Another celebrity death, impressionist Fred Travalena.

dom56 · 06-29-09, 10:56 AM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090629/...obit_travalena

Quote:

LOS ANGELES – Impressionist Fred Travalena, a headliner in Vegas showrooms and a regular on late-night talk shows with his takes on presidents, crooners and screen stars, has died in Los Angeles. He was 66.

Publicist Roger Neal says Travalena died Sunday at his home in the Encino area after a recurrence of the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that first surfaced in 2002.

Travalena was known for the sheer volume of celebrities he imitated, leading to the nicknames "The Man of a Thousand Voices" and "Mr. Everybody."

His act included presidents from Kennedy to Obama, musicians from Frank Sinatra to Bruce Springsteen and actors from Marlon Brando to Tom Cruise.

The Bronx native started his career in Las Vegas in 1971.

Just a few days left for June. Who going to be next?

wishbone · 06-29-09, 11:01 AM

I remember him a bit. This has been a rough month for the celebs.

Fred Travalena

Kicker_of_Elves · 06-29-09, 11:04 AM

If i was a Celebrity, i would be scared shitless right now.

tommyp007 · 06-29-09, 11:04 AM

Yeah, I remember him making the late night tv rounds quite a bit in the 80's. He was GOOD! RIP.

Thor Simpson · 06-29-09, 11:11 AM

These things come in 3's you know (one of the stupidest repeated "observations" in modern society)

nateman · 06-29-09, 11:42 AM

RIP Fred Travalena

Thor Simpson · 06-29-09, 11:43 AM

Am I the only one who thinks of John Tavolta when they read the name Fred Travalena?

Red Dog · 06-29-09, 12:00 PM

He was a frequent game show celebrity participant in the late 70s/early 80s.

Numanoid · 06-29-09, 12:14 PM

Yes, the poor man's Rich Little. He was all over TV in the '80s. Probably worked cheap.

VinVega · 06-29-09, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor Simpson

These things come in 3's you know (one of the stupidest repeated "observations" in modern society)

I believe this will make 2 sets of three. But thanks for the dismissive sarcasm...unbeliever.

General Zod · 06-29-09, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor Simpson

These things come in 3's you know (one of the stupidest repeated "observations" in modern society)

Sometimes it takes months and months to get it but eventually we do get that 3 and then it starts over. No doubt the whole 3 thing continues to hold true.

stevevt · 06-29-09, 01:01 PM

I think we're overlooking the fact that the "comes in 3s" observation came from a time when there were far, far fewer celebrities than there are now. How could it possibly stay the same?

The Infidel · 06-29-09, 01:24 PM

No kidding. I think we need to change the number to at least 7.

JumpCutz · 06-29-09, 01:29 PM

RIP

He was painfully unfunny.

El Scorcho · 06-29-09, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor Simpson

These things come in 3's you know (one of the stupidest repeated "observations" in modern society)

dont be stupid, they come in 6's now

kenbuzz · 06-29-09, 02:55 PM

Quote:

His act included presidents from Kennedy to Obama...

Okay, I'll bite. "Voice" impressions only, right?

devilshalo · 06-29-09, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenbuzz

Okay, I'll bite. "Voice" impressions only, right?

Voice and mannerisms.

Shoveler · 06-29-09, 04:57 PM

Are they sure he's not just updating his Michael Jackson impression?

Mrs. Danger · 06-29-09, 06:28 PM

Hey, that's a really good impression of several celebrities he's doing.

Abelkems · 06-29-09, 07:20 PM

His face looks familiar, but I don't recall ever seeing him on anything.

awil1026 · 06-29-09, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor Simpson

These things come in 3's you know (one of the stupidest repeated "observations" in modern society)

Yep.

I'm not familiar with this guy.

big whoppa · 06-29-09, 07:57 PM

That name rang a bell. I haven't seen his act on TV in years.

CharlieK · 06-29-09, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shoveler

Are they sure he's not just updating his Michael Jackson impression?

uberjoe · 06-29-09, 10:02 PM

Sorry he died, but I've never understood the fascination with impressionists. "I'm famous because I can act like someone who is famous." At least mimes have to struggle with those gigantic, invisible boxes. Bless their silent hearts.

calhoun07 · 06-29-09, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uberjoe

Sorry he died, but I've never understood the fascination with impressionists. "I'm famous because I can act like someone who is famous." At least mimes have to struggle with those gigantic, invisible boxes. Bless their silent hearts.

I don't know if I can say I've ever been fascinated by them (I never cared to watch him or Rich Little), but it's not as easy as it looks.

I heard that he also did voice over work on movies edited for TV so he could sound like the actors who he was doing the voice over for. Perhaps not fascinating, but it has a functional role in our society, and better to pay one man for 300+ voices than to find a bunch of different people who can do just a handful of voices each.

And is it just me or is this becoming a dying art form (and yes, I think to a degree it is an art form.) Not too many impressionists getting work these days, I don't think.

06-29-09, 11:01 AM	#2
wishbone DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 6,576	Re: Another celebrity death, impressionist Fred Travalena. I remember him a bit. This has been a rough month for the celebs. Fred Travalena __________________ "Wishbone is spelled with an E not a 3..... Be gone" - Minor Threat

06-29-09, 11:04 AM	#3
Kicker_of_Elves DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: High above the Mucky Muck Posts: 4,337	Re: Another celebrity death, impressionist Fred Travalena. If i was a Celebrity, i would be scared shitless right now. __________________ Xbox Live: Terroriza "Say, would you like a chocolate covered pretzel?" - Brodie Bruce My Countdown Counting down to: When abrg923 ruins another April Fools Day 144 days 10 hours 41 minutes

06-29-09, 11:04 AM	#4
tommyp007 DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Kingsport, TN Posts: 2,756	Re: Another celebrity death, impressionist Fred Travalena. Yeah, I remember him making the late night tv rounds quite a bit in the 80's. He was GOOD! RIP. __________________ I saw weird stuff in that place last night. Weird, strange, sick, twisted, eerie, godless, evil stuff. And I want in." Homer Simpson Where The Paycheck Goes

06-29-09, 11:11 AM	#5
Thor Simpson DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: BWG's Mom Posts: 27,602	Re: Another celebrity death, impressionist Fred Travalena. These things come in 3's you know (one of the stupidest repeated "observations" in modern society) __________________ "So they got a warrant and moved in. " - JasonF

06-29-09, 11:42 AM	#6
nateman DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: May 2006 Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada Posts: 4,233	Re: Another celebrity death, impressionist Fred Travalena. RIP Fred Travalena

06-29-09, 11:43 AM	#7
Thor Simpson DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: BWG's Mom Posts: 27,602	Re: Another celebrity death, impressionist Fred Travalena. Am I the only one who thinks of John Tavolta when they read the name Fred Travalena? __________________ "So they got a warrant and moved in. " - JasonF

06-29-09, 12:00 PM	#8
Red Dog DVD Talk God Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Directionally Challenged (for DirecTV) Posts: 77,163	Re: Another celebrity death, impressionist Fred Travalena. He was a frequent game show celebrity participant in the late 70s/early 80s. __________________ "A question for you. Would you rather Bucknell make the NCAA's once every 20 years or so and get ass raped by teams like Kansas in the first round or have them drop down a rung to a confernce where they can compete for a title?" - Josh Hinkle 1st Round Final Scores: Bucknell 64 Kansas 63 \| Bucknell 59 Arkansas 55

06-29-09, 12:14 PM	#9
Numanoid DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Down in 'The Park' Posts: 21,278	Re: Another celebrity death, impressionist Fred Travalena. Yes, the poor man's Rich Little. He was all over TV in the '80s. Probably worked cheap.

06-29-09, 01:01 PM	#12
stevevt DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Vermont Posts: 9,113	Re: Another celebrity death, impressionist Fred Travalena. I think we're overlooking the fact that the "comes in 3s" observation came from a time when there were far, far fewer celebrities than there are now. How could it possibly stay the same?

06-29-09, 01:24 PM	#13
The Infidel DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: the kingdom of the evil Voratians, ruled by the wicked Ak-Oga Posts: 7,525	Re: Another celebrity death, impressionist Fred Travalena. No kidding. I think we need to change the number to at least 7. __________________ Hey you, reading this. Click and join this fan page. You're not doing anything better.

06-29-09, 01:29 PM	#14
JumpCutz DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: south of heaven Posts: 2,712	Re: Another celebrity death, impressionist Fred Travalena. RIP He was painfully unfunny.

06-29-09, 04:57 PM	#18
Shoveler DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cedar Rapids, IA, USA Posts: 3,158	Re: Another celebrity death, impressionist Fred Travalena. Are they sure he's not just updating his Michael Jackson impression? __________________ A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul. -- George Bernard Shaw

06-29-09, 06:28 PM	#19
Mrs. Danger DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: May 2005 Location: With Nick Danger Posts: 9,400	Re: Another celebrity death, impressionist Fred Travalena. Hey, that's a really good impression of several celebrities he's doing. __________________ The Bus: Mrs. Danger is wise. Ignore her at your own peril. www.unseengallery.com

06-29-09, 07:20 PM	#20
Abelkems DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NW GA Posts: 2,271	Re: Another celebrity death, impressionist Fred Travalena. His face looks familiar, but I don't recall ever seeing him on anything.

06-29-09, 07:57 PM	#22
big whoppa DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: May 2000 Location: Under Golden Gate Bridge Posts: 9,138	Re: Another celebrity death, impressionist Fred Travalena. That name rang a bell. I haven't seen his act on TV in years. __________________ "I Choked Linda Lovelace" - on Joe Dirt's T-Shirt

06-29-09, 10:02 PM	#24
uberjoe DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 3,366	Re: Another celebrity death, impressionist Fred Travalena. Sorry he died, but I've never understood the fascination with impressionists. "I'm famous because I can act like someone who is famous." At least mimes have to struggle with those gigantic, invisible boxes. Bless their silent hearts.