Just this Sunday, legendary actor and comedian Rip Taylor passed away and the world became a little less campy. According to Deadline, Taylor was 84 years old at the time of his passing. Known as “The Prince or Pandemonium” Taylor started his career performing in various clubs while he was still member of the US Army. He developed a bit in which he would cry and beg the audience to laugh at him. As a comedian Taylor became famous for his flamboyance and his signature mustache. Despite being often erroneously labeled as homosexual, he actually identified as bisexual.
Throughout his life Taylor made several appearances on television, including The Jackie Gleason Show, The Monkees, and Hollywood Squares. He was also on The Ed Sullivan Show at least 20 times and voiced Uncle Fester in The Addams Family animated series. Talk about a very extensive television career.
Taylor also had a successful movie career as well, starring in Amazon Women on the Moon, The Happy Hooker Goes to Washington, Indecent Proposal, and Things Are Tough All Over which was a Cheech and Chong movie. Taylor also cameoed in Wayne’s World 2 and Jackass: The Movie, as well as its sequels. Taylor even voiced characters in the animated movies Scooby Goes Hollywood and DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp.
While it’s tough to say goodbye to such an eccentric and talented man like Rip Taylor, we can at least take comfort in the laughter and confetti he brought to the world during his life.
Leave a Comment