is said to be wasted on the young?
Lynde: A whipping.
Q: What is the most abused and neglected part of the body?
Lynde: Well, mine may be abused but it certainly isn't neglected.
Q: If the right part comes along, will George C. Scott do a nude scene?
Lynde: You mean he doesn't have the right part?
Q: Roy Rogers has something stuffed and mounted in his study. What is it?
Lynde: Oh no, not Miss Dale!
Q: Paul, how many men on a hockey team?
Lynde: Oh, about half.
Q: What would the Lone Ranger always leave behind with the damsel in distress he'd saved?
Lynde: A masked baby!
Q: Why was Nathan Hale hung?
Lynde: Heredity.
Q: Queen Elizabeth generally swings her umbrella behind her back, and immediately something happens. What?
Lynde: Lord Snowden doubles over in pain.
Q: Is it normal for Norwegians to talk to trees?
Lynde: As long as that's as far as it goes.
Q: Why do sheep sleep huddled up?
Lynde: Because Little Boy Blue is a weirdo!
Q: True of false: At a recent hearing in New Jersey, opponents of fluorinated water argued that too much fluorine in a persons system can cause an uncontrollable desire for sex.
Lynde: HEY, CULLIGAN MAN!
Q: Paul, what profession is the most common for prostitutes after they retire?
Lynde: Smuggling.
Q: Eddie Fisher recently stated, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for them both.” Who or what was he referring to?
Lynde: His fans.
Q: Does Mark Spitz believe swimming in the nude helps you go faster?
Lynde: Well, it's easier to steer.
Q: Paul, why are forest rangers in remote locations ordering goats as standard equipment?
Lynde: Because the sheep are wising up.
Q: True or false: in the recent world kissing contest in England, two contestants were disqualified when they got too passionate.
Lynde: Yes, but they went on to win in three other categories.
Q: True or false: Paul Revere had sixteen children.
Lynde: From one midnight ride?
Q: You’re equipped with a pick, a sieve, and a shallow pan. What are you about to do?
Lynde: Joan Crawford's eyebrows.
Q: Prehistoric man had two uses for sheep. One was for food. What was the other?
Lynde: Conversation.
Q: Name a reason to beat your meat.
Lynde: Loneliness. This from an outtake that never made it on air, a film clip shown by Peter Marshall during his performance on the SS Rotterdam world cruise 1996
Q: Back in the early movies, who would you be most likely to see on top of Tony the Wonder Horse?
Lynde: Oh, My Friend Flicka.
Q: According to the World Book, what is the main reason your dog pants?
Lynde: Cause he can’t talk dirty!
TV Work
- The Red Buttons Show (regular performer in 1955)
- Stanley (1956–1957)
- The Perry Como Show (regular performer from 1961–1963)
- Bewitched (Recurring character Uncle Arthur 1965–1971)
- The Hollywood Squares (center square from 1968–1981)
- Dean Martin Presents the Golddiggers (regular performer from 1968–1969)
- The Cattanooga Cats (1969–1971) (voice)
- The Perils of Penelope Pitstop (1969–1971) (voice)
- Gidget Grows Up (1969)
- Where's Huddles (1970) (voice) (canceled after 10 episodes)
- Gidget Gets Married (1972)
- The Paul Lynde Show (1972-1973) (26 episodes ABC-TV)
- New Temperatures Rising (cast member from 1973–1974)
- The Paul Lynde Halloween Special (1976)
- Paul Lynde at the Movies (1979)
Filmography
- New Faces (1954) (also writer)
- Son of Flubber (1963)
- Bye Bye Birdie (1963)
- Under the Yum Yum Tree (1963)
- For Those Who Think Young (1964)
- Send Me No Flowers (1964)
- Beach Blanket Bingo (1965)
- The Glass Bottom Boat (1966)
- How Sweet It Is! (1968)
- Charlotte's Web (1973) (voice)
- Journey Back to Oz (1974) (voice)
- Hugo the Hippo (1975) (voice)
- Rabbit Test (1978)
- The Villain (1979)
External links
- Paul Lynde tribute page
- Paul Lynde at NNDB.com
- Paul Lynde at the Rotten Library
- Website of new biography of Paul Lynde
- Sacks, Mike (August 23, 2005). Queer as folk Salon.com
- Paul Lynde quips from Hollywood Squares
- Ingram, Billy. What happened to Paul Lynde?
- Paul Lynde fan site
1926 births | 1982 deaths | American actors | American comedians | Entertainers who died in their 50s | Film actors | Gay actors | Northwestern University alumni | People from Ohio | Stage actors | Television actors | Bewitched actors | Voice actors | Hollywood Squares panelists | game show panelists
"Paul Lynde"