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Dick Shawn (1923-1987) |
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- Bobby Darin, State Fair, 1961. Among the early castings announced in October 1960 was the comic for Jerry Dundee. Darin had more clout, Top Ten-wise. For a wee while. Although far from the funniest of comics, Shawn played 63 screen roles, most notably Lorenzo St DuBois, aka LSD in The Producers, 1967. .
- Tony Bennett, The Oscar, 1965. Bennet called it a terrible experience, ,putting him off “acting” forever. The comic Shawn had also been thought of for Hymie Kelly, narrating the sordid tale of his film-star buddy Stephen Boyd. But nothing could alter the scathing opinion of New York Times critic Bosley Crowther: “another distressing example of Hollywood fouling its nest - professionally, socially, commercially and especially artistically.”
- Joseph Bologna, Transylvania 6-5000, 1985. It was Shawn v Bologhna for the mad scientist Dr Malavaqu. Croatia and Slovenia payed Transylvania. Because the Dell chemical combine had frozen funds there.
- Ted Bessell, Hail Tn The Chief, TV, 1985. Shawn and Spalding Gray were among those auditioning to support the first female US president - Patty Duke (almost, inevitable, of course) - as she dealt with a Soviet nuclear war (Shawn became the USSR leader Zolotov), cabinet spies, personal attacks, an impotent husband and son in a sex scandal. The series died after seven chapters. Bissel was famous as Marlo Thomas’ boyfriend Danny, in That Girl!, TV, 1965-1971.
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