Bobby Clark | |
---|---|
Born |
Robert Edwin Clark 16 June 1888 Springfield, Ohio |
Died | 12 February 1960 New York City, New York, U.S. |
(aged 71)
Occupation | Comedian |
Years active | 1906-1958 |
Spouse(s) | Angele Gaignat |
Robert Edwin Clark (June 16, 1888 – February 12, 1960), known as Bobby Clark, was a minstrel, vaudevillian, performer on stage, film, television and the circus. Known for his painted-on eyeglasses, he was part of a comedy team with Paul McCullough for 36 years.
He was born in Springfield, Ohio. While still in grammar school he formed a friendship with classmate Paul McCullough. The two attended tumbling classes, and began performing an acrobatic act in minstrel shows and later in the Ringling Brothers' Circus. The team worked as clowns from 1906 to 1912. In 1912 they made their debut in vaudeville with a pantomime act built around the simple act of placing a chair on top of a table. In 1922 they starred in Irving Berlin's Broadway show Music Box Revue.
Beginning in 1929, they made a series of about 35 short comedy films, for FOX and RKO, some of which are still extant.
Clark & McCullough performed together until McCullough's suicide in March 1936.
In 1939 Clark appeared on Broadway in The Streets of Paris, sharing the stage with a new comedy act: Abbott & Costello.
Clark appeared on television during the 1950–51 television season, in the 8–9 pm Sunday night time slot of The Colgate Comedy Hour; however, Clark's four episodes were among those sponsored by Frigidaire and titled simply The Comedy Hour.
The Goldwyn Follies, his last and only film without Paul McCullough, in 1938, was the first Technicolor film produced by Samuel Goldwyn.