Dick Shawn
One-of-a-kind nightclub comedian/singer Dick Shawn (ne Richard Schulefand) was as off-the-wall as they came and, as such, proved to be rather an acquired taste. Way ahead of his time most say, it was extremely difficult indeed to know how to properly tap into this man's eclectic talents. Shawn began inching toward the forefront during the be-bop 50s and early 60s with his odd penchant for playing cool cats.During his mild bid for film stardom, he was top-billed as a hip, laid back genie in the thoroughly dismal satire The Wizard of Baghdad (1960), but seemed to have better luck when taken in smaller doses. He fared quite well opposite another "way-out-there" comedian, Ernie Kovacs, in Wake Me When It's Over (1960) as a hustling soldier out to make a buck in the Far East. Also on the plus side, he replaced Zero Mostel in the bawdy musical "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" on Broadway and stole a small scene in the all-star epic comedy It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963). By far, the one role that completely overshadows all of his other hard work is his mock portrayal of a singing Adolf Hitler in the show-within-a-movie The Producers (1968). In the film, which starred Mostel and Gene Wilder as two con artists deliberately producing a stage "bomb" called "Springtime for Hitler," Shawn sang the hammy, absurdly narcissistic song "Love Power." The movie finally captured Shawn in his element, but this stroke of genius of matching actor to role would never happen again for him. For the most part his roles came off slick and smarmy, and were stuck in mediocre material.Shawn won a huge fan base, however, touring in one-man stage shows which contained a weird mix of songs, sketches, satire, philosophy and even pantomime. A bright, innovative wit, one of his best touring shows was called "The Second Greatest Entertainer in the World." During the show's intermission, Shawn would lie visibly on the stage floor absolutely still during the entire time. By freakish coincidence, Shawn was performing at the University of California at San Diego in 1987 when he suddenly fell forward on the stage during one of his spiels about the Holocaust. The audience, of course, laughed, thinking it was just a part of his odd shtick. In actuality, the 63-year-old married actor with four children had suffered a fatal heart attack. A not surprising end for this thoroughly offbeat and intriguing personality.
Batman and Robin deal with relationship issues while preventing Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy from...
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The Producers
as Lorenzo St. DuBois (L.S.D.)Broadway producer, Max Bialystock and his accountant, Leo Bloom plan to make money by charming...
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It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
as Sylvester MarcusA group of strangers come across a man dying after a car crash who proceeds to tell them about...
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Angel
as MaeMolly Stewart, a teen at the top of her class who survives by working nights as a prostitute on...
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Captain EO
as Commander BogIn this 3-D science fiction film that was shown at Disney theme parks, the infamous Captain EO...
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The Year Without a Santa Claus
as Snow Miser (voice)Feeling forgotten by the children of the world, old St. Nick decides to skip his gift-giving...
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What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?
as Captain Lionel CashA by-the-book Captain is ordered to capture a strategic village in Italy. The Italian soldiers...
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The Opposite Sex
as SingerFormer radio singer Kay learns from her gossipy friends that her husband, Steve, has had an...
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Love at First Bite
as Lieutenant Ferguson NYPDDracula and Renefield relocate to 70's era New York in search of Cindy Sondheim, the...
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Water
as Deke HallidayA British diplomat to a West Indian island nation finds his idyllic existence thrown into chaos...
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Evil Roy Slade
as Marshal Bing BellOrphaned and left in the desert as an infant, Evil Roy Slade (John Astin) grew up alone—save for...
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Penelope
as Dr. Gregory MannixWhen James met Penelope at a club, it took all of three weeks before they were married. But...
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Way... Way Out
as Igor ValkleinokovA platonically wed American couple run a lunar weather station near an unwed Soviet couple.
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The Happy Ending
as Harry BrickerThe triumphs and failures of middle age as seen through the eyes of runaway American housewife...
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Maid to Order
as Stan StarkeySpoiled Jessie Montgomery, whose wild behavior and spending excesses cause her well-meaning but...
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The Check is in the Mail...
as DonaldMeet Richard Jackson - a man fed up with the insanity of "plastic" suburban living. Rallying his...
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A Very Special Favor
as Arnold PlumThe long-lost father of a frigid, uptight Freudian psychologist contracts a wealthy American...
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Rented Lips
as Charlie SlaterA documentary filmmaker, who has spent the last 15 years making films like "Aluminum: Our Shiny...
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The Emperor's New Clothes
as EmperorTwo con men take advantage of an emperor's vanity.
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Young Warriors
as Professor HooverAfter a young woman is gang raped and murdered in a California college town, her brother takes...
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Playboy's 25th Anniversary Celebration
as uncreditedA salute to Playboy Magazine on the occasion of its twenty-fifth anniversary, hosted by founding...
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Best Chest in the West
as Himself (Host)What happens when dozens of beautiful California girls compete for the title of “BEST CHEST IN...
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Wake Me When It's Over
as Gus BrubakerThe war may be over, but that doesn't keep the hapless Gus Brubaker from being drafted and...
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Annie: the Women in the Life of a Man
as HimselfA CBS television special, renowned for its legendary "Yma, Ava....Yma, Uta... Yma, Oona"...
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Fast Friends
as Deke EdwardsA young divorcee struggles to provide for her young son and make a new life for herself in the...
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Good-bye Cruel World
as Rodney Pointsetter / Ainsley PointsetterThe story involves newscaster Rodney Pointsetter (Shawn) who is so depressed between his job and...
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The Tommy Chong Roast
as uncreditedA "tribute" to comedian Tommy Chong, given to him by many of his fellow comedians.
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The Wizard of Baghdad
as Genii-Ali MahmudA genie turned mortal after his many failures is sent to Baghdad. As his last chance to prove...
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Something a Little Less Serious: A Tribute to 'It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World'
as Self (archive footage)A star-studded documentary and tribute to the classic comedy, It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World.
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Dames at Sea
as LuckyDames at Sea is a musical with book and lyrics by George Haimsohn and Robin Miller and music by...
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Leave 'em Laughing
as Self (Archive Footage)An evening of stand-up comedy takes a not so funny turn, leaving the audience wondering what...
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The Perils of P.K
as The psychiatristP.K., a former movie star now reduced to working as a stripper in a Las Vegas nightclub, is...
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If the Shoes Fit...
as Bo GumbsGubernatorial candidate's belief that politics is nothing more than entertainment, is helped at...
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The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as SelfThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight...
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The Mike Douglas Show
as Self - Co-HostThe Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that...
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The Mike Douglas Show
as SelfThe Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that...
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Magnum, P.I.
as uncreditedA private investigator who works when he wants, lives in a beachfront estate in Hawaii, drives a...
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The Twilight Zone
as uncreditedThis 1980s revival of the classic sci-fi series features a similar style to the original...
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The Lucy Show
as Ace WinthropThe Lucy Show is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from 1962–68. It was Lucille Ball's...
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The Love Boat
as Harvey BlanchardPassengers who search for romantic nights aboard a beautiful ship travelling to tropical or...
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The Love Boat
as David JacksonPassengers who search for romantic nights aboard a beautiful ship travelling to tropical or...
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Tales from the Darkside
as Bo GumbsTales from the Darkside is an anthology horror TV series created by George A. Romero, each...
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The Dick Cavett Show
as Self - GuestThe Dick Cavett Show has been the title of several talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett on various...
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Faerie Tale Theatre
as EmperorA live-action children's television anthology series retelling popular fairy tales.
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Faerie Tale Theatre
as Guest IntervieweeA live-action children's television anthology series retelling popular fairy tales.
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The Ed Sullivan Show
as SelfThe Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June...
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St. Elsewhere
as uncreditedSt. Elsewhere is an American medical drama television series that originally ran on NBC from...
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The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
as SelfThe Dinah Shore Chevy Show is an American variety series hosted by Dinah Shore, and broadcast on...
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Laverne & Shirley
as uncreditedLaverne & Shirley is an American television sitcom that ran on ABC from January 27, 1976 to May...
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Medical Center
as uncreditedMedical Center is a medical drama series which aired on CBS from 1969 to 1976. It was produced...
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Madame's Place
as SelfMadame's Place is an American sitcom that featured the misadventures of Madame, a puppet in the...
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ABC Stage 67
as Paul BenderhofABC Stage 67 is the umbrella title for a series of 26 weekly shows that included dramas, variety...
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Amazing Stories
as Joe WilloughbyA truly amazing, fantastical, science fiction, funny and odd, and sometimes scary, sad and...
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That Girl
as uncreditedThat Girl is an American sitcom that ran on ABC from 1966 to 1971. It stars Marlo Thomas as the...
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The Judy Garland Show
as HimselfThe Judy Garland Show is an American musical variety television series that aired on CBS on...
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Hail to the Chief
as Ivan ZolotovHail to the Chief is an American sitcom that ran on ABC from April 9, 1985 until May 21, 1985....
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General Electric Theater
as Felix FranklinGeneral Electric Theater is an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was...
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