Charles Correll
Encyclopedia
Charles James Correll was an American radio comedian
, best known for his work on the Amos 'n' Andy
show with Freeman S. Gosden. Correll voiced the central character of Andy Brown, along with various supporting characters. Before teaming up with Gosden, Correll worked as a stenographer and a bricklayer. The two men met in Durham, North Carolina
while working for the Joe Bren Producing Company. Both Correll and Freeman vacationed at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
in the 1930s and would broadcast Amos 'n' Andy from there. From 1928 to 1934, the team never took a vacation away from their radio show. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Amos 'n' Andy on the air, the broadcast of March 19, 1958 was done by Correll and Gosden using their real voices and calling each other by their real names; this had never been done on the show before.
Correll's first marriage to Marie Janes headed for divorce court on May 26, 1937; the couple had been married for ten years and had no children. On September 11, 1937 in Glendale, California, he married Alyce McLaughlin, a former dancer; they had six children, Dorothy, Charles, Barbara, John, and Richard. On July 5, 1954, John Correll, his seven year old son, died of what appeared to be an accidental poisoning. An autopsy determined the young boy died of an acute kidney infection. A baby girl born to the couple in 1939 died when she was less than a day old.
Correll died in a Chicago hospital following a heart attack; at the time of his death he was retired and living in Beverly Hills, California
, just a few blocks away from his radio partner, Freeman Gosden.
His son, Charles Correll, Jr.
also went on to become an actor and a director.
Another son, Richard Correll
also became an actor, best remembered as Richard Rickover on Leave It To Beaver
and also produced and directed the TV sitcom Family Matters.
The comedy team was named to the Radio Hall of Fame in 1962; Correll received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
for his radio work in 1969. In 1977, Correll was inducted in the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame
along with Gosden.
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, best known for his work on the Amos 'n' Andy
Amos 'n' Andy
Amos 'n' Andy is a situation comedy set in the African-American community. It was very popular in the United States from the 1920s through the 1950s on both radio and television....
show with Freeman S. Gosden. Correll voiced the central character of Andy Brown, along with various supporting characters. Before teaming up with Gosden, Correll worked as a stenographer and a bricklayer. The two men met in Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
while working for the Joe Bren Producing Company. Both Correll and Freeman vacationed at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Lake Geneva is a city in Walworth County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,148 at the 2000 census. A resort city located on Geneva Lake, it is southwest of Milwaukee and popular with tourists from metropolitan Chicago and Milwaukee.-History:...
in the 1930s and would broadcast Amos 'n' Andy from there. From 1928 to 1934, the team never took a vacation away from their radio show. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Amos 'n' Andy on the air, the broadcast of March 19, 1958 was done by Correll and Gosden using their real voices and calling each other by their real names; this had never been done on the show before.
Correll's first marriage to Marie Janes headed for divorce court on May 26, 1937; the couple had been married for ten years and had no children. On September 11, 1937 in Glendale, California, he married Alyce McLaughlin, a former dancer; they had six children, Dorothy, Charles, Barbara, John, and Richard. On July 5, 1954, John Correll, his seven year old son, died of what appeared to be an accidental poisoning. An autopsy determined the young boy died of an acute kidney infection. A baby girl born to the couple in 1939 died when she was less than a day old.
Correll died in a Chicago hospital following a heart attack; at the time of his death he was retired and living in Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
, just a few blocks away from his radio partner, Freeman Gosden.
His son, Charles Correll, Jr.
Charles Correll (director)
Charles Correll, Jr. was an American television director and cinematographer. Some of his credits include Kojak, The Winds of War, MacGyver, Law & Order, Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami and Without a Trace.-External links:...
also went on to become an actor and a director.
Another son, Richard Correll
Richard Correll
Richard Thomas "Rich" Correll is an American television actor, director, producer and writer.-Biography:Born in Los Angeles County, California, Correll is the son of Charles Correll, who starred as Amos Jones on the radio program, Amos and Andy. He is the brother of Barbara Correll, Dottie Correll...
also became an actor, best remembered as Richard Rickover on Leave It To Beaver
Leave It to Beaver
Leave It to Beaver is an American television situation comedy about an inquisitive but often naïve boy named Theodore "The Beaver" Cleaver and his adventures at home, in school, and around his suburban neighborhood...
and also produced and directed the TV sitcom Family Matters.
The comedy team was named to the Radio Hall of Fame in 1962; Correll received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
for his radio work in 1969. In 1977, Correll was inducted in the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame
National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame
The NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame is a yearly honor from the National Association of Broadcasters. One inductee from radio and one from television are named at the yearly NAB conference.-Radio:*2011 * 2010 Ron Chapman* 2009 Vin Scully* 2008 Larry Lujack...
along with Gosden.