Rip Taylor

Biography

Date of Birth 13 January 1934, Washington, District of Columbia, USA Birth Name Charles Elmer Taylor Height 5' 10" (1.78 m) Although most of his new admirers don't realize it, Rip Taylor has dazzled audiences Worldwide in a career that has spanned over forty years. A master of comedic timing and consummate showman, Rip has headlined in Las Vegas, appeared on hundreds of television shows, played the lead in various plays and musicals, and frequently taken a dramatic turn in feature films. It is no exaggeration to say that Rip Taylor has succeeded in every facet of the entertainment industry. The phenomenon that is Rip Taylor began when Ed Sullivan could not remember the young comedian's name, he introduced Rip as "The Crying Comedian." Ed Sullivan accidentally stumbled upon Rip's niche, and after that appearance Rip found himself booked solid for months. This taught the young performer the importance of having a memorable hook. Bright costumes, outrageous props, wacky wigs and colorful confetti soon followed - and Rip Taylor became a pop culture sensation. Rip is one of television's most recognizable celebrities. A guest star with over 2,000 television appearances under his belt, Rip brought his wild energy to The Gong Show, Password, The Merv Griffin Show, The Mike Douglas Show,, The Tonight Show, Late Night with David Letterman and to the coveted center square on Hollywood Squares. Perhaps Rip's greatest impact in television was when he was picked by Chuck Barris to host The $1.98 Beauty Show. The campy "beauty and talent contest" brought Rip icon status as he served as ringmaster, gloriously reveling in the glitter and kitsch of "The World's Tackiest TV Show." For decades, Rip has maintained his status as one of the top headliners in Las Vegas. He has been named "Entertainer of the Year" three times in a row, spent a year headlining The Flamingo Hotel's Rockettes Extravaganza, and in the 2002 brought Rip Taylor's Christmas Spectacular to the Rio. Additionally, Rip has played on Broadway and toured the country as the lead role in plays such as Sugar Babies, Anything Goes, Oliver, Peter Pan, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. He is currently writing and producing a one-man-show entitled Let'er Rip. In addition to comedy and music, Rip is an accomplished "legitimate" actor. He played Demi Moore's surly boss in Indecent Proposal, and plays Kate Hudson's father in Alex and Emma. In a career that has spanned five remarkable decades, Rip Taylor feels fortunate to have become a madcap mainstay in show business. He frequently donates his time and talents to numerous charitable causes including The Thalians, The Screen Actors Guild, The Actors Home, The Friars Charitable Trust and many, many more.