Comedian Charlie Callas Pases On

Comedian Charlie Callas passed on Thursday, January 27, 2011 at the age of 83.

Charlie Callas was born on December 20, 1927 in Brooklyn. As a teenager he took up the drums. He served in World War II, after which he began playing with various bands, including Tommy Dorsey. While he performed he would engage in comedy routines. His comedy routines proved so popular that he turned to stand up comedy full time in 1962. It was only two years later that he received his big break, appearing on The Hollywood Palace in 1964. Throughout the Sixties he would appear on such shows as The Jimmy Dean Show, The Munsters, The Monkees, The Merv Griffin Show. The Johnny Cash Show, The Andy Williams Show, The Kraft Music Hall, and The Flip Wilson Show. He appeared in the film The Big Mouth.

In the Seventies Mr. Callas appeared on such shows as Love American Style, The Snoop Sisters, The Movie Game, The David Frost Show, Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, The Dean Martin Comedy Hour, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and The Mike Douglas Show. He was a regular on the shows Switch and The ABC Comedy Hour. He appeared in the films Silent Movie (1972) and High Anxiety (1977). He was the voice of Elliot the Dragon in Pete's Dragon (1977). In the Eighties he appeared on such shows as Hollywood Squares, Hart to Hart, The Fall Guy, L. A. Law, D. C. Follies, It's Gary Shanlding's Show, and L. A. Law. . He appeared History of the World Part I (1981) Hysterical (1983), and Amazon Women on the Moon (1987). He provided his voice in the film Gallavants (1984).

From the Nineties into the Naughts he Charlie Callas appeared on the shows Silk Stalkings, The Ren and Stimpy Show, and Cybill. He appeared in the films Vampire Vixens from Venus (1995), and Dracula Dead and Loving It (1995). His last appearance on screen was in Horrorween (2011), due to be released this year.

Charlie Callas was a brilliant comedian with a gift for one liners. His delivery came at a mile at minute. He also had a gift for making the most unusual sounds, from the sound of  a duck to the sound of a shotgun. He could also think very fast on his feet, able to extemporise the most hilarious lines on the spot. Mr. Callas was a very funny comic and he will be missed.