Shecky Greene has an incredible sense of humor and since 1954, his career has revolved around his ability to make people laugh. The American comedian is not just popular for his nightclub performances in Las Vegas but also for his roles in some television shows and films.
Meanwhile, Shecky’s art, though interesting, is mostly termed ‘unbridled.’ Besides his career, his private life has been full of controversies that nearly ended his career.
Interesting Facts About Shecky Greene You Should Know
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1. He is 99 years old
Greene was born on April 8, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois to Jewish parents, Carl and Bessie Greenfield and he is currently 99 Years Old. He was raised on the Northside of Chicago, Illinois as Fred Sheldon Greenfield. Not much is known about his family background but he has previously hinted about having an older brother he loved to mimic.
2. Shecky Greene started performing in High School
Greene attended Sullivan High School and it was in the institution that he began to perform as a singer. He later discovered his ability to act in stage plays and formed a drama club where he led several of his peers in making stage presentations. After completing high school, Shecky enrolled in Wilbur Wright College for his higher education. However, he quit school after he got a call to fill in for two weeks at the Prevue Lounge in New Orleans.
3. Greene initially planned on becoming a gym teacher before switching to comedy
Several people have had to change their career passions after discovering something innate within them that they could do effortlessly, and Shecky Greene is one such person.
From the onset, he had a special liking for the gym and planned to become a gym teacher someday. However, after he discovered the humourous side of himself, he began to perform stand-up comedy in Chicago at mob-run nightclubs and other locations.
Greene officially started his comedy career at the Prevue Lounge in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he worked for six years until it burned down.
After the facility was razed down, he went on to showrooms in Miami, Chicago, and Reno/Lake Tahoe before an agent convinced him to move to Las Vegas in 1954 to open for Dorothy Shay, “the Park Avenue Hillbillie,” at the Last Frontier.
For the next few years, he became the king of comedy and by the 60s, his name was known far beyond Nevada. Moreover, Secky Greene was inducted into the National Comedy Hall of Fame. 100 Hollywood luminaries voted him in various areas of entertainment on March 24th, 2020.
4. The Comedian has appeared on a variety of TV Shows
Apart from his comedy career, Greene is known for his screen appearances on programs like The Ed Sullivan Show, The Joey Bishop Show, and The Love Boat. Others are The Fall Guy, The A-Team, and Match Game. Meanwhile, He notes that he gave Arnold Schwarzenegger and Luciano Pavarotti their first national television exposure.
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5. Shecky Greene’s filmography
Apart from his comedy career, Shecky is known to have made occasional appearances in some movies. He is credited for his works in the following
- When Jews Were Funny – 2013
- The Last Producer – 2000
- Loveliness – 1984
- Spalsh – 1984
- History of the World, Part I – 1981
- Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood – 1976
- The Love Machine – 1971
- Tony Rome – 1967
6. He was unable to perform from 2003 to 2009 due to panic attacks
The American comedian suffered from panic attacks and stage fright that made him unable to perform for about 6 years. However, in 2009 he returned to performing. Moreover, his career had witnessed setbacks owing to factors like depression, bipolar disorder, stage fright, gambling, drug abuse, and alcoholism.
7. Shecky has been married twice
Greene first tied the knot with Nalani Kele in 1972. Nalani was a businesswoman who had a successful nightclub act called the Nalani Kele Polynesian Revenue. However, Greene and Nalani divorced in 1982 after which the American comedian moved on with Marie Musso in 1985. His wife, Marie is the daughter of Vido Musso, a Las Vegas musician who played saxophone with Benny Goodman.
8. He fought in World War II
Shecky may only be famous to many as the man who loves to make people laugh. However, there is a fiery side to his personality that he had to wear while serving as a soldier in the United States Army during World War II. By the way, he only served in the army for 3 years before he was discharged in 1944.
9. Shecky Greene Loves Thoroughbred Racing
When he is not performing, the comedian’s main passion is Thoroughbred racing. As a result of his passion and dedication to the game, a horse was named after him between 1970 to 1984. The horse was the 1973 American Champion Sprint Hours and the front-runner for nearly 7 furlongs in the 1973 Kentucky Derby. Also, Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois has held the Shecky Greene race for many years.
Apart from Thoroughbred racing, Greene spends his days playing golf, reading, and watching television.
10. How Rich is He?
Shecky Greene’s net worth is currently estimated at $5 million. He has accumulated this sum from his 71-year-long entertainment career and from his lucrative entrepreneurial ventures.
He owned several nightclubs over the years in different cities and this has added to his fortunes. Meanwhile, the comedian has committed his time and resources to humanitarian ventures. He masterminded the creation of St. Jude’s Ranch, a shelter for indigent and neglected children in Boulder City, Nevada.
