Fred Travalena
| Fred Travalena | |
|---|---|
 Travelena at the Governor's Ball following the 41st Annual Emmy Awards, 1989 | |
| Birth name | Frederick Albert Travalena III |
| Born |
October 6, 1942 The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Died |
June 28, 2009 (aged 66) Encino, California, U.S. |
| Medium | Stand-up, Television |
| Nationality | American |
| Years active | 1962–2009 |
| Genres | Observational comedy |
| Subject(s) | impersonations, pop culture |
| Spouse | Lois Travalena (1970–2009) (his death) |
| Children | Cory James and Frederick Albert IV |
Frederick Albert "Fred" Travalena III[1] (October 6, 1942 – June 28, 2009) was a U.S. entertainer, specializing in comedy and impressions.
Early life
Bronx, New York-born and Long Island-raised, Travalena moved to Los Angeles and developed a multifaceted career with his characterizations of visible public figures.
Career
His television credits began in the 1970s, as a regular performer on The ABC Comedy Hour, where he once did a split screen impression of John Lennon on one side and Paul McCartney on the other, and the Dean Martin Roasts. He had several voice credits on cartoons, as well as appearances on nationally broadcast children's programs.
Travelena made many guest appearances on game shows and dramatic programs in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. In the mid-1980s he hosted the game show Anything For Money, a game where contestants attempted to guess how much money it would take an ordinary, unsuspecting person to participate in a silly stunt.
Among his guest shots on game shows he was on Super Password, hosted by Bert Convy, with The Huggabug Club star Audrey Landers and was on the short-lived 1990 edition of Match Game several times.
In 1989, Travelena played Elvis Presley and Mr. Gibbel of Chippie Chipmunks group in a comedy sketch as part of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!. He guest starred in the series premiere of the short-lived 1991 sitcom Good Sports with Ryan O'Neal and Farrah Fawcett. He also impersonated Michael Jackson during the 1992 M.T.V. Video Music Awards when he accepted the Best Alternative Music Video award on behalf of Nirvana.
He appeared at casino theaters in Las Vegas, Reno, and Atlantic City, as well as performing arts theatres, cruise ships, and private "in-concert" performances. He took part in a U.S.O. tour to entertain troops overseas, and was honored in 2004 by Club Italia with a Merit Achievement Award for his contributions to society. Also in 2004, he appeared on Bananas Comedy. He played radio D.J. "Madman Mancuso" in "The Buddy Holly Story".
On February 3, 2005, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7018 Hollywood Blvd.[2]
Death
Travalena was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2002 and prostate cancer in 2003. Following five years' remission, the lymphoma returned in 2008. Travalena died on June 28, 2009, at his home in Encino, California.[3]
During his life, he and his wife credited his battle with cancer as a challenge of their Christian faith and a way to help others overcome the same conditions.[4]
References
- ↑ "Fred Travalena, Master of Impressions in Comedy, Is Dead at 66". The New York Times. June 30, 2009.
- ↑ "Fred Travalena - Hollywood Walk of Fame".
- ↑ "Comedian Fred Travalena dies of cancer. CNN report of death". June 29, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
- ↑ Rushnell, Squire. When God Winks at You, pg. 45