Red Buttons
Biography
Red Buttons, born Aaron Chwatt on February 5, 1919, in New York City's Lower East Side, was an actor, stand-up comic, songwriter, and singer. Standing at a height of 5' 6", he acquired his stage name from the uniform he wore while working as a singing bellhop. He began his show-business career singing on street corners as a child and later worked the burlesque circuit, in addition to getting a job at age 16 playing the Catskills resort area in upstate New York with partner Robert Alda. In 1952, he received his own television series, The Red Buttons Show, which was broadcast on CBS and later NBC. Red Buttons passed away on July 13, 2006, at the age of 87.
Career overview
Red Buttons was born Aaron Chwatt on February 5, 1919, in New York City's Lower East Side. He started his show-business career singing on street corners as a child and later worked as a singing bellhop, which inspired the name Buttons from the uniform he wore. At the age of sixteen, he secured a job as part of a comedy act playing in the Catskills resort area located in upstate New York, working alongside future actor Robert Alda. He subsequently worked the burlesque circuit and established himself as a stand-up comic, singer, and songwriter.
In 1952, Red Buttons received his own television series titled The Red Buttons Show, which was broadcast first on CBS and later on NBC. The program ranked as the number-eleven show in prime time during 1952, and the comedian strongly insisted on using fresh material for the production.
Throughout his career, Red Buttons accumulated 107 known acting credits in movies and television shows. He was recognized as an Academy Award-winning actor and received two Golden Globe award nominations. His life and career spanned decades until his death on July 13, 2006, at the age of 87.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
111 titles- Goodnight, We Love You (2004) as Self
- Street Time (2002) as Sam Kahan
- Presidio Med (2002) as Chick
- Philly (2001)
- Family Law (1999) as Carl Porter
- The Story of Us (1999) as Arnie Jordan
- Ghosts of Fear Street (1998) as Grandpa
- Twentieth Century Fox: The First 50 Years (1997) as Self
- Early Edition (1996) as Walter Stites
- Cosby (1996)
- Darryl F. Zanuck: 20th Century Filmmaker (1995) as Self
- ER (1994) as Ruby
- It Could Happen to You (1994) as Walter Zakuto
- The Ambulance (1990) as Elias Zacharai
- George Burns: His Wit and Wisdom (1989) as Self - Burns Card Play Partner (uncredited)
- Roseanne (1988)
- 18 Again! (1988) as Charlie
- Jackie Gleason: The Great One (1988) as Self
- It's Garry Shandling's Show (1986) as Red Buttons
- 227 (1985)
- Alice in Wonderland (1985) as White Rabbit
- Night of 100 Stars II (1985) as Self
- Reunion at Fairborough (1985) as Jiggs Quealy
- The Cosby Show (1984) as Jake Bennett
- George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business (1983) as Self
- Off Your Rocker (1982) as Seymour Saltz
- Aloha Paradise (1981) as Nick
- Leave 'Em Laughing (1981) as Roland Green
- Side Show (1981) as Harry Hubbell
- The Dream Merchants (1980) as Bruce Benson
- Pink Lady (1980) as Red Buttons
- Pink Lady (1980) as Police Sergeant
- When Time Ran Out... (1980) as Francis Fendly
- Power (1980) as Solly Weiss
- Knots Landing (1979) as Al Baker
- The Muppets Go Hollywood (1979) as Self
- Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979) as Milton (voice)
- C.H.O.M.P.S. (1979) as Bracken
- Fantasy Island (1978) as Tony Emerson
- Vega$ (1978)
- Movie Movie (1978) as Peanuts / Jinks Murphy
- The Users (1978) as Warren Ambrose
- The Love Boat (1977) as Cyrus Foster
- The Love Boat (1977) as Buddy Redmond
- Pete's Dragon (1977) as Hoagy
- Viva Knievel! (1977) as Ben Andrews
- Playboy's Playmate Party (1977)
- Telethon (1977) as Marty Rand
- Joys (1976) as Self
- Gable and Lombard (1976) as Ivan Cooper
- Flannery and Quilt (1976) as Luke Flannery
- Louis Armstrong: Chicago Style (1976)
- Wonder Woman (1975) as Ashley Norman
- The New Original Wonder Woman (1975) as Ashley Norman
- Little House on the Prairie (1974) as William 'Willie' O'Hara
- The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts (1973) as Self
- The Poseidon Adventure (1972) as James Martin
- Great Performances (1971) as Self
- Who Killed Mary Whats'ername? (1971) as Mickey Isadore
- Breakout (1970) as Pipes
- George M! (1970) as Sam Harris
- Love, American Style (1969) as Norman
- They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) as Sailor
- The Danny Thomas Hour (1967)
- Stagecoach (1966) as Peacock
- The Double Life of Henry Phyfe (1966) as Henry Wadsworth Phyfe
- Murder at N.B.C. (1966)
- The Dean Martin Show (1965)
- Harlow (1965) as Arthur Landau
- Up from the Beach (1965) as PFC Harry Devine
- The Hollywood Palace (1964) as Self
- Your Cheatin' Heart (1964) as Shorty Younger
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963)
- The Greatest Show on Earth (1963)
- A Ticklish Affair (1963) as Flight Officer Simon 'Uncle Cy' Shelley
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show (1962) as Self
- The Eleventh Hour (1962)
- The Longest Day (1962) as Pvt. John Steele
- Saints and Sinners (1962) as Joe Roganyan
- Hatari! (1962) as Pockets
- Gay Purr-ee (1962) as Robespierre (voice)
- Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962) as Donald O'Shay
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self - Host
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self - Co-Host
- Password (1961)
- Ben Casey (1961)
- One, Two, Three (1961) as MP Sergeant (uncredited)
- Frontier Circus (1961)
- Startime (1959) as Joe Henders
- The Big Circus (1959) as Randy Sherman
- A Marriage of Strangers (1959) as Jerry
- Kraft Music Hall (1958) as Self
- Imitation General (1958) as Cpl. Chan Derby
- The All-Star Christmas Show (1958) as Self
- Hansel and Gretel (1958) as Hansel
- Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957) as Self
- Sayonara (1957) as Joe Kelly
- The Dinah Shore Chevy Show (1956) as Self
- The United States Steel Hour (1953)
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Lieutenant George Poole
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Tippy-Top
- The Jackie Gleason Show (1952)
- The Red Buttons Show (1952) as Host
- Footlight Varieties (1951) as Himself
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self
- Suspense (1949)
- Studio One (1948) as St. Emergency
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Winged Victory (1944) as Whitey / Andrews Sister
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Red Buttons best known for?
Red Buttons is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003), Urban Legend (1998), The Story of Us (1999), The Last Metro (1980).
When and where was Red Buttons born?
Red Buttons was born on February 5, 1919 in New York City, New York, USA. They passed away on July 13, 2006.
How many credits does Red Buttons have?
Red Buttons has accumulated over 111 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2004.
What is Red Buttons's background in cinema and television?
Red Buttons, born Aaron Chwatt on February 5, 1919, in New York City's Lower East Side, was an actor, stand-up comic, songwriter, and singer. Standing at a height of 5' 6", he acquired his stage name from the uniform he wore while working as a singing bellhop. He began his show-business career singing on street corners...
Red Buttons by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Jackie Gleason Show (1952) — aged about 33
- Family Law (1999) as Carl Porter — aged about 80
- Presidio Med (2002) as Chick — aged about 83
- Little House on the Prairie (1974) as William 'Willie' O'Hara — aged about 55
- ER (1994) as Ruby — aged about 75
- They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969) as Sailor — aged about 50
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