Charles Nelson Reilly -RIP

Hello All,
The comedian and actor, Charles Nelson Reilly, passed on May 25, 2007.
I first saw him on "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir," in the 1960's, and
later on games shows, "Hollywood Squares," and "Match Game."
His many appearances on "The Tonight Show," with Johnny Carson
were so hilarious.
I loved his humour and mourn his passing.
It may sound stupid, but as a child he helped me
accept gay people. Remember, please, that in the
past, gays were ridiculed, hated, and considered
evil perverts in the area I lived, ...hey, in the whole U.S.A..
His humour and talents allowed me to see beyond the ideas I
was taught. He was not a flaming gay that sought to promote homosexuality, but just a humourous man, who just happened to be
gay. He was so great when he was on Carson's show.
I will miss him.
Take Care,
Fieldthistle

I always looked forward to seeing him on TV---he was a particular favorite since I saw him first on Broadway. He played Cornelius Hackett in Hello Dolly with Carol Channing in the lead. He was great, she of course, was fantastic. From that day on brother Riley was OK with me, a fun guy. RIP Charles !!!

RIP, Mr. Reilly.

Another great passes, RIP Charles.

I always remember him from "Match Game"--I need to check GSN, usually when a really good host/guest dies they run a marathon of their appearances. One of my favorite LJ icons is CNR on "Match Game" holding up a card that says BORING. He, however, certainly was not.

I have to admit to spending a lot of time watching Match Game when I was younger and CNR always gave the best answers. He was a very witty man. I am sorry to hear of his passing.

Remember too that he was an accomplished director. He directed Julie Harris in the one-woman play about Emily Dickinson, "The Belle of Amherst."

What a funny, funny guy.

My first introduction to Mr. Reilly was while watching Saturday morning cartoons over a bowl of Fruit Loops. (HMmmmmm) He played the magician HooDoo in a kids show called Lidsville.

I was always freaked out by the magic hat the grew and grew and grew! until the kid fell in and ended up in Lidsville. Campy 70's kids TV at it's best (worst?)

Didn't notice him again until the Match Game shows.

From his public persona, he sure seemed to enjoy life, was probably a fun guy to have at a party!

RIP Charles Nelson.

quote:

Originally posted by Fieldthistle

Hello All,
The comedian and actor, Charles Nelson Reilly, passed on May 25, 2007.
I first saw him on "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir," in the 1960's, and
later on games shows, "Hollywood Squares," and "Match Game."
His many appearances on "The Tonight Show," with Johnny Carson
were so hilarious.
I loved his humour and mourn his passing.
It may sound stupid, but as a child he helped me
accept gay people. Remember, please, that in the
past, gays were ridiculed, hated, and considered
evil perverts in the area I lived, ...hey, in the whole U.S.A..
His humour and talents allowed me to see beyond the ideas I
was taught. He was not a flaming gay that sought to promote homosexuality, but just a humourous man, who just happened to be
gay. He was so great when he was on Carson's show.
I will miss him.
Take Care,
Fieldthistle

He was gay? Right, next you'll tell me that Paul Lynde was too, I suppose.

I watch the reruns of Match Game just to see what he was going to wear next. Smoking that pipe, he always came up with the best answers.

The 2 you wanted to pick for the final round CNR or Richard Dawson

I think I will get out the dvd's of Carson and watch some of those epsodes again.

RIP CNR

Mr. Reilly was always dependable for game-show wackiness - but I was amazed at his role as Jose Chung in my favorite-ever 'X-Files' episode.

I believe it was only within the last few years that CNR came out of the closet. Paul Lynde was gay but even with him I dont think ever did admit it in public. Hard to believe now but back in the 70s ABC-TV aired a sitcom with Lynde playing a family man and the great Chuck Barris even had Lynde as a contestant on the old Dating Game back then. Different era back then.

Watching the old reruns of both Match Game and Hollywood Squares ( the ones with Lynde in the center square ), one has to think what was going through their minds when they did those shows. As good as both shows were, sometimes both could be quite homophobic. When GSN got their hands on the classic 60s/70s version of Hollywood Squares, some of the gay jokes were very tasteless. I am not sure if it was the late Jan Murray, maybe Buddy Hacket but when I caught a classic Hollywood Squares on GSN just about all of their jokes on one episode was either "queen" this or "gay bruce" that. Come to think of it i think GSN got some heat from airing some of this stuff.

Anyway, CNR will be missed.

There is supposed to be a documentary coming out called "Life of Reilly"

check this clip out...

http://www.laist.com/2007/05/31/im_going_to_mis.php#comments

Gay? They were gay? No. No way. You wanna see gay.... move to Palm Springs!! No matter, RIP Mr. Reilly.

Don't start, Elise. Remember what your mother said.........."of course it's interesting, it's in a MUSEUM."

Very sad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTSUsNbJtSU
... another one