Charles Nelson Reilly Remembered

The Tony Award winning and Emmy nominated actor has died at age 76. Older generations of television viewers may remember him and his over-the-top appearances on such shows as Johnny Carson’s “The Tonight Show” and the game show “Match Game” when it aired on primetime television and more specifically as a guest on “The Hollywood Squares”. He was also a frequent player on the TV dramedy “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir”.

Younger audiences may not know his face but they are certainly aware of his very distinctive voice. As Reilly aged he started taking on more voice roles and became a superstar among the younger set providing the voices for such well known characters as Dirty Bubble on “SpongeBob Square Pants, and Red Parrot Stan for the Tom and Jerry cartoons.

Openly gay, Reilly also appeared in such films as the comedies “Gaydar” and “Men’s Mix 1: Gay Shorts Collection”. His openly gay stance was quite a feat because he came from an era where fellow actors, such as Rock Hudson and Montgomery Cliff, were told to hide that fact about themselves, whereas Reilly, while compromising early in his career about “coming out” was never embrassed by it whenever questioned about his sexual preference, and everyone loved him for his honesty and bravery. Later in his career, at the urging of fellow actor and openly gay comedian Paul Lynde, he did “come out,” played fully to it as his flamboyance only grew and neither he or his career suffered from the revelation.

What many television and movie goers may not be aware of his just how talented of an actor Charles was. What one saw on television and in his movies was just the tip of the iceberg for his vast talent as an actor. Where he really shined was on the Broadway stage. He won a Tony for his work in “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”. He received another Tony nomination for his role in the stage production of “Hello Dolly”. Later he turned to teaching and directing for both stage and television.

The actor starred in several episodes of “The X-Files” and “Millennium,” in fact, he was nominated for an Emmy award for his performance as Jose Chung in the “Millennuim” SF series.

Reilly began his career with the 1957 movie “A Face in the Crowd” and from there became one of the most working thespians in Hollywood, building a career and resume that many others would envy.

Charles Nelson Reilly, dead at 76.