Guy Marks
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (December 2012) |
Guy Marks | |
---|---|
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US | |
Died | November 28, 1987 , US | (aged 64)
Occupation(s) | Actor, comedian, singer, impressionist |
Guy Marks (October 31, 1923 – November 28, 1987[1]) was an American actor, comedian, singer and impressionist. A familiar face on TV sitcoms and variety shows of the 1960s and 1970s, he appeared regularly on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Merv Griffin Show, The Dean Martin Show, The Mike Douglas Show, and The Joey Bishop Show. He had a natural gift for mimicry, and his impressions of celebrities such as Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper, Boris Karloff, and many others were considered among the best. However, he also could imitate a housefly on a slippery oil cloth, neon signs, alligators, driftwood furniture, rubber bands, frozen chickens, frogs, praying mantis, and — his favorite — an ostrich, all of which found their way into his act or in characters he played on TV.
Early life
Marks was born Mario Scarpa[2] in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of 11 children born to Ermelindo and Adelina Scarpa, who had emigrated from Italy to America at the beginning of the 20th century. Ermelindo was a clarinetist with the RCA recording orchestra under the direction of Josef Pasternack, and went on to name all of his children after the characters in operas. Mario was named after the hero in La Tosca, an opera his mother admired while she was carrying him. Other siblings included Victoria, Yolanda, Gioconda, Mafalda, Alba, Melba, Thenistocles (Domisticles) and Aristides. Two additional older brothers died at ages two and five from scarlet fever. In school he spent most of his time imitating his teachers and frustrating the principal. [citation needed]
Marks enlisted in the US Army on December 12, 1940, and after serving two years, signed up for a six-year stint in the
Career
Marks made his first appearance on
Marks made a memorable appearance in an episode of Dick Van Dyke in 1963 when he played a love interest for Sally, played by Rose Marie. The episode, entitled "Jilting the Jilter", featured much of Marks' night-club routine at the time. In May 1964, Marks appeared on The Hollywood Palace to perform another of his famous night-club bits, entitled "How The West Was REALLY Won?" The skit featured Marks' flawless imitations of Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper, Robert Mitchum and a Native American Indian. In 1965 he guest-starred on two science-fiction programs, My Living Doll and My Favorite Martian. In the latter on an episode called "The Martian's Fair Hobo", Marks plays a hobo named Shorty Smith. The character allowed Marks to show off his talents for imitating animals and inanimate objects, such as foghorns and frogs. He was second banana again, in 1967, when he was featured as the American Indian "Pink Cloud" in the 1967 ABC comedy Western Rango, starring Tim Conway. Despite early favorable reviews, the show lasted only 17 episodes. In 1969 he appeared on an episode of the popular The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (TV Series) sitcom, playing a gangster who sounds a lot like Humphrey Bogart. He ended the decade with an appearance as a thief trying to hold up Lucille Ball on the Here's Lucy show. [citation needed]
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s Marks made frequent appearances on
Music career
Marks attracted international attention with the surprise novelty hit song "
Personal life and death
Marks was married at least three times, once to Barbara Thomas (1952 to ?) then to a Kathleen(?) (1962–66) and again to Judy Marie De Salle (1971 to ?). One of these marriages produced a daughter. [citation needed]
Marks died on November 28, 1987, at the Atlantic City Medical Center-Pomona in Pomona, NJ. At the time he was living in Brigantine, New Jersey.[citation needed]
Discography
Album
- Loving You Has Made Me Bananas (1968)
- Hollywood Sings as impersonated by Guy Marks
Single
- "Loving You Has Made Me Bananas" (1968); re-issued (1978)
References
- IMDb
- ^ ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "Bungle Abbey". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2012-12-16.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–2001. Record Research. p. 157.
- ^ Top of the Pops 1978, BBC4 subtitling service
- Burr Van Atta (1987)"Guy Marks, 64: Comic Who Starred in S. Phila." Philadelphia Inquirer
- Bob Thomas (1962) "Joey Bishop Keeps Name, Rest Is Changed" Ocala Star Banner, August 5, 1962
- Reading Eagle – December 19, 1962
- Dorothy Kilgallen (1962)"Dorothy Kilgallen's Voice" Montreal Gazette, January 25, 1963
- Cynthia Lowry (1963) Evening Independent September 2, 1963
- 1930 United States Federal Census
- 1940 United States Federal Census
- U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938 – 1946.
- Vernon Scott (1962) "Imitations Pay For Guy Marks" Milwaukee Sentinel, December 24, 1962
- Vernon Scott (1967) "Guy Marks Real Comedian" Beaver County Times – April 25, 1967
- Billboard Magazine – May 8, 1952, Page 48
- Earl Wilson (1971) – Middlesboro Daily News February 4, 1971
External links
- Guy Marks Fansite
- Guy Marks mini biography site
- Guy Marks classic routine How the West Was Won
- "Guy Marks". Find a Grave. Retrieved January 2, 2023.