Never got a dinner!
That's the phrase that leaps to mind when I hear the name Red Buttons. It was the catch phrase he used during the Dean Martin Roasts in the 70s. Buttons died of vascular disease today in Los Angeles.
Buttons was in a ton of movies over the years, including The Poseidon Adventure, They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, Hatari!, Gable and Lombard, The Big Circus, and won an Oscar for supporting actor for his performance in Sayonara.
But Buttons had a big TV career too. Besides the roasts, Buttons hosted his own variety show The Red Buttons Show in the early 50s and was a guest star on many shows since then, including Studio One, Suspense, Playhouse 90, Death Valley Days, Ben Casey, Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, Wonder Woman, Vegas, The Cosby Show, Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Roseanne, Family Law, and Early Edition. He was probably best known to younger TV audiences for his role as Ruby in several episodes of ER.
Do you ever get the feeling that as all of these classic performers pass away, a huge chunk of pop culture, of another type of era, is going too, and we're just going to be left with today's stars? Kinda sad to think about.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-13-2006 @ 4:25PM
SUSAN JANKITE said...
I am so sorry to hear about Mr. Buttons. May he find as much joy in heaven as he gave to those of us who are old enough to have watched him on television.
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7-13-2006 @ 4:27PM
Hanuman1960 said...
I completely agree!
Today's stars can't hold a candle to the classic stars of yesterday.....
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7-13-2006 @ 4:31PM
SUSAN JANKITE said...
I am so sorry to hear about Mr. Buttons. I hope he finds as much happiness in heaven as he gave to those of us who are old enough to have watched his movies and performances on television.
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7-13-2006 @ 4:39PM
Tammy said...
I was fortunate enough to see him perform live many years ago. He will be missed.
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7-13-2006 @ 5:14PM
shhazam4 said...
Red was great. Enjoyed his performances in movies, TV and especially those roast shows... where he said that "never got a dinner (roast)" line.
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7-13-2006 @ 5:21PM
Joel Keller said...
I think what surprises people about Buttons is how great of a dramatic actor he was. I mean, his stints on ER -- 10 years apart! -- were gut-wrenching performances. And he had one of the few dignified performances on the great camp classic "The Poseidon Adventure". Sad to see him go.
Not for nothing, but Bob's becoming the go-to guy for all celebrity obits, isn't he? Nice job, Bob... I saw your announcement first.
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7-13-2006 @ 6:08PM
lynn said...
So sorry to hear and read that Red Buttons had passsed. he was truly a "Gentle" Man and a fine Comedian and Actor. We never had to worry about any profanity or the like in his performances. he is loved by everyone. "May God Bless Him" and grant him "Eternal Rest"
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7-13-2006 @ 7:18PM
norma spanbock said...
One of the best stories I still remember, was one of Red
Buttons. He tell of how very poor he was,growing up in New
York. His family lived in the basement of a tenament,they
had nothing, "then came the depression,.Rest in peace
njs
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7-13-2006 @ 7:26PM
Milton Blackstone said...
Your Red Buttons obit brought back my memory of the 1st (of many) time I saw Red. Although he was only 5 years older than me, he was already performing in vaudville at the RKO Keith theatre in White Plains, NY where I was an usher. As fate had it, I. too, entered the theatrical field and several opportunities to meet Red and told him about the effect he had on me. Like all other graet talents of yesteryear, he'll be missed. I hope the younger generation of future comics get a chance to study yesterday's art.
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7-13-2006 @ 7:44PM
BILL PRINGLE said...
MAYBE NOW HE WILL GET A DINNER.. HE WILL BE MISSED ,,,
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7-13-2006 @ 8:48PM
Rose said...
I remember Red Buttons since I was a little girl and that was like 40 yrs ago. I will miss him. I watch all of his rerun. I have lit a candle for him for 7 days and a rosary in my area. May he rest in peace. Amen
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7-14-2006 @ 1:28AM
Ricardo Pereira Lima Haddad said...
Too bad Red Buttons has just passed away. I remember him from many TV as well as Screen movies from the sixties, seventies and eighties. He was a great dramatic actor who will certainly be missed by millions who were fortunate enough to watch his performances. It´s even worse that along with the death of such artists a so beloved time seems to be slowly vanishing.
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7-14-2006 @ 3:49AM
Tim Cabbage said...
Actually,'ol Red should have kicked the bucket years ago.Its a shame that the old folks that were popular years ago,make us watch them wither & die,because they think they are still that 50 yr. old that was popular back in the day.Its sad 2 watch them shrivel up & get old & senile.Look at poor 'ol Bob Barker! Geez,what is he,110 by now! All those wrinkles are gross,but he keeps thinkin everyone wants 2 kiss him! They are just bein nice.Please old stars,go die off camera,& save us all!!
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7-14-2006 @ 6:01AM
KACHINA321 said...
GOODBYE OLD FRIEND I LOVED HAVING DINNER WITH YOU ON 86TH STREET AND PARK AVE MANY YEARS AGO. MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY. GOD BLESS AND SAY HELLO TO ALL THE OTHERS UP IN HEAVEN WITH YOU OLD FRIEND. DG
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7-14-2006 @ 9:47AM
Chuck said...
You are absolutely correct that he will be missed. However, let's not totaly discredit the talents that we do have available to us. I, personally, find nothing wrong with the talents of today in the likes of Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, John Travolta, Nicholas Cage to name a few. Let's not be to hasty to slam our era as well. No disrespect to the Great Red Buttons. He was a wonderful addition to our world, and he will be missed.
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7-14-2006 @ 6:55PM
justus mckay said...
another great actor has left us. Soon all the great ones will be gone and all we will have left is the flakes that inhabit hollywood now.it's amazing that these great actors are passing and being replaced by the trash that almost everyone thinks is great today. cruise-affleck-lopez-and the rest can only dream of ever being that great.
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