Although he died in 2015, Oscar nominee Robert Loggia earned 235 acting credits dating from 19512019, including memorable roles in big-screen blockbusters like Big and Scarface, as well as in acclaimed TV series like The Sopranos. Ted Knight, 62, who won two Emmy awards for his portrayal of the pompous and dimwitted newscaster Ted Baxter on ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show,'' which ran on CBS-TV from 1970 to 1977; he starred. Voice: 901/874-3388 (Recording . What is known is that the Star Trek actor enlisted in the Army Reserves in the early 1950s, was in charge of a platoon, and was discharged in 1955 with the rank of sergeant. He took his experiences back to civilian life, starring in many films about war and the military throughout his career. T his is my tribute to notable entertainers who have served in the military, including the Coast Guard and Merchant Marine. Although he has more than 100 acting credits to his name, Art Carney is most famous for his role supporting Jackie Gleason in the pioneering television program The Honeymooners. When World War II broke out, he joined the Coast Guard but was stationed at home in Brooklyn, New York, to perform at military shows. Bridges joined the Coast Guard Reserves and served at sea under what were often grueling conditions. Ted Knight and Georgia Engel on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Actor. He was a disc jockey for an Army radio station. As an. As an actor, Savalas played several different sinister villains before landing the part that made him famous: no-nonsense New York City detective Kojak. After The Mary Tyler Moore Show's run, Knight guest-starred in "Mr. Dennis Steps Out," the October 26, 1977, episode of the situation comedy Busting Loose, as Roger Dennis, the owner of an escort service in New York City. His 164 credits include 12 Angry Men, The Replacements, While You Were Sleeping, and Heaven Can Wait. Cuban-America Cesar Romeroa.k.a. His role as the vain and untalented WJM newscaster Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show brought Knight widespread recognition and his greatest success. Before he died in 1971, Audie Murphy amassed an impressive list of credits including Ride a Crooked Trail and To Hell and Back. The world knows Charles Bronson as an unshakeable vigilante from the Death Wish series. Knight was a health addict who would stick to fruits and vegetables. A high school dropout, he enlisted for World War II duty and eventually became a decorated member of the A Company, 296th Combat Engineer Battalion.During his tour of duty, Ted developed an interest in acting, returning home in the post-war years to study his craft in Hartford, Connecticut, at the Randall School of Dramatic Arts. [6] He was also a radio announcer for sister station WROW radio and briefly for WFNS in Burlington NC. The son of Greek immigrants, Telly Savalas shined shoes and sold newspapers before joining the Army to serve in World War II, which he survived, albeit with a Purple Heart. But the film actor, TV star, stage performer, and comedian is probably best known for the decades he spent entertaining troops stationed overseas. While behind the camera during the filming of those war classics, he drew on his real-life experiences. The father of Rob Reiner, Carl Reiner was an American actor, comedian, director, screenwriter, and author. Bill to attend the American Theatre Wing after he was honorably discharged. [9], Knight died on August 26, 1986, from complications of surgery; he was 62. TIA Ray I had heard at one time that the actor Neville Brand was the second most decorated soldier of WWII. But after heroically rescuing several men during a disastrous training exercise in the Arctic, he was given the honor of guarding President Harry Truman's yacht. Satirical comedic actor Bob Newhart appeared in movies like Elf, Horrible Bosses, and Legally Blonde 2, but his name is on his most famous works, which were all on television. Although he tried his best to shake off the image, he had to use some of Ted Baxters styles in his commercials and TV spots all through 1970s. His role as the vain and untalented WJM newscaster Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show brought Knight widespread recognition and his greatest success. It is located at 6673 Hollywood Boulevard. ABC cancelled the show after three seasons, but it was revived in first-run syndication in 1984. Charles Durning was a multi-genre talent who scored multiple Academy Award nominations for movies like The Best Little Wh***house in Texas and To Be or Not to Be, as well as a Tony win for his role in the play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. During World War II, he experienced combat as a radioman in the Navy. During World War II, he dropped out of high school and joined the Army, where he would become a decorated member of A Company, 296th combat engineer battalion. Ted Nugent is not just a conservative, but an outspoken conservative, Second Amendment advocate and conservationist. After his military hitch . Hollywood actors, producers, directors, TV stars, newsmen, musicians, radio hosts, authors, publishers, sports, and various entertainment industry figures who have all entertained us. Knight, who starred in the short-lived Ted Knight Show and Too Close for Comfort, died at his Pacific Palisades home Tuesday with his wife of 38 years, Dorothy, and their three children at his side. During this period, he performed in productions like Liliom, Grand Hotel, Antigone and Time of Your Life. The 1946 Christmas classic was Stewart's first film after leaving the U.S. Army Air Corp. Stewart halted his career to join the service in 1941, eventually reaching the rank of colonel by the end of the conflict. Originally, he planned on a career as a military man. But nothing monumental pushed his career forward.Ted's well-modulated voice was his moneymaker during the lean years, whether as an announcer/narrator or cartoon voice character. You may also like: 100 Best TV Shows of All Time, According to Critics. Most of the actors who served will be remembered not for their service in a foreign theater overseas, but for their films that filled seats in movie theaters back home. Before he played Kylo Ren in the most recent Star Warsseries, Adam Driver acted in Lincoln. It was initially thought that Blane Horton was the breeder for Rebel Starfighter Prime but this has been proven incorrect. He served in the Navy's Underwater Demolition Team, whose units were broken apart and attached to elite SEAL teams after Vietnam. He also displayed his small-screen talent on programs like The Carol Burnett Show. Around the age of 33, he moved to Los Angeles, where initially he earned his living by doing commercials and later earned minor, often un-credited roles in television and films. The phrase "Good morning, Vietnam!" George C. Scott had a 40-year show business career, the pinnacle of which was his Oscar-winning portrayal of the namesake American general in the movie "Patton." During World War II, Winters joined the Marines at just 17 years old and served for two years in the South Pacific. Although he was best known as the crotchety father in Everybody Loves Raymond, Peter Boyle amassed nearly 100 acting credits dating back to the mid-1960s. The spots were produced by UAB Productions for Southgate USA. At age 40 he became the youngest actor ever to be knighted when King George honored him with the title, and he remains among the only actors to be buried in Westminster Abbey's vaunted Poet's Corner. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/ted-knight-43958.php, 20th Century Film & Theater Personalities, 20th Century American Film & Theater Personalities, Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Comedy. Knight appeared in a few episodes of The Love Boat, including one episode as a rival cruise captain, Captain Gunner Nordquist, versus Mary Tyler Moore Show co-star Gavin MacLeod's Captain Merrill Stubing. You may also like: These Are the Most Sleep-Deprived Professions. He went on to become one of the most enduring and prolific actors in history, with a whopping 336 credits spanning more than 90 years from 1926 to 2017. Throughout the run of the series, Knight would wear sweatshirts from colleges and universities, which were often sent to him by students who were fans of the show. Official Sites, Had played minor villains in television and film dramas for many years before the role of Ted Baxter on, His well-modulated voice, ideal for radio broadcasting and announcing, helped keep him afloat during the dismal 1960s providing narration and voices for a number of cartoon series, including. Since Leonard Nimoy's service records were destroyed in a fire, no one knows for sure exactly when he entered the service. Known for roles in On the Waterfront, Dr. Zhivago, and In the Heat of the Night, Rod Steiger amassed nearly 150 credits between 1950 and 2002. Mel Brooks is known worldwide for groundbreaking, irreverent, racially charged, and enduring comedies like Spaceballs and Blazing Saddles, but his comedy career was preceded by combat service. Hollywood legend Henry Fonda was best known for The Grapes of Wrath and On Golden Pond, the latter of which he starred in alongside his daughter, Jane Fonda. Vincent Pastore will forever hold the distinction of playing one of the most memorable roles in the history of mafia dramas. This was broadcast in March 1982 as Season 5, Episodes 24 and 25, of The Love Boat, whose segments were titled "Pride of the Pacific", "The Viking's Son", "Separate Vacations", "The Experiment", and "Getting to Know You".[10]. Like so many men of his generation, It's a Mad, Mad World actor Buddy Hackett joined the service right out of high school to fight in World War II. Knight was also featured in a production number based on one of the songs from the Hi Guys album, "I'm in Love with Barbara Walters". Among the actors was an actual Korean War veteran, Jamie Farr, who received valuable training for his future Hollywood career while on duty. That career was interrupted, however, in 1943 when he was drafted into the Army during World War II. During scenes in which Henry draws in his bedroom, Knight used his earlier acquired ventriloquism talents for comical conversations with a hand-puppet version of his comic book's main character "Cosmic Cow". Naval Reserve in 1943, but World War II ended before he received an active duty assignment. He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6673 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California, on January 30, 1985. You would suppose that at least two or more should have been the Medal of Honor. Eventually, he served with the A Company, 296th Combat Engineer Battalion, as a radio reconnaissance operator.. In 1984, it was revived as The Ted Knight Show in its first-run syndication. Born In: Plymouth, Connecticut, United States. One of the most distinguished talents in movie history, British actor Laurence Olivier was known for dazzling theater audiences in several of Shakespeare's plays before earning a spot on Hollywood's A-List with big-screen roles in movies like Wuthering Heights and Marathon Man. Knight experienced complications from the surgery and was advised not to resume work on Too Close For Comfort until he recovered. Knight, 62, died last week, leaving a legacy of hundreds of roles in film and television. Also in the same month, he starred in one episode of Busting Lose. He's also a veteran of the military. As a young man, Jones entered the Army during the Korean War, but he remained in America supporting cold-weather training in Colorado. is known for presenting warfare with gritty realism and humanity, focusing on the perils of the average G.I., men struggling to keep a moral center in the midst of violence. Knight's speaking voice also brought him work as a voice artist for various animated series produced by Filmation and Hanna-Barbera, including The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure, The Batman/Superman Hour, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Fantastic Voyage, The New Scooby-Doo Movies, Super Friends, and Lassie's Rescue Rangers. He was drafted into the 40th Infantry Division in 1917 and served in World War I. The series was aired on CBS from April 8, 1978 to May 13, 1978. ADVERTISEMENT Spokeswoman Vanita Cillo said private funeral services will be held Friday at Forest Lawn Cemetery. In 1948, he married Dorothy Smith, and the couple had three children: Ted, Jr., Elyse, and Eric. After being served draft papers during the Vietnam War, Magnum P.I. Hollywood icon Jack Lemmon has Hollywood credits dating from the 1940s to 2000. 200 Pay Respects At Knight Service PLYMOUTH - Actor Ted Knight had many friends and over 200 of them paid their respects to the Terryville native during a memorial Mass this morning at St. Casimir Church. Earlier, he served as a communications officer in the Naval Reserve in 1945. With the possible exception of James Earl Jones, Morgan Freeman arguably has the most famous voice in Hollywood. It was a spinoff of Busting Loose, another sitcom with a short-lived run that aired in 1977.. Actor Ted Knight paid his dues with nearly two decades of relatively obscure dramatic, often villainous television work, before finding enduring fame in a scene-stealing supporting turn on a classic 1970s sitcom, hilariously overplaying a silver-haired, self-important imbecile. He received six Emmy Award nominations for the role, winning the Emmy for "Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Comedy" in 1973 and 1976. Decorated Korean War combat veteran James Garner received two Purple Hearts after being discharged in 1952. He spent most of the war in Virginia, and went on to star in some of history's most treasured classics, including Inherit the Wind, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, and Judgment at Nuremberg. Posted Sep 2018. The notorious nonconformist was court-martialed three times before receiving a general discharge in 1957. One of the most important pioneering actors in early Hollywood, Buster Keaton's career spanned nearly half a century with credits dating from 1917 to 1966. Ted Knight was born as Tadeusz Wladyslaw Konopka on December 7, 1923 in the village of Terryville in Plymouth, Connecticut. He was selected among 6,000 trainees for promotion to squad leader. Too Close for Comfort is an American sitcom television series that aired on ABC from November 11, 1980, to May 5, 1983, and in first-run syndication from April 7, 1984, to February 7, 1987. Sometime towards the end of 1940s, he entered the Randall School of Dramatic Arts in Hartford, Connecticut and became proficient with puppets and ventriloquism. In real life, Scott joined the Marines in 1945 shortly before the end of World War II. Red Sox legend Ted Williams proudly served as a Marine Corps aviator during World War IIit was his service in Korea that came as a surprise. He served in Hawaii as part of the 25th Infantry Division. Vinton highlighted Knight's Polish heritage and the two sang a duet of Vinton's hit "My Melody of Love" in Polish. But did you know actor and director extraordinaire Clint Eastwood was drafted into the Army during the Korean War? This episode was spun off into its own show, The Ted Knight Show, giving Knight his first starring role. In 1985, the cancer returned as colon cancer which, despite rigorous treatment, eventually began to spread to his bladder and throughout his lower gastrointestinal tract. With titles like Kelly's Heroes and Casino on his resume, Rickles started his career as a no-holds-barred comedian who hobnobbed with the likes of Frank Sinatra in the 1950s. actor Tom Selleck joined the California National Guard and served from 1967 to 1973. At the age of 16, the future Academy Award winner dropped out of school to join the Navy. Sid Caesar was a pioneering comedian and actor who is best known for his role in the Grease film musicals and as the creator of the Emmy Award-winning variety show Your Show of Shows. They gathered together at the hourlong service in the same Continue reading Ted Knight 0 Terryville Recalls Favorite Son Fondly In 1986, the show became The Ted Knight Show and saw Henry Rush retire from cartooning and become part-owner of a weekly newspaper. His trademark pompadour haircut was shaved, and he was placed into an armored division in 1958 at the very height of his career. The sweatshirts were often sent to him by students who were fans of the show. Given that at least one (NZ) and possibly more commonwealth Soldiers got a VC and Bar I fail to see how five Bronze Stars stacks up in comparison. He was a member of A Company, 296th Combat Engineer Battalion, earning five battle stars while serving in the European Theatre.[1]. While his father was a sergeant in the Army, he never felt the draw to serve. In April 1978, his role as Rodger Denis in Busting Lose spun off into The Ted Knight Show, giving him his first star role. After being hospitalized, Knight died of cancer in his home in Pacific Palisades at the age of 62, as reported by AP News. On 14 September, 1948, Knight married Dorothy Clark Smith, who later served on the Board of Directors of Price Pottenger Nutrition Foundation. He joined the Navy in 1938, serving for three years on the Yangtze River Patrol before joining the Merchant Marine in 1941. It became so popular that the sweatshirts he wore in the show were often sent by his fans from various colleges and universities. A former boxer, Scheider served as an air-traffic controller in the U.S. Air Force. Knight also played a German officer in a couple of episodes of the early to mid-60s TV series hit, "Combat.". Some sources list his real name as Tadeus Wladyslaw Konopka, however, his gravestone reads, Theodore C. Konopka. He appeared regularly on the short-lived, The New Loretta Young Show (1962), and the daytime soap opera, The Young Marrieds (1964). He is also a board member for the National Rifle Association. You may also like: The States With the Most Small Businesses. He was drafted during World War II and served for about six months. Knight's final big-screen role was in the 1980 golf comedy Caddyshack, where he played Judge Elihu Smails, who is fed up with the shenanigans of Al Czervik (Rodney Dangerfield), a guest at his golf club. Concurrently, he developed an interest in acting. In 1985, the cancer returned and spread to his bladder and gastrointestinal tract.[12]. In 1985, it returned as colon cancer, which eventually spread to his bladder and lower gastrointestinal tract. For his service, he earned a Presidential Citation Award and a Bronze Star. Actor Ted Knight, who portrayed Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show for seven seasons, died of cancer 35 years ago today. Once a bodyguard for Howard Hughes, Brimley enlisted in the Marines during the Korean War and was stationed for three years in the Aleutian Islands. From Airplane to The Untouchables, Robert Stack played memorable roles on both the big and small screens. Before he was famous, however, Wilder was drafted into the Army in 1956. But if called upon to portray a member of the Armed Forces on screen, many actors could draw from their own life experience. While Ted Baxter of 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' made Knight a household name, he was equally famous for his role in Too Close for Comfort. He served for four years, often as a guard at Arlington National Cemetery. [11], A few months after the end of the Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1977, Knight was diagnosed with colon cancer for which he received treatment. Following this, Ted found more work (WROW-TV) in Albany, New York, hosting a children's variety show while playing radio announcer for its sister radio station, WROW.Heading west to Los Angeles, California in 1957, Ted spent most of his early years providing slick commercial voiceovers and earning minor roles on television (Sea Hunt (1958)) and film (Psycho (1960)). Career The Navy sailor served in a submarine force in the Pacific theater during World War II. A high school dropout, he enlisted in the US Army during the Second World War and won five stars for his service. After graduating from Yale, Dennehy joined the Marines, the organization which he credits for much of his future success. Duvall served in the Army during the Korean War. Before he was an actor, Hayden was a sea voyager and captain, sailing around the world as a teenager and earning his first command at the age of 22. Dennis Franz scored small-screen gold with the role of Andy Sipowicz on the TV series NYPD Blue. Some of history's biggest stars served their countries in times of war and peace. In 1975, Knight recorded an album of mostly novelty songs, Hi Guys, on the Ranwood label (which was co-founded by Lawrence Welk and re-released many of his earlier albums). His true career, however, would be on television. . The silver-haired Emmy Award-winner was 62 years old. Academy Award-winner and longtime leading man Ernest Borgnine made his Broadway debut in 1949 before heading to Hollywood. Emmy nominee John Amos has played some of the most iconic characters ever to appear on both the big and small screens, including Kunta Kinte in Roots, James Evans Sr. in Good Times, and Cleo McDowell in Coming to America. His grave marker bears the name Theodore C. Konopka, and the words "Bye Guy", a reference to his Ted Baxter catchphrase "Hi, guys! There is a bronze plaque bearing his likeness on the bridge.[10]. [8] He also made guest appearances in numerous series, including How to Marry a Millionaire, Highway Patrol, Lassie, The Donna Reed Show, Peter Gunn, The Twilight Zone (in the episode "The Lonely"), Bourbon Street Beat, Death Valley Days, The Man and the Challenge, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Mr. Lucky, One Step Beyond, Pete and Gladys, Surfside 6, Sea Hunt, The Asphalt Jungle, Dr. Kildare, General Electric Theatre, Manhunt, Cain's Hundred, The New Loretta Young Show, The Eleventh Hour, The Untouchables, Sam Benedict, The Virginian, Arrest and Trial, Ripcord, The Lieutenant, The Outer Limits (in the episode "The Invisible Enemy"), McHale's Navy, Gunsmoke (as a dishonest lawyer in the 1959 S4E36 episode Print Asper), Kraft Suspense Theatre, Run for Your Life, 12 O'Clock High, Bonanza, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Combat!, T.H.E. His high intelligence got him assigned to a specialized unit; he was sent to the front in Europe and fought in heavy combat, including the Battle of the Bulge. The late Gene Wilder had a long and accomplished career in show business, but he's best known for his role in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. He received five battle stars during his Army service in World War. Other television guest appearances sprouted including dramatic (The Twilight Zone (1959), The Fugitive (1963), Gunsmoke (1955), Highway Patrol (1955), Bonanza (1959), Combat! Born in 1921, James Whitmore had acting credits dating from the 1940s to the late 2000s. After joining the Army in 1939, however, Brand caught the acting bug while making training films for the government. Brooks grew up poor in New York City's Brooklyn borough and enlisted in the Army right out of high school. and The Wild Wild West. Robert Mitchum was one of the 20th century's most renowned on-screen tough guys, although he fit the bill in real life, as well. The original concept of the series was based on the . From Cocoon and The Natural to The Firm and Absence of Malice, Wilford Brimley's folksy but serious demeanor has earned him a resume filled with critical and commercial successnot to mention a recurring role as the instantly recognizable Quaker Oats man. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons (1999). He was the namesake actor on sitcoms The Bob Newhart Show, Newhart, and Bob. The spots were produced by UAB Productions for Southgate USA. He was best known as the the omniscient narrator, but he also did voice-overs for many of the second-string characters. Far more than just an actor and comedian, longtime The Tonight Show host Johnny Carson was a show business icon who changed the way entertainment was delivered to the masses. Here's a crash course in 3 proven ways -- scenario planning, premortems and red-teaming -- to help you spot hidden opportunities and pitfalls (and maybe even predict the future). At WROW-TV, he hosted The Early Show, featuring MGM movies and a kids variety show, playing the role of "Windy Knight". He was discharged from the Army with the rank of technician fifth grade after serving his country in the 6817th Special Services Battalion from 1943-46. Harry Dean Stanton's death in 2017 concluded one of the most prolific careers in Hollywood history. He served in the Connecticut National Guard starting in 1948 and was discharged in 1950. [7] He played Phil Buckley on the ABC soap opera The Young Marrieds in the early 1960s. You may also like: 50 Movies With Alternate Endings. Although his resume includes hit shows like ER, Blue Bloods, NYPD Blue, and That '70s Show, Richard Kline is best known for playing one of the most memorable characters in sitcom history: Larry Dallas from Three's Company. On January 30, 1985, he was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6673 Hollywood Boulevard. He was also a World War II veteran who served from 1942 to 1945 in the vaunted Submarine Chasers unit, leaving the service with a rank of lieutenant junior grade. It is located at 6673 Hollywood Boulevard. In 1977, Knight was diagnosed with cancer for which he received treatment. The 296th CEB earned five Battle Stars for its service in World War II. This episode was spun off into its own show, The Ted Knight Show, giving Knight his first starring role. But the Academy Award-winning actor also comes from a long military family lineage that can be traced to Robert E. Lee. Chesty Puller of the USMC received five (5) Navy Crosses for valor in combat. (a catchphrase of the Baxter character) was released, which included a series of bizarre novelty songs.Knight eventually starred opposite Nancy Dussault in his own television series, Too Close for Comfort (1980), which had a healthy run despite the fact that Knight, as the lead, was more subdued than on the Mary Tyler Moore classic. After his release from Army, he received acting training and began his career as the host of a children's radio show around the age 26. The college sweatshirts he wore in the situation comedy. During the war he served on the Battleship Massachuesetts and was a Commando raider sent on several land attack missions. Emmy nominee Moses Gunn has more than 70 credits to his name, including classics like Shaft and Firestarter. Hunnicutt, served in the Army for two years around the time of the Korean War. You may also like: Best Place to Live in Every State. He left the station in 1957 after receiving advice from station manager (and future Capital Cities Chairman) Thomas Murphy that he should take his talents to Hollywood. Knight was cast in the lead role as the kind, curmudgeonly cartoonist Henry Rush in the series Too Close for Comfort in 1980. Prior becoming a known name in Hollywood, the actor was a Marine. To that end, he has supported President Trump and Sheriff Joe Arpaio. He's best known for his role as cantankerous brother-in-law Paulie in the Rocky franchise. The show was cancelled by ABC after three seasons, but first-run episodes continued to be produced and successfully syndicated. He got off to a rocky start in the Corps, making trouble and spending time in the brig, where he was punished with rations of bread and water. While the ratio may not be ideal for tomatoes, it can still produce great results with some preparation and understanding of the plant's genetic potential. He had 2 from WWII (Guadalcanal and Cape Glochester), one from Haiti, one from Nicaragua, and one from Korea (Chosin Reservour). He retired from the reserves, years later, as a full Captain. He served in Normandy, was badly injured by a mortar round, and walked with a limp for the rest of his life. Young served in the Marines from 1957 to 1959. Farrell, who played Capt. A Palance was a boxer who later served in the Air Force as a bomber pilot and went on to Stanford on the G.I. Live: Senator Ted Cruz delivers remarks at CPAC. But before the legendary macho man went on the attack on the big screen, he was on the attack in the skies over Europe. With films like Cool Hand Luke and The Color of Money on his resume, the late Paul Newman is one of Hollywood's most celebrated actors. Murphy joined the Army a few days after his 18th birthday and would emerge from World War II three years later as the most decorated soldier of the entire conflict. Cat, The Fugitive, The F.B.I., Get Smart, The Invaders, Judd, for the Defense, Garrison's Gorillas, The Wild Wild West, The Outsider, and The Immortal. In 1940, Olivier worked as a British agent in America trying to drum up support from the then-neutral United States before returning to Britain to join the Fleet Air Arm. Knight was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Talk show host Jack Paar once called the portly and groundbreaking comedian Jonathan Winters "pound for pound, the funniest man alive." He's also a World War II veteran who rose to the rank of lieutenant during his service in the Navy between 1942 and 1945.