Soupy Sales heads for the big pie in the sky
Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:13 pmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8321711.stm
Comedian Soupy Sales, who had no less than 20,000 pies thrown at him during a career spanning half a century, has died at the age of 83.
Sales died in a hospice in New York after being admitted a week ago, his former manager Dave Usher said.
During the 1950s and 60s, Mr Usher said, Sales was one of the most instantly recognisable faces in the US.
Having pies hurled at him became his trademark act and he acknowledged that this would be his legacy.
"I'll probably be remembered for the pies, and that's all right," he said in a 1985 interview.
His television career began in Detroit and he then moved to Los Angeles in 1961.
On his television programme, celebrities including Frank Sinatra and Shirley MacLaine were spattered standing next to the comedian, often wearing his trademark oversized bow tie.
His most widely acclaimed television programme was "The Soupy Sales Show" which appealed to children and adults alike.
Comedian Soupy Sales, who had no less than 20,000 pies thrown at him during a career spanning half a century, has died at the age of 83.
Sales died in a hospice in New York after being admitted a week ago, his former manager Dave Usher said.
During the 1950s and 60s, Mr Usher said, Sales was one of the most instantly recognisable faces in the US.
Having pies hurled at him became his trademark act and he acknowledged that this would be his legacy.
"I'll probably be remembered for the pies, and that's all right," he said in a 1985 interview.
His television career began in Detroit and he then moved to Los Angeles in 1961.
On his television programme, celebrities including Frank Sinatra and Shirley MacLaine were spattered standing next to the comedian, often wearing his trademark oversized bow tie.
His most widely acclaimed television programme was "The Soupy Sales Show" which appealed to children and adults alike.
