Louis Nye
Biography: Louis Nye, born Louis Neistat, was an American comedic actor. He was an entertainer to the troops during World War II and is best known for his work on countless television, film and radio programs. Nye decided to go to New York City, where he worked in radio, playing various roles on soap operas. He recalled "I still think of myself as an actor. In the radio days, I was busy playing rotten Nazis, rich uncles and emotional juveniles -- the whole span -- and the only time I tried to be funny was at parties." Nye served in the United States Army during World War II, and because he earned laughs by mimicking other soldiers, he was assigned to run the recreation hall. Following his discharge, he returned to New York and began working in live television. He also appeared in several plays on Broadway, and made many appearances on television variety shows such as The Jack Benny Program (including one memorable turn as a crying cab driver), The Jimmy Durante Show, The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom and The Victor Borge Show. He earned his greatest fame as a regular on The Steve Allen Show, performing with Allen, Don Knotts, Tom Poston, Pat Harrington Jr., Dayton Allen, Gabriel Dell and Bill Dana. He primarily played urbane, wealthy, and often fey bon vivants; as part of the weekly "Man on the Street" sketches, his characterization of the pretentious country-club braggart Gordon Hathaway, with his catchphrase, "Hi-ho, Steverino," plus Allen's inability to resist bursting into hysterical laughter at his ad-libs, made Nye one of the favorites on Allen's show. When production moved to Los Angeles, Nye went too and became a character actor in Hollywood. Nye was cast as a guest star on many television series, including Make Room for Daddy; Guestward, Ho!; Burke's Law; The Munsters; Love, American Style; Laverne & Shirley; Starsky and Hutch; Police Woman; Fantasy Island; St. Elsewhere; and The Cosby Show. Nye played dentist Delbert Gray on several episodes of The Ann Sothern Show from 1960 to 1961, the romantic interest of Olive Smith, played by Ann Tyrrell. Nye also played Sonny Drysdale, the spoiled rich stepson of Milburn Drysdale on The Beverly Hillbillies during the 1962 season. He did six episodes, and received more mail than from anything else he had ever done on television, but the character was dropped. It was rumored that someone in the CBS network, or a sponsor, thought Sonny was too "sissified". However, Nye revived the character briefly during the 1966 season. During this period, Nye appeared in several television commercials for various products, including Rath brand lunch meats and the Better Business Bureau. Nye appeared as a celebrity judge on The Gong Show during the late 1970s. He also recorded a few comedy LPs, doing a variety of characterizations. Unfortunately, he never had the opportunity to reach his potential in movies. Many of his character roles were little more than cameos. Nevertheless, he performed with Lucille Ball, Bob Hope, Jack Lemmon, Dean Martin, Walter Matthau, Robert Mitchum, Jack Webb and Joanne Woodward, and others. Nye also appeared on the lecture circuit, in concerts and in nightclubs, and did voice work in animation, such as Inspector Gadget with Don Adams.
Place of Birth: Not available
Birthday: May 01, 1913
Deathday: October 09, 2005
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Known For
Mitzi & 100 Guys
1975-03-24
Mitzi & 100 Guys
Overview: Mitzi Gaynor in a song and dance hour with an all-male, star-studded ensemble featuring her main guests Michael Landon (Little House on the Prairie) and Jack Albertson (Chico and the Man), plus 28 celebrities as her "Million Dollar Chorus." Songs performed include: "I Got the Music in Me," "The Most Beautiful Guy in the World," and "You Are the Sunshine of My Life."
Genres: Music Comedy TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1975-03-24
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Good Neighbor Sam
1964-07-22
Good Neighbor Sam
Overview: To help his divorced neighbor claim a substantial inheritance, a family man poses as her husband. The ruse spills over into his career in advertising, and his recent promotion relies on his wholesome and moral appearance.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1964-07-22
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A Guide for the Married Man
1967-05-25
A Guide for the Married Man
Overview: A man gives his friend a series of lessons on how to cheat on one's wife without being caught.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1967-05-25
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Ted E. Bear: Cub Reporter
1988-01-01
Ted E. Bear: Cub Reporter
Overview: Ted E. Bear and friends host a newscast.
Genres: Family
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1988-01-01
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The Facts of Life
1960-11-14
The Facts of Life
Overview: Middle-class suburbanites Larry and Kitty grow bored with their lives and respective marriages. Although each always found the other's manner grating, they fall in love when thrown together--without their spouses--on vacation. On returning home they try to break things off, only to grow closer. A holiday together will finally settle whether they should end their marriages.
Genres: Drama Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1960-11-14
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Full Moon High
1981-08-04
Full Moon High
Overview: High-school quarterback Tony Walker is bitten by a werewolf and transforms into a growling beast that hungrily chases down beautiful girls.
Genres: Horror Comedy Fantasy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1981-08-04
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The Adventures of Errol Flynn
2005-04-05
The Adventures of Errol Flynn
Overview: A documentary about the life of Errol Flynn, with recollections from friends and family.
Genres: Documentary TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2005-04-05
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Sex Kittens Go to College
1960-08-24
Sex Kittens Go to College
Overview: Collins College needs a new department head for their science department, so Doctors Carter and Zorch consult Thinko, the campus computer, and come up with Dr. Mathilda West, who has degrees in lots of things, but turns out to be disruptively attractive as well.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1960-08-24
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The Stripper
1963-06-19
The Stripper
Overview: An aging former movie starlet whose Hollywood career went nowhere, now reduced to dancing with a third-rate touring show, finds herself stranded in a small town where she's courted by an infatuated and naive local teenager.
Genres: Romance Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1963-06-19
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The Great Bear Scare
1983-10-01
The Great Bear Scare
Overview: As Halloween approaches, the bears of Bearbank begin to fear an invasion of monsters from nearby Monster Mountain. As most of the bears prepare to leave the city, one brave little bear, Ted E. Bear, sets out to confront fear!
Genres: Family Animation
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1983-10-01
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Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?
1963-12-25
Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?
Overview: TV star Jason Steel reluctantly becomes the sounding board for his best friends' bored wives, and must fend off their advances while managing his own fragile relationship.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1963-12-25
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Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus
1974-12-06
Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus
Overview: Partly based on a true story, a little girl writes to the editor of a newspaper concerning the existence of Santa Claus.
Genres: Animation Family TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1974-12-06
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The Last Time I Saw Archie
1961-05-27
The Last Time I Saw Archie
Overview: Two Air Force friends have fun during their enlistment.
Genres: Comedy War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1961-05-27
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The City That Forgot About Christmas
1974-12-01
The City That Forgot About Christmas
Overview: A young boy's grandfather tells him the story of a city that forgot about Christmas until a carpenter named Matthew comes to town and teaches the children about Christmas, much to the chagrin of the Mayor and his cronies.
Genres: Animation Family
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1974-12-01
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Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty
1980-02-14
Steve Martin: Comedy Is Not Pretty
Overview: Steve Martin's second NBC special was made up entirely of sketches. Highlights include: Marty Robbins' "El Paso" with monkeys; "The Death Of Socrates"; and "Bizarre Oddities Of The World."
Genres: Comedy TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1980-02-14
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The Reluctant Dragon
1981-12-01
The Reluctant Dragon
Overview: About a peaceful, poetry-loving dragon, and St. George the dragon-slayer, who is engaged by the villagers to kill him. Together with the help of the dragon's friend, they stage a rousing fake battle.
Genres: Fantasy Animation
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1981-12-01
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Charge of the Model T's
1977-11-04
Charge of the Model T's
Overview: During WWI, the Germans try to encourages and hires a band of certain Mexican guerrillas and bandits to make trouble on the Texas border and attack the Stonewall Farm. He plans this so the Americans will have no choice but to send more troops to Texas instead of Europe. Masterminding the plot is a German spy who has, at his disposal, the RX4, a specially equipped weapon-bearing automobile of awesome speed, but a U.S. Army lieutenant carries the day with his own fleet of Model T racers.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1977-11-04
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The Wheeler Dealers
1963-11-14
The Wheeler Dealers
Overview: Henry J. Tyroon leaves Texas, where his oil wells are drying up, and arrives in New York with a lot of oil money to play with in the stock market. He meets stock analyst Molly Thatcher, who tries to ignore the lavish attention he spends on her but, in the end, she falls for his charm.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1963-11-14
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Zotz!
1962-10-03
Zotz!
Overview: Jonathan Jones, a professor of ancient languages, comes into possession of an ancient coin. He translates its inscription, which gives him three powers: to inflict pain, slow down time or kill. Soon, he's pursued by enemy spies who have learned about the magic coin.
Genres: Comedy Fantasy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1962-10-03
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Salute to Stan Laurel
1965-11-23
Salute to Stan Laurel
Overview: A program featuring original comedy skits written as a tribute to Stan Laurel.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1965-11-23
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All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special
1980-09-30
All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special
Overview: Steve Martin's third NBC special serves as a salute to 1970s television commercials. Taking shots at everything from "Suzy Chapstick" to Palmolive to advertising agencies, this special showcased Martin's genius for physical comedy.
Genres: Comedy TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1980-09-30
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Harper Valley P.T.A.
1978-08-02
Harper Valley P.T.A.
Overview: Stella Johnson is a single mother living in the town of Harper Valley. Most of the townsfolk, particularly those on the school PTA, think she is a little too liberal so they're making things tough for her and her daughter. So she runs for the position of PTA President, which infuriates them. Stella decides to get revenge with the help of her friends.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1978-08-02
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Cannonball Run II
1984-06-29
Cannonball Run II
Overview: When a wealthy sheikh puts up $1 million in prize money for a cross-country car race, there is one person crazy enough to hit the road hard with wheels spinning fast. Legendary driver J.J. McClure enters the competition along with his friend Victor and together they set off across the American landscape in a madcap action-adventure destined to test their wits and automobile skills.
Genres: Action Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1984-06-29
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Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
1976-07-26
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Overview: A would-be filmmaker and actress shake up the industry with a trick dog who gets discovered by a studio bus driver in the 1920s.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1976-07-26
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Daytime Revolution
2024-10-09
Daytime Revolution
Overview: For one extraordinary week in February 1972, the Revolution WAS televised. DAYTIME REVOLUTION takes us back in time to the week that John Lennon and Yoko Ono descended upon a Philadelphia broadcasting studio to co-host the iconic Mike Douglas Show, at that time the most popular show on daytime television, with a national audience of 40 million viewers each week. What followed was five unforgettable episodes of television, with Lennon and Ono at the helm and Douglas gamely keeping the show on track.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2024-10-09
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