20 Facts About Shecky Greene

Shecky Greene was known for his nightclub performances in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he became a headliner in the 1950s and 1960s.

Shecky Greene appeared in several films, including Tony Rome; History of the World, Part I; and Splash.

Shecky Greene emulated his older brother, who liked to speak in accents.

Shecky Greene was briefly, but more than once, enrolled at Wright Junior College.

Shecky Greene's act was held over for 18 weeks, a first for that venue.

Shecky Greene began performing at the Tropicana Hotel in 1957, remaining there for five years as one of their headliners.

Shecky Greene invented a hysterical, free-form approach to comedy that the confines of a five minute television spot could not handle.

Shecky Greene played Carnegie Hall and appeared on TV variety show The Ed Sullivan Show, which he said he hated because "They'd rush you on and off".

Shecky Greene appeared in "Members Only", a fourth-season, 1985 episode of the action TV show The A-Team.

Shecky Greene was widely respected by his peers, including Johnny Carson who was a longtime fan.

Shecky Greene made 40 appearances on The Tonight Show on which he served as a guest host.

Shecky Greene appeared on The Merv Griffin Show and served as a guest host there upon occasion.

Shecky Greene noted that he gave Arnold Schwarzenegger and Luciano Pavarotti their first national television exposure.

Shecky Greene claimed Jay Leno once told him that his all-time favourite joke was one Shecky Greene recounted about Frank Sinatra "saving his life".

Shecky Greene owned several nightclubs over the years and in different cities, including New Orleans.

Shecky Greene was married to Nalani Kele from 1972 to 1982.

Shecky Greene had a successful nightclub act, the Nalani Kele Polynesian Revue, from the 1960s to the early 1970s.

Shecky Greene experienced career obstacles due to depression, bipolar disorder, stage fright, gambling, panic attacks, drug abuse and alcoholism.

Shecky Greene led "humanitarian efforts" to create St Jude's Ranch, a shelter for indigent and neglected children in Boulder City, Nevada.

Shecky Greene died at home in Las Vegas on December 31,2023, at age 97.