Fred Travalena, the Las Vegas cutup and late-night TV stalwart known as "The Man of a Thousand Faces," died Sunday at age 66 after a long battle with cancer.
According to news reports, Fred Travalena passed away at his Encino, Calif., home from non-Hodgkins lymphoma, which he was diagnosed with in 2002.
He also was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2003, after which the funnyman spent five years in remission before the lymphoma returned last July.
Travalena's master mimicry ran the fame gamut from Frank Sinatra, Jack Nicholson, Bugs Bunny, Dr. Ruth, Clint Eastwood and Bruce Springsteen to presidents like JFK and Richard Nixon. He boasted of having nearly 400 voices in his repertoire.
Fred was featured on shows ranging from The Jetsons and Scooby-Doo to The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson, The Late Show With David Letterman and The New Hollywood Squares. He also made appearances on Love Boat and Fantasy Island.
Fred Travalena is survived by his wife of 39 years, Lois, two sons and a granddaughter. Our condolences go out to his family, as well as to the families and friends of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Billy Mays and Michael Jackson.
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3 Comments
June 29th, 2009 8:35 PM
I loved this Guy! he was on TV for years! Very funny and a great Impressionist! Loved his Sammy Davis Jr.
Here's a link to a video of him singing with Sammy while doing Sammy! http://nationalspectator.com/?p=3056
June 30th, 2009 12:49 AM
I bet he had a brain bleed from the hit on the head. I know too many people and stories about the same situation. Hit on head by something and within a month or just days, they die. Get checked out at the hospital if you hit your head.......... Mandatory people..... http://billymayes.blogspot.com/
July 6th, 2009 11:44 AM
My mother passed three years ago after a one year battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma....My thoughts and prayers go to his family during this difficult time....RIP Fred you will be missed