Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Goodbye, Charles Nelson Reilly


A sad day in the (212) with the passing of Charles Nelson Reilly, who died on Friday of complications from pneumonia at 76.
Like most queers of my generation, Reilly was really one of the first gay people we ever knew about. Although his campy ascot-wearing persona could be considered the 1970s equivalent to Jack McFarland on "Will & Grace," just having him sitting there alongside the other stars on "The Match Game" and being loved and accepted was a subconscious comfort to all of us gay boys in our early development. Although he later lamented being best known for his game show appearances, it's hard to imagine those shows working without him. (Tony Tripoli pays a wonderful tribute to Charles playing him in the L.A. stage production of "The Mismatch Game," below.) Reilly won a Tony Award in 1962 for his role in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" and was nominated again in 1964 for "Hello, Dolly" and in 1997 for directing "The Gin Game."
The Bronx-born Reilly is survived by his long-time partner, Patrick Hughes. He will be missed. (NYT)

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Charles was a very funny man. I will miss him also.

Hopefully i will get to see his "twin" that i see walking around Chelsea once in a while with those big fabulous thick black Jackie O type shades.

em

nojarama said...

Yes, sad as it is, he will live on in spirit via Tony's brilliant impression. When is the next "Mismatch Game" anyways?!

Anonymous said...

Didn't he also star in "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir"? Or am I crazy?

rob @ www.saintsforsinners.com