Impressionist, Vegas headliner Fred Travalena dies

[Sydnie]

Impressionist Fred Travalena, a headliner in Vegas showrooms and a regular on late-night talk shows with his takes on presidents, crooners and screen stars, has died in Los Angeles. He was 66.

Publicist Roger Neal says Travalena died Sunday at his home in the Encino area after a recurrence of the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that first surfaced in 2002.

Travalena was known for the sheer volume of celebrities he imitated, leading to the nicknames "The Man of a Thousand Voices" and "Mr. Everybody."

His act included presidents from Kennedy to Obama, musicians from Frank Sinatra to Bruce Springsteen and actors from Marlon Brando to Tom Cruise.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090629/ap_on_en_tv/us_obit_travalena

[soleft]

1. It's the celebrity rapture

[OneGrassRoot]

2. ....

:spray:

OMG, I've stayed away from all these threads but that was too damn funny not to give you a huge

:applause:

:rofl:

[northernlights]

6. ...

:spray:

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Sydnie]

7. That was damn funny

Thanks, I needed that! :rofl:

[monmouth]

3. He was a huge talent, his impression of Sinatra even Sinatra liked. That's

saying something 'cause ole Blue Eyes wasn't always too appreciative. Always watched Carson when Fred was on. RIP Fred, you were wonderful.

[NYCGirl]

4. He also did a wonderful impression of Paul McCartney. NT

[supernova]

5. Fred was my fave

out of all of that Brat Pack/old Las Vegas era folks, though he was younger than most of them.

Genuinely funny and seemed like a genuinely nice guy. I too only watched Carson sometimes if Fred was gonna be on.

RIP Fred you really did make me laugh.

[Kadie]

8. So sad.

:cry:

[Ron Green]

9. Speaking of Vegas guys called home...

Sam Butera, the great tenor sax man for Louis Prima for many years, passed away a couple of weeks ago. What a hard-swinging band he had.