Obit: Phyllis Diller 1917 - 2012

Subject: Obit: Phyllis Diller 1917 - 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 03:50 PM

Yes, this does belong above the line.

Washington Post obit for Phyllis Diller.

She lived a long, full life. And in her later years, she was able to return to her first love - music - to perform as a pianist. She trained as a concert pianist long before she started the stand-up comedy. Chicago's Sherwood Music Conservatory is where she got her training. And she did small and cameo roles over the years as a pianist.

Her husband managed her career until the couple’s 25-year marriage fell apart in the 1960s. Shortly after her divorce she married entertainer Warde Donovan, but they separated within months.

Through both marriages and other relationships, the foibles of "Fang" remained an integral part of her act.

"Fang is permanent in the act, of course," she once said. "Don’t confuse him with my real husbands. They’re temporary."

RIP, Ms. Diller. We loved you in all of your selves.

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: Phyllis Diller
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 04:01 PM

I hadn't thought of Phyllis Diller for a long time.
Her comedy was intelligent, something lacking in many current comedians. I miss her and others who made me smile.

Subject: Obit: Phyllis Diller 93
From: Donuel
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 04:13 PM

I only met her once but she is a kind and joyful soul.

Subject: RE: Obit: Phyllis Diller 1917 - 2012
From: GUEST,amergin
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 04:15 PM

I first saw her on The Muppet Show when I was a kid....

Phyllis Diller and the Muppets

Subject: RE: Obit: Phyllis Diller 1917 - 2012
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 04:16 PM

She and later Joan Rivers paved the way for any female stand-ups to follow. Saw her once w/Bob Hope in concert. There was opportunity missed as they didn't do any husband/wife movies as they were a scream together on stage.

She had Borscht Belt timing w/housewife angst. Magical combination.   RIP, Ms. Diller

Subject: RE: Obit: Phyllis Diller 1917 - 2012
From: Haruo
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 04:23 PM

Amen.

Subject: RE: Obit: Phyllis Diller 1917 - 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 04:23 PM

Oh, sad to hear this. We always loved her. One show I'll never forget...Twilight Zone or Alfred Hitchock...some guy had died, was in his coffin at his funeral. Diller was his widow..loud, obnoxious, non-stop complaining about how awful he was. He was up and aware of what was happening, waited for it to end, then, then kicker was, that WAS his hell..nothing had changed at all...she was still nagging. It was a stunning ending and, of course, Diller was perfect.

Thanks, Ms. Diller and RIP,

kat

Subject: RE: Obit: Phyllis Diller 1917 - 2012
From: catspaw49
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 04:34 PM

awwww wowwww........so damn sad. She was really a terrific comic presence. Fang you dear Lady.....


Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: Phyllis Diller 1917 - 2012
From: GUEST,mando-player-91
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 04:54 PM

RIP ms Diller thank you for the many years of laughs and grace. I remember I used to think her husband was actually named Fang when I was little

Subject: RE: Obit: Phyllis Diller 1917 - 2012
From: bobad
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 05:24 PM

"I once wore a peekaboo blouse. People would peek and then they'd boo." - Phyllis Diller.

Thank you for the laughs funny lady.

RIP

Subject: RE: Obit: Phyllis Diller 1917 - 2012
From: GUEST,Stim
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 05:40 PM

One of the funniest people ever.

Subject: RE: Obit: Phyllis Diller 1917 - 2012
From: pdq
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 06:17 PM

She learned her craft in standup comedy by working The Purple Onion, also known for launching the career of the Smothers Brothers.

Subject: RE: Obit: Phyllis Diller 1917 - 2012
From: gnu
Date: 20 Aug 12 - 09:21 PM

Spaw... "Fang you dear Lady.....

Indeed... one of the best that ever was.

RIP and Fang you.

Subject: RE: Obit: Phyllis Diller 1917 - 2012
From: GUEST,Orson Trap
Date: 21 Aug 12 - 03:01 AM

I remember seeing her going through her rack of dresses on TV show once and describing them. This one is my 'freak out' dress, when I wear this people say "who let the freak out".
What a star.

Subject: RE: Obit: Phyllis Diller 1917 - 2012
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 21 Aug 12 - 09:02 AM

Just to bring it back to music, local radio station played her recording of Satisfaction this morning. A real hoot.

Subject: RE: Obit: Phyllis Diller 1917 - 2012
From: lefthanded guitar
Date: 21 Aug 12 - 06:11 PM

I remember seeing her on tv since I was a child, and reading over some of her succinct jokes, I'm still in stitches.   A great lady who forged a path for everyone after.

Subject: RE: Obit: Phyllis Diller 1917 - 2012
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Aug 12 - 07:30 PM

Just for old time's sake:

ON ED SULLIVAN'S SHOW

and,

first time I've ever heard her do SATISFACTION...LMAO. Thanks for mentioning it, Gerry.

Subject: RE: Obit: Phyllis Diller 1917 - 2012
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Aug 12 - 10:45 PM

I love it when Terry Gross is able to go into the archives of Fresh Air and put out one of her interviews for timely replay. Such is the case with Phyllis Diller. It's a straight interview, she's not in persona (I loved her comedy when I was a kid, but one realizes as one gets older that the time on the couch on the Johnny Carson Show was the extemporaneous portion of her performance, that she was entirely in character.)

Diller paused at one point when Terry phrased a question about comics and described three aspects of women in comedy, the comic, the comedienne, and the comic actress. Interesting.

SRS