Charles Nelson Reilly
A flamboyant and quick-witted comic actor whose arch delivery and camp sensibility made him a beloved game show icon.
1931–2007 (age 76)·American comedian and actor·Birthday: January 13·The Silent Generation
Biography
Charles Nelson Reilly was a master of the comic aside, a performer whose very presence on screen signaled urbane, mischievous fun. Born in 1931, his path to comedy was forged in early tragedy and a determination to perform, studying at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York. He found his first major success on Broadway, winning a Tony Award for his scene-stealing turn as Bud Frump in 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.' But it was television that made him a household face. As a regular on the hit 1970s game show 'Match Game,' Reilly became a sensation. Seated in the lower-right seat, his oversized glasses, colorful scarves, and perfectly timed, often self-deprecating zingers were a cornerstone of the show's anarchic charm. He brought the same arch energy to children's television as the fussy Mr. Haney on 'The Ghost & Mrs. Muir' and as a frequent, beloved guest on 'The Tonight Show.' In later years, he channeled his life story into a poignant and funny one-man show, revealing the depth behind the carefully constructed comic persona.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Charles was born in 1931, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Charles Was Born
The biggest hits of 1931
#1 Movie
Frankenstein
Best Picture
Cimarron
Charles's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1931Born
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1936Started school
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1944Became a teenager
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1947Could drive
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1949Could vote
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1952Turned 21
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1961Turned 30
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 40
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 50
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 60
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 70
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2007Died at 76
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
Key Achievements
- Won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role as Bud Frump in 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.'
- Was a core panelist on the popular 1970s game show 'Match Game,' where his witty banter became a signature element.
- Starred as the eccentric Claymore Gregg on the television series 'The Ghost & Mrs. Muir' for its entire run.
- Directed numerous operas and theater productions across the United States after his peak television fame.
- His autobiographical one-man play 'Save It for the Stage' was adapted into the acclaimed 2006 film 'The Life of Reilly.'
Did You Know?
He was a survivor of the 1944 Hartford circus fire, a traumatic event that killed over 160 people.
He was the first person to publicly turn down an invitation to appear on 'The Love Boat,' calling it 'a piece of junk.'
He was a dedicated teacher of acting and directed over 100 productions of operas, including at the prestigious Met.
He provided the voice for the Dirty Bubble in the animated series 'SpongeBob SquarePants.'
He never publicly discussed his sexuality during his lifetime, though it was widely understood he was gay.
““I don't do children's theater. I don't do theater for the elderly. I do theater for me.””
