Charles Elmer Taylor, Jr., better known as Rip Taylor, was a renowned American comedian, born on January 13, 1931, in Washington, D.C. to Charles Elmer Taylor Sr. and Elizabeth Evans Taylor. He began his career in the early 1960s, performing one-liners in nightclubs and eventually landing his first big break on Ed Sullivan's The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.
Rip's flamboyant blend of burlesque and self-deprecating humor quickly gained him popularity, and he became known for his tacky costumes, ridiculous props, handlebar mustache, wacky wigs, and manic confetti-tossing. He frequently appeared on television, including variety shows, talk shows, and sitcoms like The Monkees.
Rip's career flourished in the 1970s and 1980s, thanks to his association with producer Chuck Barris and his syndicated TV shows. He became a favorite panelist judge on Barris' The Gong Show and later hosted the equally tacky The $1.98 Beauty Show.
As a mainstay in Las Vegas, Rip performed in topless chorus lines, opened for major entertainers, and even appeared on Broadway in productions like "Sugar Babies," "Anything Goes," and "Oliver!" He also showcased his fine singing voice in musicals like "Peter Pan" and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."
On a more serious note, Rip appeared in films like Indecent Proposal and Alex & Emma, and continued to make campy films throughout his career. He also made a name for himself in voice-over work, providing additional voices for animated films and TV series like The Jetsons, DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp, and Scooby-Doo and the Monster of Mexico.
Rip Taylor was nominated for an Emmy award for his voice work in The Addams Family and continued to work in the entertainment industry until his passing. He died on October 6, 2019, at the age of 88, due to congestive heart failure.
