Charlie Callas, You Will Be Missed

Charlie Callas, a well-known and beloved comedian, died on Thursday, Jan. 27, in Las Vegas, Nevada. His work will be remembered and remain beloved by many.

At the age of 83, Charlie Callus died of natural causes. There isn't much information surrounding the death except that Michael Murphy, the coroner in Clark County in Nevada, confirmed the death. It was also reported by the Associated Press that his wife had just passed away in July.

This man was not merely a comedian who could tell a few jokes, but a comedian who could warm a room with the crazy sound effects that he was so well known for. One cannot simply be a comedian; every well known comedian has something that sets him apart from the rest. For Charlie, it was his sound effects.

Callas was such a great comedian who could enthrall an audience that he appeared on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson more than 50 times. However, during one show, Callas shoved Carson after becoming very annoyed when Carson made his own sound effect and Carson declared that he would never appear on the show again. This proved true.

Callas has appeared in a Jerry Lewis movie called "The Big Mouth;" he also appeared in a couple of Mel Brooks films. My personal favorite is the voice of Elliot the dragon in the 1977 movie "Pete's Dragon." As a child I watched this movie over and over. At the time I had no idea Elliot's voice was Charlie Callas, but low and behold...it was. Elliot was a friendly dragon with a silly voice, who could keep us little children laughing.

Callas was born in 1927 and began playing the drums when he was only a teenager. But the drums simply weren't enough for him. He began playing with bands all over the country, integrating his comedy into the shows. Soon the reactions from the crowds led him to pursue comedy in 1962.

His first performance was at "The Hollywood Palace" and it wasn't long before his comedy career took off. Callas opened for big stars like Frank Sinatra and eventually ended up being on pretty much every talk show and variety show of the times.

Mr. Callas will be missed; his comedy has left an imprint on the nation. No one, absolutely no one, will be able to take his place in the world of standup comedy.

Sources:
Internet Movie Data Base: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076538/
The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/29/arts/television/29callas.html?src=twrhp
The Comics Comic: http://www.thecomicscomic.com/2011/01/rip-charlie-callas-1924-2011.html