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Phyllis DillerAmerican actress and one of the first female comedians on American television
Date of Birth: 17.06.1917
Country:  USA |
Content:
American Actress and Stand-Up Comedy Pioneer
Phyllis Diller was an American actress and one of the first female comedians in American television. She created the character of an eccentric housewife with disheveled hair, always seen with her long cigarette holder and constantly making jokes about her fictional husband, Fang. In reality, Diller never smoked, but skillfully used the prop made specifically for her. Phyllis is considered a woman who opened doors for female comedians, who were previously underestimated.
Early Life
Phyllis Ada Driver was born on June 17, 1917, in Lima, Ohio, USA. She was the daughter of Perry Marcus Driver and Frances Ada Romshe. She attended Central High School in Lima and then spent three years at Sherwood Music Conservatory in Chicago, Illinois. Phyllis later enrolled at Bluffton College in Ohio, where she met her classmate Hugh Downs.
During World War II, Diller lived in Ypsilanti, Michigan, while her husband worked at the Willow Run bomber plant. In the mid-1950s, already a mother of five children, Phyllis made her first television appearance on "The Jack Paar Show" and became a contestant on Groucho Marx's quiz show, "You Bet Your Life."
Comedic Career
Having established a successful comedy career, Diller was also known as a serious piano student for many years. Her teachers told her that she could achieve much higher results than she thought. In the mid-1950s, while living near the Naval Air Station in Alameda, California, Diller worked as a secretary at the KGO-TV television station. Willard Anderson hosted a show called "Belfast Pop Club" at the station, along with a young Don Sherwood. They interviewed celebrities and did parodies, and one day Willard invited the funny Phyllis to appear on his show, which helped her start her comedy career at the legendary nightclub "The Purple Onion" in San Francisco. After performing there for 87 consecutive weeks, the aspiring comedian honed her skills, expanded her talent, and felt success.
Diller's fame increased even more after her appearances in 1960s films such as "Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!," "Eight on the Lam," and "The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell." Although these three films did not perform well at the box office, Bob Hope invited Diller to perform with him and his troupe in Vietnam in 1966, during the height of the war.
Later Career and Personal Life
Thriving as a prominent figure in stand-up comedy, Phyllis also continued her acting career and appeared in many low-budget films. She voiced a character in the cult classic animated film "Mad Monster Party." In terms of voice-over work, Diller participated in the animated TV series "The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries," "The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius," "Family Guy," "Hey Arnold!," and the animated films "A Bug's Life," "Happily Ever After," and "The Nuttiest Nutcracker."
She posed for Playboy magazine at one point, but the photos never appeared in its pages. However, in 1993, she was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame for her contribution to American culture. In 2005, Diller appeared in the documentary film "The Aristocrats," which showcased contemporary comedians and positioned herself as one who avoids vulgar jokes. On September 24, 2007, she performed on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in her usual comedic improvisation style and agreed to return to the show on her birthday.
In her autobiography, Phyllis wrote that she had undergone plastic surgery 15 times since the age of 55. Her health deteriorated over the years, and she experienced a heart attack in 1999. Currently, she occasionally appears in films but devotes most of her time to painting, cooking, and gardening. On July 11, 2007, "USA Today" reported that Diller injured her back and would not be able to appear on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" to celebrate his 90th birthday.
