Funnyman Paul Lynde Dead at 55

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Funnyman Paul Lynde dead at 55

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UPI ARCHIVES JAN. 11, 1982 TOP ARTICLES 1/5 Funnyman Paul Lynde dead at 55

By VERNON SCOTT, UPI Hollywood       (0) Reporter

HOLLYWOOD -- Comedian Paul Lynde, bes known for his of-beat wisecracks on TV's 'Hollywood Squares' game show, was found dead at his Beverly Hills home Sunday night, apparently of natural causes, a family spokesman said today. He was 55.

Lynde was found by friends who broke into his home because he failed to appear at a dinner party earlier in the evening, Alan David, the performer's long-time friend and agent said.

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/01/11/Funnyman-Paul-Lynde-dead-at-55/1002379573200/[8/28/2018 2:19:00 PM] Funnyman Paul Lynde dead at 55

'They found his body in his bed,' David said. 'Apparently he had been dead for several hours. The coroner said Lynde died of natural causes.'

The coroner's ofce said an autoposy would be performed later today to determine the exact cause of death.

Lynde was famous for his causic, of-beat wit, bes displayed on talk shows and game shows. He was the centerpiece of 'Hollywood Squares' for many years.

'He was one of the funnies men on TV,' said comedian George Gobel, also a regular on the game show. 'He will be missed by everybody who likes to laugh.'

'Hollywood Squares' hos Peter Marshall said Lynde looked 'wonderful' only a few weeks ago.

'He hadn't had a drink in 10 months and he was very, very happy,' Mashall said. 'Everytime I think of the squares, I'll think of the middle square where Paul sat. I'll miss him.'

Lynde was a regular cas member of the old 'Jonathan Winters Show,' 'F Troop,' 'Bewitched,' 'Dean Martin Presents' and his own short-lived 'The Paul Lynde Show.'

'Anytime you lose a funny man it's a big loss to everyone else under the tent,' Winters said. 'I think his contribution as a funnyman was as important as anyone I can think of.'

During his 30-year career, Lynde sarred as the sardonic, comedic relief in such movies as 'The Glass Bottom Boat,' 'Bye Bye Birdie,' 'Under the Yum- Yum Tree,' 'Send Me No Flowers' and, mos recently, in 'The Villian' with Kirk Douglas.

Lynde moved to New York to break into professional show business, working at odd jobs and selling his blood to buy food. He worked as an ambulance attendent until he saw his frs corpse and quit on the spot.

He made his sage debut as a monologuis at the famed supper club, Number One Fifth Avenue, and hated it, saying 'There is no such thing as a smart nightclub audience.'

Lynde was cas in 'New Faces of 1952' on Broadway and later in the movie

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/01/11/Funnyman-Paul-Lynde-dead-at-55/1002379573200/[8/28/2018 2:19:00 PM] Funnyman Paul Lynde dead at 55

version. But he didn't gain sardom until 1961, when he was cas by Gower Champion in Broadway's 'Bye Bye Birdie,' followed by the movie version.

He appeared on sage in such other hits as 'Anything Goes,' 'DreamGirl,' 'Show Boat,' 'A Streetcar Named Desire' and 'Desk Set.'

After esablishing himself in flms and TV, Lynde averaged some 200 hours a year on television and broke many box-ofce records in summer sock, mos notably with Elizabeth Allen in 'Plaza Suite.'

In addition to talk shows, Lynde sarred in TV series roles in 'The Pruitts of Southampton' and 'The Perry Como Show.'

Lynde lived alone in his Beverly Hills home. He was never married.

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