Remembering Charles Nelson Reilly

by Brian McKim & Traci Skene on May 30th, 2007

The actor’s passing on May 25 in Los Angeles went without mention in these pages. Last night however, we received a splendid 2,000-word appreciation of Charles Nelson Reilly from actor/writer/director (and standup comic, of course) Paul Provenza.

I am so sorry to see Charles Nelson Reilly pass without the tremendous recognition he deserved in life. Not surprised, but still quite a bit sorry about it. He was so ubiquitous and was masterful in such unlikely ways, he became an ordinary part of my generation’s everyday life on TV all the time. I was actually moved by his passing in a way that doesn’t seem appropriate, but makes complete sense to me. He was such a big part of the comic pantheon of my impressionable youth that made me discover comedy with such a passion. I want to give the man his props here if nowhere else. He was so vastly underrated in comedy and as an artist in general.

It’s a touching and personal tribute. Read the whole thing. You’ll find out just how much you appreciated him, too.

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