Editing Paul Lynde

{{Short description|American comedian and actor (1926–1982)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Paul Lynde
| image         = The Paul Lynde Show Paul Lynde 1972 No 2.jpg
| alt           = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption       = Lynde in 1972
| birth_name    = Paul Edward Lynde
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1926|6|13}}
| birth_place   = [[Mount Vernon, Ohio]], U.S.
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|1982|1|10|1926|6|13}}
| death_place   = [[Beverly Hills, California]], U.S.
| resting_place = Amity Cemetery, [[Amity, Knox County, Ohio|Amity, Ohio]], U.S.
| alma_mater    = [[Northwestern University]]
| occupation    = {{hlist|Comedian|actor|TV personality}}
| years_active  = 1954–1982
| notable_works = ''[[Bewitched]]''<br>''[[Bye Bye Birdie]]''<br>''[[Hollywood Squares]]''
}}

'''Paul Edward Lynde''' ({{IPAc-en|l|ɪ|n|d|}}; June 13, 1926{{snds}}January 10, 1982)<ref>Paul E. Lynde, age 3-9/12 years. U.S. Census, April 1, 1930, State of Ohio, County of Knox, enumeration district 9, p. 7A, family 202.</ref><ref>Paul Edward Lynde, born June 13, 1926, died January 11, 1982. Ancestry.com. ''California Death Index, 1940–1997'' [database on-line]. Provo, Utah, US: The Generations Network, Inc., 2000.</ref> was an American comedian, actor, and game-show panelist. A [[character actor]] with a distinctively [[campy]] and snarky persona that often poked fun at his [[closeted]] homosexuality, Lynde was well known for his roles as [[List of Bewitched characters#Uncle Arthur|Uncle Arthur]] on ''[[Bewitched]],'' the befuddled father Harry MacAfee in ''[[Bye Bye Birdie (1963 film)|Bye Bye Birdie]]'', and a regular "center square" panelist on the game show ''[[Hollywood Squares|The Hollywood Squares]]'' from 1968 to 1981. He also voiced animated characters for five [[Hanna-Barbera]] productions.

Lynde regularly topped audience polls of most-liked TV stars,<ref name="2014biog">{{cite news |last1=Hanc |first1=John |title=Long Islander's teen friendship with TV star (A hint of his private life) |url=https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/retirement/long-islander-s-teen-friendship-with-tv-star-1.6771290 |access-date=August 16, 2019 |work=Newsday |date=January 10, 2014}}</ref> and was routinely admired and recognized by his peers during his lifetime. [[Mel Brooks]] once described Lynde as being capable of getting laughs by reading "a phone book, tornado alert, or seed catalogue".<ref name=salon/> Lynde once said that while he would rather be recognized as a serious actor, "we live in a world that needs laughter and I've decided if I can make people laugh, I'm making a more important contribution."<ref name="gazette">{{cite news | title = You Asked Us: About Funny, Fussy Actor Paul Lynde | newspaper = Montreal Gazette | date = February 17, 1973 | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OoMuAAAAIBAJ&pg=4105,5164883&dq=paul+lynde+errol+flynn+house&hl=en| access-date = August 16, 2019}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Paul Lynde was born in [[Mount Vernon, Ohio]], the son of Sylvia Bell Lynde ({{nee|Doup}}) and Hoy Corydon Lynde, who owned and operated a meat market.<ref name=gazette /><ref name="1982upi">{{cite news |last1=Scott |first1=Vernon |title=Paul Lynde, the sardonic and irreverent comedian who starred... |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/01/11/Paul-Lynde-the-sardonic-and-irreverent-comedian-who-starred/9921379573200/ |access-date=August 16, 2019 |work=United Press International |date=January 11, 1982}}</ref> Fifth-born among six siblings, Lynde had older sisters, Grace and Helen, older brothers, Richard Hoy and Coradon ("Cordy") George and younger brother, John ("Johnny"). His favorite brother, Coradon, died in 1944 at the age of 21, in the [[Battle of the Bulge]] in World War II.<ref name= 2014biog /><ref name=gazette /> In 1949, his parents died within three months of each other.<ref name= 2014biog />

Lynde graduated in 1944 from [[Mount Vernon High School (Ohio)|Mount Vernon High School]], where he played the bass drum in the high school band.<ref name=1982upi /> He then studied speech and drama at [[Northwestern University]] in Evanston, Illinois, where his classmates included [[Cloris Leachman]], [[Charlotte Rae]], [[Patricia Neal]], [[Jeffrey Hunter]], and [[Claude Akins]]. He was active in the school's theatrical productions,<ref name = 1982upi /> and joined the Upsilon chapter of the fraternity [[Phi Kappa Sigma]]. He is listed among its most famous members.<ref>{{cite news |first = L. |last = Washburn |publisher = Phi Kappa Sigma member Northwestern University, Class of 1950 |title = [personal communication] |date = February 27, 2018}}</ref> He graduated in 1948.

== Career ==
After graduating from college, Lynde moved to New York City, taking [[Temporary work|odd jobs]] while looking for his show-business break. His first appearance as a comic was at the famed [[supper club]] Number One Fifth Avenue.<ref name=1982upi /><ref name="biog">{{cite web | title= Paul Lynde Biography (1926–1982) | url=http://www.biography.com/people/paul-lynde-9542425 | website= Biography.com | access-date=January 25, 2008}}</ref> He made his [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] debut in the hit revue ''[[New Faces of 1952]]'' in which he co-starred with fellow newcomers [[Eartha Kitt]], [[Robert Clary]], [[Alice Ghostley]], and [[Carol Lawrence]].<ref name="what-a-c">{{cite web |title=Paul Lynde |url=http://www.what-a-character.com/cgi-bin/display.cgi?id=LyndeP| publisher=What A Character! |access-date=January 25, 2008 |url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010082557/https://www.what-a-character.com/cgi-bin/display.cgi?id=LyndeP |archive-date=October 10, 2007}}</ref> In his monologue from that revue, the "Trip of the Month Club", Lynde portrayed a man on crutches recounting his misadventures on the African safari trip he took with his late wife.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Vincent Canby |title=A Lost Theatrical Form Returns With a Smile |url=http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?_r=1&res=9E01E0DD133DF932A15755C0A96E958260&oref=slogin |work=The New York Times |date=June 21, 1998 |access-date=January 25, 2008}}</ref> The show was filmed and released as ''[[New Faces (film)|New Faces]]'' in 1954.

After the revue's run, Lynde co-starred in the short-lived 1956 sitcom ''[[Stanley (1956 TV series)|Stanley]]'' opposite [[Buddy Hackett]] and [[Carol Burnett]], both of whom were also starting their careers in show business. That year, he guest-starred on [[NBC]]'s sitcom ''[[The Martha Raye Show]]''.

Lynde returned to Broadway in 1960, when he was cast as Harry MacAfee, the father in ''[[Bye Bye Birdie]]''. He also played the role in the [[Bye Bye Birdie (1963 film)|1963 film adaptation]]. That year, he recorded a live album, ''Recently Released'', issued as an [[LP record|LP]]. He wrote all six tracks. Once he could afford writers, he rarely used his own material until his tenure on ''The Hollywood Squares'' years later.

Lynde was in great demand in the 1960s. During the 1961{{ndash}}62 television season, he was a regular on NBC's ''[[The Perry Como Show]]'' as part of the Kraft Music Hall players with [[Don Adams]], [[Kaye Ballard]], and [[Sandy Stewart (singer)|Sandy Stewart]]. He was a familiar face on many sitcoms, including ''[[The Phil Silvers Show]]'', ''[[The Farmer's Daughter (TV series)|The Farmer's Daughter]]'', ''[[The Patty Duke Show]]'', ''[[The Munsters]]'', ''[[The Flying Nun]]'', ''[[Gidget (TV series)|Gidget]]'', ''[[I Dream of Jeannie]]'', and ''[[F Troop]]'', and on variety shows such as ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]'' and ''[[The Dean Martin Show]]''. He also was featured in several 1960s films, including ''[[Send Me No Flowers]]'' and ''[[The Glass Bottom Boat]]'', both starring [[Doris Day]].

=== ''Bewitched'' ===
[[File:Uncle arthur bewitched 1968.JPG|thumb|right|Lynde as Uncle Arthur with [[Elizabeth Montgomery]] in the 1968 ''Bewitched'' episode "The No Harm Charm"]]
In 1965, Lynde made his debut appearance on ''Bewitched'' during the first-season episode "Driving is the Only Way to Fly" (air date March 25, 1965). His role as mortal Harold Harold, Samantha Stephens' nervous driving instructor, was well received by viewers. Lynde also impressed series star [[Elizabeth Montgomery]] and her husband, director/producer [[William Asher]], who created a recurring role for Lynde as Endora's practical-joking brother [[List of Bewitched characters#Uncle Arthur|Uncle Arthur]]. Lynde made 10 appearances on ''Bewitched'' as the beloved character, the first being "The Joker is a Card" (air date October 14, 1965). His final appearance in the sitcom was in "The House That Uncle Arthur Built" (February 11, 1971) in the series' seventh season. Paul Lynde, Elizabeth Montgomery, and William Asher became good friends and were regularly seen together off the set.<ref name=salon/>

=== Television pilots ===
Lynde starred in four failed television pilots in the 1960s:
* ''Howie'' (1962, CBS)
* ''Two's Company'' (1965, ABC)
* ''Sedgewick Hawk-Styles: Prince of Danger'' (1966, ABC)
* ''Manley and the Mob'' (1967, ABC)

Of the four shows, only the Victorian detective spoof ''Sedgewick Hawk-Styles: Prince of Danger'' was initially picked up by ABC, only to be canceled at the last minute. William Asher commented in the [[A&E (TV channel)|A&E]] ''[[Biography (TV series)|Biography]]'' episode on Lynde that ABC had reservations about Lynde, most notably his increasingly erratic offscreen behavior and the persistent rumors of his homosexuality.<ref name="biog"/>

=== ''The Hollywood Squares'' ===
{{quote box
| quote = '''Q:''' "Why do motorcyclists wear leather?"
: '''Lynde:''' "Because chiffon wrinkles." (the first ''Hollywood Squares'' zinger)<ref name=marshall-obit>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-15 |title='Hollywood Squares' host and Broadway star Peter Marshall dies at 98 |url=https://apnews.com/article/peter-marshall-dead-eb30a22ed1cf4766bb6d83de0b8bb5d1 |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>
'''Q:''' "You're the world's most popular fruit. What are you?"
: '''Lynde:''' "Humble."<ref name="2014biog" />
'''Q:''' "How many men on a hockey team?"<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj3P7bC9tWc&t=104s&ab_channel=spookylorre | title=PAUL LYNDE SILLY SAVAGES! Fairies, Pixies, WILDEST Hollywood Squares Moments | via=YouTube }}</ref>
: '''Lynde:''' "About half."
'''Q:''' "Who's generally better looking, a [[fairy]] or a [[pixie]]?"
: '''Lynde:''' "Looks aren't everything! (pause) I'll go for the fairy."
'''Q:''' "Is it against the law in Texas to call a Marine a 'sissy'?"
: '''Lynde:''' "I guess I'll have to take the law into my own hands."<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.PaulLynde.info/audioclips/Other/audioclips.htm |title=Paul Lynde Clips |website= Paullynde.info |date=June 5, 1960 |access-date= September 21, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017153440/http://paullynde.info/audioclips/Other/audioclips.htm |archive-date=October 17, 2013 }}</ref>
'''Q:''' "What unusual thing do you do if you have something called 'the gift of tongues'?"
: '''Lynde:''' "I wouldn't tell the [[grand jury]]. Why should I tell you?"
'''Q:''' "The great writer [[George Bernard Shaw]] once wrote, 'It's such a wonderful thing, what a crime to waste it on children.' What is it?"
: '''Lynde:''' "A whipping."<ref>''Zingers from the Hollywood Squares'' LP, Event Records, 1974</ref><ref>''Paul Lynde: Off Center'', A&E Home Video, 2001</ref>
'''Q:''' "...when a man falls out of your boat and into the water, you should yell 'Man overboard!' Now, what should you yell if a woman falls overboard?"
: '''Lynde:''' "Full speed ahead!"<ref>''I Love the 70s: 1971'', VH1, 2003</ref>
'''Q:''' "The Tin Man wanted a heart and the Lion wanted courage. What did the Straw Man want?"
: '''Lynde:''' "He wanted the Tin Man to notice him."
'''Q:''' "At what famous place in America will you find couples strolling arm-in-arm along Flirtation Walk and smooching at a place called Kissing Rock?"
: '''Lynde:''' "Oh, [[United States Penitentiary, Leavenworth|Leavenworth]] prison."
'''Q:''' "In what state was Abraham Lincoln born?"
: '''Lynde:''' "Like the rest of us; naked and screaming!"
'''Q:''' "Is it difficult to train an ostrich to become a sheepdog?"
: '''Lynde:''' "Yes it is; they can't lift their leg without tippin' over."
'''Q:''' "What is the major cause of itching in old folks?"
: '''Lynde:''' "Oh, Eating shredded wheat in bed."
'''Q:''' " Why was Daniel thrown into the den of lions?"
: '''Lynde:''' "For jay walking in Jerusalem."
'''Q:''' "in ancient times it was illegal to park your chariot in certain places in the biblical city of Nineveh. What was the penalty if you did so?"
: '''Lynde:''' "They'd let the air out of your horse!"
'''Q:''' "Who determines the sex of a child?"
: '''Lynde:''' "I say let the child make up its own mind!"
'''Q:''' " According to the Bible, [[King David]] was not allowed to build a temple because he sinned; what was Moses not allowed to do because of his sin?"
: '''Lynde:''' "Build a shopping center near the temple."
'''Q:''' "What do we call a gelded rooster?"
: '''Lynde:''' "Is that the one that just goes "a-doodle-doo"?"
'''Q:''' " Paul, true or false...Your teeth are about the same size and shape as a pig's."
: '''Lynde:''' "Look who's talking, beaver face!"
| author = Paul Lynde (Zingers (jokes) from ''The Hollywood Squares'')
| align = right
| width = 42%
}}

In 1966, Lynde debuted on the fledgling game show ''[[Hollywood Squares|The Hollywood Squares]]'' and quickly became its iconic guest star.<ref name="marshall-obit"/>  Eventually, he assumed a permanent spot as the "center square", a move that ensured that he would be called upon by contestants at least once in almost every round. Despite an urban legend claiming Lynde's contract guaranteed him the center square, he remained in the center at the producers' discretion. On ''The Hollywood Squares'', Lynde was best able to showcase his comedic talents with short, salty one-liners, spoken in his signature snickering delivery.<ref name="biog" /> Many gags were thinly veiled allusions to his homosexuality. Other jokes relied on [[double entendre]] or an alleged fondness for deviant behaviors, or dealt with touchy subject matter for 1970s television.

Appearing in 1,083 episodes, Lynde garnered considerable fame and wealth from the series.<ref>"[[Peter Marshall (entertainer)|Peter Marshall]], [[Kaye Ballard]]", ''[[E! True Hollywood Story]]'', 2000</ref> He eventually became disenchanted with being what he called "boxed in" to ''The Hollywood Squares'' and he departed the series in 1979. In 1980, ''The Hollywood Squares'' experienced a downward trend in [[Nielsen ratings]] and Lynde was approached about returning to the program. He initially declined, but changed his mind when told he would receive co-star billing with host Peter Marshall. He returned to the series in the spring of 1980, and remained with the show until its cancellation in February 1981.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

=== Voice acting ===
Between 1969 and 1974, Lynde did extensive [[voice actor|voice work]] on [[animated cartoon]]s, particularly for [[Hanna-Barbera Productions]]. His most notable roles include:
* Templeton, the gluttonous rat in the 1973 [[animated feature]] ''[[Charlotte's Web (1973 film)|Charlotte's Web]]''
* Mildew Wolf, from ''[[It's the Wolf!]]'' (a segment of ''[[Cattanooga Cats]]'')
* Claude Pertwee, neighbor on ''[[Where's Huddles?]]''
* Sylvester Sneekly ("Hooded Claw") in ''[[The Perils of Penelope Pitstop]]''

Lynde's sardonic inflections added a dimension to such lines as the sly, drawn-out whine, "What's in it for ''meeee?"'' His distinctive voice remains popular among impressionists. Although it is sometimes assumed that actress [[Alice Ghostley]] based her speech patterns and mannerisms on Lynde's, according to actress [[Kaye Ballard]], "It was Paul who was influenced by Alice."<ref>{{cite news |author= Dennis McLellan |title = 'Bewitched's' Esmeralda Dies at 81 |url = http://www.zap2it.com/news/zap-aliceghostleyobit,0,7769067.story |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130729151843/http://www.zap2it.com/news/zap-aliceghostleyobit,0,7769067.story |url-status = dead |archive-date = July 29, 2013 |work = [[Los Angeles Times]] |date = September 22, 2007 | access-date = July 29, 2013}}</ref>

=== ''The Paul Lynde Show'' and ''Temperatures Rising'' ===
In 1972, Lynde starred in a short-lived [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] sitcom, ''[[The Paul Lynde Show]]''. The series was a contractual fulfillment to ABC in place of an aborted ninth season of ''Bewitched''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/people/paul-lynde-9542425#synopsis|title=Paul Lynde|website=Biography.com|language=en-us|access-date=January 25, 2017}}</ref>

Lynde starred as Paul Simms, an uptight attorney, and father who was at odds with his liberal-minded son-in-law. The family included wife Martha ([[Elizabeth Allen (actress)|Elizabeth Allen]]), daughters Sally ([[Pamelyn Ferdin]]) and Barbara ([[Jane Actman]]), Barbara's husband Howie ([[John Calvin (actor)|John Calvin]]) and Howie's parents ([[Jerry Stiller]] and [[Anne Meara]]).

Critics considered the show to be derivative of ''[[All in the Family]],'' television's then most-popular primetime program, although many admitted the writing was excellent and that the sexual innuendoes gave it an extra note of spice. Lynde was nominated for a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy|Best Actor Golden Globe]] for the show. Scheduled opposite the first half of the top-30 hit ''[[The Carol Burnett Show]]'' on [[CBS]] and the top-20 hit ''[[Adam-12]]'' on NBC, the series garnered low ratings and was canceled after one season.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Drushel|first1=Bruce|last2=Park|first2=Shelley|date=January 1, 2016|title=Classic Media Reviews|url=https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/intellect/qsmpc/2016/00000001/00000001/art00010;jsessionid=3d12mnu7n7jvr.x-ic-live-03|journal=Queer Studies in Media & Popular Culture|volume=1|issue=1|pages=123–128|doi=10.1386/qsmpc.1.1.123_5}}</ref>

Contemporaneous media reports showed that viewers liked Lynde, but not ''The Paul Lynde Show'' and liked another ABC show, ''[[Temperatures Rising]]'', but disliked co-star [[James Whitmore]]. Unhappy himself, Whitmore left the show and ABC moved Lynde to ''Temperatures Rising'' for the 1973{{ndash}}74 season. This move came despite the objections of [[William Asher]], producer of both shows, who also quit in protest of ABC's meddling.

Ratings for ''The New Temperatures Rising'' were even lower than the previous season, in part because Asher's replacements shifted the show's tone to a much darker one than the previous season. ABC canceled the show and its time slot was taken by mid-season replacement ''[[Happy Days]]''.

ABC later decided to resuscitate the program, with additional cast changes (most notably, Alice Ghostley, who replaced Sudie Bond in the role of Lynde's sister, Edwina). ABC also convinced Asher, who admitted Lynde's presence likely saved the series, to come back. Seven further episodes were produced for summer 1974 airings, after which the series was permanently canceled.

=== Summer stock theater ===
Lynde was a fixture on the [[Kenley Players]] [[summer stock theater]] circuit,<ref>{{cite journal | url=http://ecommons.udayton.edu/archives_morse_media/72/ | title=Paul Lynde Interview | journal=ECommons | publisher=University of Dayton | date=July 8, 1971 | access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref> appearing in ''[[Don't Drink the Water (play)|Don't Drink the Water]]'' (1970, 1979), ''[[The Impossible Years]]'' (1969, 1978), ''Mother is Engaged'' (1974), ''My Daughter is Rated X'' (1973), ''[[Plaza Suite]]'' (1971), and ''Stop, Thief, Stop!'' (a retitled production of the play ''Three Goats and a Blanket,'' 1975).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.kenleyplayershistory.com/productions.htm | title=Kenley Players Productions | access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref> In all he appeared in nine Kenley Players productions, more than any other headliner.<ref name="kenplayhistmost">{{cite web | url=http://www.kenleyplayershistory.com/most.html | title=Most Appearances by a Headliner | work=Kenley Player History | access-date=January 11, 2016}}</ref> In the summer of 1980 Lynde toured the United States and Canada, headlining three one-act plays of "California Suite", "Plaza Suite", and "Last of the Red Hot Lovers", entitled 'Neil Simon's Suite', with cast members Beverly Sanders, friend and bodyguard Paul Barresi, and Kristie Siverson.

=== Television specials and variety shows ===
[[File:The Paul Lynde Comedy Hour Paul Lynde Nancy Walker 1975.jpg|thumb|right|''The Paul Lynde Comedy Hour'' (1975) with [[Nancy Walker]]]]

Lynde's continuing popularity led to his being signed by ABC to host a series of specials from 1975 to 1979, including:
* ''The Paul Lynde Comedy Hour'' (November 6, 1975) with [[Jack Albertson]], [[Nancy Walker]], and [[the Osmonds]]
* ''[[The Paul Lynde Halloween Special]]'' (October 29, 1976) featuring the first prime-time network appearance of [[Kiss (band)|KISS]], along with [[Margaret Hamilton (actress)|Margaret Hamilton]] recreating her role as the Wicked Witch of the West from ''[[The Wizard of Oz]]''. Hamilton and [[Billie Hayes]] (as ''[[H. R. Pufnstuf]]'''s Witchiepoo) teamed up in a skit where they ask Lynde to help them improve their (witches) image. Other guests included [[Betty White]], [[Donny Osmond|Donny]] and [[Marie Osmond]], [[Tim Conway]], and [[Roz Kelly]]
* ''The Paul Lynde Comedy Hour'' (April 23, 1977) with [[Cloris Leachman]] and [[Tony Randall]]
* ''[['Twas the Night Before Christmas (1977 TV special)|'Twas the Night Before Christmas]]'' (December 7, 1977) with Alice Ghostley, [[Martha Raye]], [[George Gobel]], and [[Foster Brooks]]<ref>{{cite news |author1=Joan Hanauer |title=Lynde Tries 'Different Christmas TV Special |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=so5IAAAAIBAJ&pg=2769,2833107&dq=paul+lynde+house&hl=en |work=[[The Youngstown Vindicator]] |date=December 7, 1977 |access-date=July 29, 2013}}</ref>
* ''The Paul Lynde Comedy Hour'' (May 20, 1978) with [[Juliet Prowse]], [[Brenda Vaccaro]], and [[Harry Morgan]]
* ''Paul Lynde at the Movies'' (March 24, 1979) with Betty White, [[Vicki Lawrence]], [[Robert Urich]], and [[Gary Coleman]]
* ''Paul Lynde Goes M-A-A-A-AD'' (May 20, 1979) with Marie Osmond, [[Charo]], and Vicki Lawrence

Lynde was a regular guest on the variety show ''[[Donny & Marie (1976 TV series)|Donny & Marie]]'' between 1976 and 1978, until he lost his guest-starring role due to very public, drunken arguments with police officers.<ref name=2019cw>{{cite web |last1=Gross |first1=Ed |title=Remembering the Life and Career of Paul Lynde, Star of 'Bewitched' and 'Hollywood Squares' (Exclusive) |url=https://www.closerweekly.com/posts/paul-lynde-bewitched/ |website=Closer Weekly |publisher=American Media Entertainment Group |access-date=August 16, 2019 |date=February 15, 2019}}</ref>

=== Guest appearances and film roles ===
Acting jobs continued to be scarce for Lynde, although whether or not this was related to his alcoholism, which made him difficult to work with, is unclear..<ref name=salon/> As demand for his services declined, he accepted a wider variety of job offers.

In 1978, he appeared as a guest weatherman for [[WSPD-TV]] in [[Toledo, Ohio]], to publicize both ''The Hollywood Squares'' and a summer-stock performance.<ref>{{cite web |title=Paul Lynde doing the Weather | date=August 22, 2008 |via = YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX_igvcBICc | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/NX_igvcBICc| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|access-date=May 26, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In the 1979 comedy ''[[The Villain (1979 film)|The Villain]]'' (released as ''Cactus Jack'' in the UK), he appeared as Indian chief Nervous Elk alongside former ''Bye Bye Birdie'' co-star Ann-Margret. It was his final film role.

In November 1980, the Beaux Arts Society, Inc. (founded in 1857) designated Paul Lynde "King" of the [[Beaux Arts Ball]], with [[Kitty Carlisle]] designated as "Queen". Paul Lynde remained a life member of the Beaux Arts Society from 1980 until his untimely death.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beauxartssociety.org/royal-family-.html |title=Royal Family |website=Thomas Robert Stevens |access-date=June 14, 2017}}</ref>

=== Awards ===
In 1976, at the Sixth Annual [[American Guild of Variety Artists|American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA)]] "Entertainer of the Year Awards", Lynde received an award for being voted the funniest man of the year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Entertainer of the Year Awards: Special with Jackie Gleason as host |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/43306303/ |access-date=August 15, 2019 |publisher=The Robesonian |date=January 11, 1976 |location=Lumberton, North Carolina}}</ref> Lynde immediately turned his award over to host [[Jackie Gleason]], citing him as "the funniest man ever". The unexpected gesture shocked Gleason.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rudolph |first1=Cathy |title=Paul Lynde: A Biography - His Life, His Love(s) and His Laughter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LRWEDwAAQBAJ |date=December 2, 2013 |publisher=BearManor Media |isbn=978-1629330655 |pages=202}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Despite his campy and flamboyant television persona, Lynde's private life and sexual orientation were not directly acknowledged or discussed on television or in other media during his lifetime. According to an essay on the website for [[The Biography Channel]], in the 1970s, entertainment journalists did not investigate the private lives of performers who were best known as game-show regulars.<ref name="biography.com">{{cite web |  website = biography.com |  url = http://www.biography.com/news/tv-stars-of-the-1970s |  title = TV Stars Who Ruled the 70s |  access-date = June 14, 2017 |  archive-date = May 1, 2017 |  archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170501190925/http://www.biography.com/news/tv-stars-of-the-1970s |  url-status = dead }}</ref>

A 1976 ''[[People (American magazine)|People]]'' article on Lynde included text about Stan Finesmith, who was described as Lynde's hairstylist, "suite mate", and "chauffeur-bodyguard".  The magazine included one photograph of Lynde as Finesmith styled his hair.<ref>{{Cite web| title=PaulLynde.info - People Magazine September 13, 1987| url= http://www.paullynde.info/Magazines/PeopleMag.html|access-date=January 23, 2022| website= paullynde.info}}</ref> During Lynde's lifetime, this was as close as the media came to hinting at his homosexuality.<ref name="salon">{{cite web |first= Mike | last= Sacks |author-link=Mike Sacks |title=Queer as Folk |url= http://www.salon.com/2005/08/23/lynde/ |work=[[Salon (website)|Salon]]  |date= August 23, 2005 |access-date=August 1, 2013}}</ref> Cathy Rudolph, a friend of Lynde's who published a 2013 book  ''Paul Lynde: A Biography{{snds}}His Life, His Love(s) and His Laughter'', stated in a 2018 interview that "being gay and having to hide it frustrated him."<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/bewitched-star-paul-lynde-struggled-with-childhood-insecurities-pal-claims |title= 'Bewitched' star Paul Lynde struggled with childhood insecurities, pal claims |last=Nolasco |first=Stephanie |publisher= Fox News |date=April 18, 2018 |access-date=August 6, 2018}}</ref>

With the wealth Lynde had earned working on ''Hollywood Squares'', he bought [[Errol Flynn]]{{'}}s Hollywood mansion and spent an enormous amount of money on renovations and décor. He lived there with his beloved dog, Harry MacAfee,<ref name = gazette /> until Harry died in 1977. Afterward, Lynde could not stay in the house without him and later bought a new home.

Lynde suffered from weight problems, weighing {{convert|250|lb|abbr=on}} when he graduated from high school.<ref name = gazette /><ref name = 2019cw /> He was honored by [[WW International|Weight Watchers]] in 1977.

=== Struggles with alcohol ===
Lynde struggled with alcoholism and had numerous run-ins with the law, including frequent arrests for [[public intoxication]].<ref name=2019cw /><ref name="biog" /> Peter Marshall and Kaye Ballard confirmed that Lynde, when inebriated, became very cruel, sometimes violent, and would sometimes ridicule his friends.<ref>''Florence Henderson Show'', 2008</ref><ref>Peter Marshall, Kaye Ballard; ''E! True Hollywood Story'', 2000</ref>

On July 18, 1965, Lynde was involved in an incident in which a friend, another young actor, accidentally fell to his death from the window of their hotel room in San Francisco's [[Sir Francis Drake Hotel]].<ref name=2014biog /> Lynde and 24-year-old James "Bing" Davidson had been drinking for hours when Davidson, while "horsing around", according to an [[Associated Press]] report, slipped and fell eight stories.<ref>{{cite news |title=Actor Falls 8 Stories To Death |url= https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5748769/james_binger_davidson_pasadena/ |access-date=August 16, 2019 |agency= Associated Press |work=Pasadena Independent |date=July 19, 1965| via= Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yiIhAAAAIBAJ&pg=3437,3717020 |title=Practical Joke Turns Into Death |access-date=August 16, 2019 |agency= Associated Press |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |date=July 19, 1965}}</ref>

In October 1977, Lynde was involved in an incident at his alma mater, [[Northwestern University]], when he was the grand marshal for [[homecoming]]. At a fast food restaurant near the campus after the homecoming parade, he made racist remarks and gestures to black NU professor James{{nbsp}}P. Pitts.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://findingaids.library.northwestern.edu/agents/people/2521 | title= Pitts, James P., 1944- | website = library.northwestern.edu | publisher = Northwestern University| accessdate =}}</ref> Lynde blamed his behavior on fatigue and inebriation.<ref>{{cite news |last= Moseley |first= Ray |date=October 28, 1977 |title=Lynde Apologizes for Racial Slurs to NU Prof |url= http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1977/10/28/page/1/article/lynde-apologizes-for-racial-slurs-to-nu-prof |work= Chicago Tribune |access-date= August 19, 2017}}</ref>

In January 1978, while in [[Salt Lake City]] to record a segment for the TV variety show [[Donny & Marie (1976 TV series)|''Donny & Marie'']], Lynde was arrested outside a tavern and charged with interfering with a police officer. Lynde's vehicle had been broken into and his valuables stolen while he was inside the tavern. The arresting officer had been investigating a different car burglary and claimed Lynde kept insisting that he "attend to Lynde's complaint", instead.<ref>{{cite news |title=Paul Lynde Arrested |newspaper=[[The Item|The Daily Item]] |date=January 4, 1978 |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1979&dat=19780104&id=nYciAAAAIBAJ&pg=4795,1302171 |access-date=July 29, 2013}}</ref> The complaint was later dropped.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Pitts |first1=Jim |title=The night they arrested Paul Lynde |journal= QSaltLake Magazine |date=April 21, 2016 |url=https://qsaltlake.com/news/2016/04/21/night-arrested-paul-lynde/ |access-date=August 16, 2019}}</ref>

Determined to get his life back on track, Lynde became sober and drug-free in early 1980.<ref>{{cite web |first= Mark Sebastian | last= Jordan |title=Paul Lynde's gravestone: An ad-hoc memorial |url= https://www.richlandsource.com/area_history/historic_figures/paul-lynde-s-grave-stone-an-ad-hoc-memorial/article_1eb8eb4a-87c0-5656-9505-170bc6534ccd.html |website=richlandsource.com |publisher=Richland Source |access-date=August 15, 2019 |date=September 30, 2018}}</ref>

== Death ==
On January 10, 1982, after Lynde failed to attend a birthday celebration, his friend, actor/model [[Paul Barresi]], became concerned. When Barresi and another friend, actor Dean Dittman, could not get an answer after calling Lynde on the phone and knocking on Lynde's door, Barresi broke into the side entrance to Lynde's home in [[Beverly Hills, California]], and found Lynde dead in his bed in the early morning hours of January 11, 1982. Lynde was 55 years old.

Stories circulated suggesting that Lynde had a visitor at the time of his death who fled the scene, but evidence indicated the stories were false.<ref name = "biog" /> Lynde regularly activated his house alarm before retiring for the evening. When Barresi broke in, the alarm blared, indicating that Lynde had been alone at the time of his death and that he had died in his sleep. Contrary to other reports that Lynde was found naked, Barresi said, "Not so. Paul was in his pajamas and wearing a robe."<ref name = "death">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xBJGAAAAIBAJ&pg=6913,912817&dq=paul+lynde+heart+attack&hl=en |title=Paul Lynde Suffers Heart Attack: Dead at 55 |author1=Paul Simon |date=January 12, 1982|work=[[Glasgow Daily Times|The Daily Times]] |access-date=July 29, 2013}}</ref><ref name="rush-bio">{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/gossip/lynde-bio-squarely-denies-od-article-1.644941 |title=Lynde Bio Squarely Denies He OD'd |author1=Rush & Molloy |date=September 1, 2005 |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|location=New York |access-date=July 29, 2013}}</ref>

The [[coroner]] ruled the death was caused by a heart attack.<ref name = death /> Lynde's cremated remains are interred at Amity Cemetery, in [[Amity, Knox County, Ohio]], next to those of his brother Johnny and his sister Helen. His mother, father, and veteran brother, Coradon, are buried at the same cemetery.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2010/08/11/bewitched-by-time/ |title=Bewitched by time |author1=Julia Keller |date=August 11, 2010 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Coradon George Lynde: Private from Ohio, World War II Casualty |url=https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=514031 |website=honorstates.org |access-date=September 12, 2022}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
A biography was published in 2005, titled ''Center Square: The Paul Lynde Story''. Authors Steve Wilson and Joe Florenski described Lynde as "[[Liberace]] without a piano" and that to most 1970s-era viewers, he was "a frustrated bit player and character actor on a daytime game show". To the homosexual community, his reputation was less than stellar: "In some ways, he came to symbolize what's perceived to be a self-loathing era for gay culture."<ref name = "salon" />

Lynde's distinctive vocal delivery has also been widely imitated:
* Cartoon creator/voice actor [[Seth MacFarlane]] has acknowledged that the voice of [[Roger the Alien]] on ''[[American Dad!]]'' was modeled after Lynde.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RycYlI3-7DU | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/RycYlI3-7DU| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|title=American Dad! – Seth on Paul Lynde and Patrick Stewart |author1=The Paley Center for Media |date=October 5, 2012 |access-date=June 14, 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* Actor/comedian Michael Airington portrays Lynde in the show ''Oh My Goodness It's Paul Lynde'' and ''An Evening with Paul Lynde'', recreating Lynde's 1976 live show and ''Off Center: The Paul Lynde Show''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/354355/An-Evening-with-Paul-Lynde/overview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924161011/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/354355/An-Evening-with-Paul-Lynde/overview |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2011 |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]] |author=Nathan Southern |year=2011 |title=An Evening with Paul Lynde |access-date=October 29, 2009}}</ref> Airington licensed the rights from the Paul Lynde Estate following a copyright claim.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2009/02/paul-lynde-play.html | title = Paul Lynde play at Exit Theatre gets pulled over copyright claim &#124; Culture Monster |work=Los Angeles Times |date=February 28, 2009 |access-date=October 29, 2009}}</ref> He also sang the theme of ''[[Samurai Pizza Cats]]'' in an impersonated Paul Lynde voice.
* [[Steve Carell]]'s portrayal of Uncle Arthur in the 2005 film version of ''[[Bewitched (2005 film)|Bewitched]]'' is done as an impression of Lynde.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/2021/11/29/bewitched-bothered-and-bewildering-case-file-197-bewitched-2005#google_vignette | title = Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildering Case File #196 Bewitched (2005) |last=Ephron|first=Nora|date=November 29, 2021 |access-date=March 27, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.today.com/popculture/bewitched-needs-bit-more-magic-wbna8258706 | title = 'Bewitched' needs a bit more magic |last=Hartl|first=John|publisher=today.com|date=June 23, 2005 |access-date=March 27, 2024}}</ref>
* Veteran voice actor and [[Skywalker Sound]] editor [[David Acord]] used an impression of Lynde's distinctive speech pattern for the portrayal of the droid EV-A4-D in an episode of ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)|Star Wars: The Clone Wars]]''.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVfqDYTURWQ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520211040/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVfqDYTURWQ|archive-date=May 20, 2023|url-status=live|title=Star Wars The Clone Wars Season One: Lair Of Grievous Featurette|via=YouTube|date=August 12, 2015|access-date=January 2, 2024}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* In 2018, drag queen [[BenDeLaCreme]] won the "[[Snatch Game]]" episode of [[RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (season 3)|the third season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars'']] with a portrayal of Lynde.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pADaKVOLaJU| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/pADaKVOLaJU| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|title=Paul Lynde aka BenDeLaCreme is Back From the Dead |website= VH-1 RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 3|via= YouTube |date=February 20, 2018|access-date=June 17, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* In July 2020, it was announced that actor and comedian [[Billy Eichner]] and producer Tom McNulty were developing a biopic based on the life of Lynde entitled ''Man in the Box'', with Eichner set to star as Lynde.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/billy-eichner-paul-lynde-movie-man-in-the-actor-stigmatized-for-being-gay-eichner-feels-things-havent-changed-for-gay-actors-1202990876/|title=Billy Eichner To Play Paul Lynde In 'Man In The Box', About Gifted Actor Stigmatized For Being Gay: Why Eichner Feels Things Haven't Changed, Gay Actors Still Excluded From Straight Roles & Even Playing Gay Icons|author=Mike Fleming Jr.|website=Deadline|date=July 21, 2020|access-date=June 17, 2021}}</ref>
* Richard Squires' 2018 experimental documentary ''Doozy''<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt8991416/ | title=Doozy (2018) - IMDb | publisher=[[IMDb]] }}</ref> examines Lynde's queer-coded voice work as a [[Hanna-Barbera]] cartoon villain.

==Filmography==

===Film===
{{div col}}
* ''[[New Faces of 1952#Film adaptation|New Faces]]'' (1954) (also writer) – Himself
* ''[[Son of Flubber]]'' (1963) – Sportscaster
* ''[[Bye Bye Birdie (1963 film)|Bye Bye Birdie]]'' (1963) – Harry MacAfee
* ''[[Under the Yum Yum Tree]]'' (1963) – Murphy
* ''[[For Those Who Think Young (film)|For Those Who Think Young]]'' (1964) – Sid Hoyt
* ''[[Send Me No Flowers]]'' (1964) – Mr. Atkins
* ''[[Beach Blanket Bingo]]'' (1965) – Bullets
* ''[[The Glass Bottom Boat]]'' (1966) – Homer Cripps
* ''Silent Treatment'' (1968) (documentary)
* ''[[How Sweet It Is!]]'' (1968) – The purser
* ''[[Charlotte's Web (1973 film)|Charlotte's Web]]'' (1973) Templeton – (voice)
* ''[[Journey Back to Oz]]'' (1974) Pumpkinhead – (voice)
* ''[[Hugo the Hippo]]'' (1975) – Aban-Khan – (voice)
* ''[[Rabbit Test (film)|Rabbit Test]]'' (1978) – Dr. Roger Vidal, M.D.
* ''Sweet Emotion''  (1978) – Shame (voice)
* ''[[The Villain (1979 film)|The Villain]]'' (1979) – Nervous Elk
{{div col end}}

=== Television ===
{{div col}}
* ''[[Red Buttons|The Red Buttons Show]]'' (1955)
* ''The Good Fairy'' (1956)
* ''[[Stanley (1956 TV series)|Stanley]]'' (1956–57)
* ''[[The Perry Como Show]]'' (1961–63)
* ''[[The Patty Duke Show]]'' (1963, one episode)
* ''[[Burke's Law (1963 TV series)|Burke's Law]]'' (1963–65, three episodes)
* ''[[The Munsters]]'' (1964–65, "Dr. Edward Dudley", three episodes)
* ''[[The Cara Williams Show]]'' (1964, "Charles Crump", episode "Three on a Mismatch")
* ''[[Bewitched]]'' (1964–71, "Harold Harold", one episode; "Uncle Arthur", 10 episodes)
* ''[[The Farmer's Daughter (TV series)|The Farmer's Daughter]]'' (1965, two episodes)
* ''[[Gidget (TV series)|Gidget]]'' (1965, one episode)
* ''[[I Dream of Jeannie]]'' (1966–1968, three episodes)
* ''[[F Troop]]'' (1966, one episode)
* ''[[Hollywood Squares|The Hollywood Squares]]'' (1966–81)
* ''[[Storybook Squares]]'' (1969, 1976–77)
* ''[[That Girl]]'' (1967, one episode)
* ''[[Hey, Landlord]]''  (1967, one episode)
* ''[[The Beverly Hillbillies]]'' (1967, one episode)
* ''[[The Mothers-In-Law]]'' (1968, one episode)
* ''[[The Flying Nun]]'' (1968, one episode)
* ''[[Dean Martin Show#Summer replacement series|Dean Martin Presents the Golddiggers]]'' (1968–1969)
* ''[[Gidget Grows Up]]'' (1969)
* ''[[Cattanooga Cats]]'' (1969–71) (voice)
* ''[[Love, American Style]]'' (1969–74)
* ''[[The Perils of Penelope Pitstop]]'' (1969–71) (voice) uncredited
* ''[[Where's Huddles?]]'' (1970) (voice)
* ''[[The Jonathan Winters Show]]'' (1968–69)
* ''[[Gidget Gets Married]]'' (1972)
* ''[[The Paul Lynde Show]]'' (1972–73)
* ''[[The New Temperatures Rising Show]]'' (1973–74)
* ''[[Hong Kong Phooey]]'' (1974) (voice)
* ''[[Donny & Marie (1976 TV series)|Donny & Marie]]'' (1976–78)
* ''[[The Paul Lynde Halloween Special]]'' (1976)
* ''[[The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast]]'' ("Roastees" [[Dean Martin]] & [[Peter Marshall (entertainer)|Peter Marshall]]) (1976–77)
* ''[['Twas the Night Before Christmas (1977 TV special)|'Twas the Night Before Christmas]]'' (1977)
* ''[[The Carol Burnett Show]]'' (1967–1978) Occasional Guest
* ''[[America 2-Night]]'' (1978)
* ''Paul Lynde at the Movies'' (1979)
{{div col end}}

==== Unsold pilots ====

{{div col}}
* ''Howie'' (1962, CBS)
* ''Two's Company'' (1965, ABC)
* ''Sedgewick Hawk-Styles: Prince of Danger'' (1966, ABC)
* ''Manley and the Mob'' (1967, ABC)
{{div col end}}

===Recordings===
* ''Recently Released'' (1960) Vinyl, LP, Mono; [[Columbia Records]] CL1534

== See also ==

{{Portal|Biography}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* ''Center Square: The Paul Lynde Story'' (2005) by Steve Wilson and Joe Florenski. {{ISBN|978-1-55583-793-8}}

==External links==
* [http://www.paullynde.info/ Official website]
* {{AFI person | 122085-Paul-Lynde }}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{tcmdb name}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{iobdb name}}
* {{playbill person}}
* {{Find a Grave}}
* [http://www.tvparty.com/myslynde.html What Happened to Paul Lynde?] at TVParty.com
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060428115057/http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/entertainers/actors/paul-lynde/ Paul Lynde at the Rotten Library]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160310223715/http://classicsquares.com/lyndesquares.html Paul Lynde punchlines from "The Hollywood Squares"]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051201021208/http://www.salon.com/books/int/2005/08/23/lynde/index_np.html "Queer as Folk"] ''[[Salon.com]]'', August 23, 2005.

{{Authority control}}

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