The Man in the Funny Suit
Encyclopedia
The Man in the Funny Suit (1960) is a television drama detailing the agony endured by actor Keenan Wynn
while helping his father, comedian Ed Wynn
, play a serious role in the original television production of Rod Serling
's Requiem for a Heavyweight
.
Requiem was the elder Wynn's first dramatic role after decades of comedy. When Wynn flubbed a line or was uncertain of how to proceed, he would fall back on his old comedic catchphrases and jokes, mostly out of habit. As Requiem was an intense drama scheduled for live broadcast, this caused much consternation and worry among the staff and cast. When the time came for the show, however, Ed Wynn surprised everyone with his flawlessly heartfelt performance.
The Wynns, Ralph Nelson, Serling, and Red Skelton
play themselves in this installment of The Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, originally broadcast on 15 April 1960. "The Man in the Funny Suit" was written and directed by Ralph Nelson
, the director of both the original 1956 Playhouse 90
television Requiem for a Heavyweight and the later 1962 movie version, which starred Jackie Gleason
and Mickey Rooney
in Keenan and Ed Wynn's roles.
... Keenan Wynn
Ed Wynn
... Ed Wynn
Rod Serling
... Rod Serling
Maxine Stuart
... Sharley Wynn
Ralph Nelson
... Ralph Nelson
Red Skelton
... Red Skelton
Bob Mathias
... Bob Mathias
William Roerick ... Martin Manulis
Max Rosenbloom ... Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom
Seymour Berns ... Skelton's Director
Robin Blake ... Script Girl
Joey Faye ... Latecomer
Ned Glass
... Ed Wynn's Understudy
Charlene Glazer ... Secretary
Drew Handley ... Assistant Director
Robert H. Harris ... Technical Director
Richard Joy ... Announcer
Bill Walker ... Porter
Keenan Wynn
Keenan Wynn was an American character actor. His bristling mustache and expressive face were his stock in trade, and though he rarely had a lead role, he got prominent billing in most of his film and TV parts....
while helping his father, comedian Ed Wynn
Ed Wynn
Ed Wynn was a popular American comedian and actor noted for his Perfect Fool comedy character, his pioneering radio show of the 1930s, and his later career as a dramatic actor....
, play a serious role in the original television production of Rod Serling
Rod Serling
Rodman Edward "Rod" Serling was an American screenwriter, novelist, television producer, and narrator best known for his live television dramas of the 1950s and his science fiction anthology TV series, The Twilight Zone. Serling was active in politics, both on and off the screen and helped form...
's Requiem for a Heavyweight
Requiem for a Heavyweight
Requiem for a Heavyweight was a teleplay written by Rod Serling and produced for the live television show Playhouse 90 on 11 October 1956. Six years later, it was adapted as a 1962 feature film starring Anthony Quinn, Jackie Gleason and Mickey Rooney....
.
Requiem was the elder Wynn's first dramatic role after decades of comedy. When Wynn flubbed a line or was uncertain of how to proceed, he would fall back on his old comedic catchphrases and jokes, mostly out of habit. As Requiem was an intense drama scheduled for live broadcast, this caused much consternation and worry among the staff and cast. When the time came for the show, however, Ed Wynn surprised everyone with his flawlessly heartfelt performance.
The Wynns, Ralph Nelson, Serling, and Red Skelton
Red Skelton
Richard Bernard "Red" Skelton was an American comedian who is best known as a top radio and television star from 1937 to 1971. Skelton's show business career began in his teens as a circus clown and went on to vaudeville, Broadway, films, radio, TV, night clubs and casinos, all while pursuing...
play themselves in this installment of The Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, originally broadcast on 15 April 1960. "The Man in the Funny Suit" was written and directed by Ralph Nelson
Ralph Nelson
Ralph Nelson was an American movie and television director, producer, writer, and actor.-Life and career:...
, the director of both the original 1956 Playhouse 90
Playhouse 90
Playhouse 90 is an American television anthology series that was telecast on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 133 episodes. It originated from CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California...
television Requiem for a Heavyweight and the later 1962 movie version, which starred Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason was an American comedian, actor and musician. He was known for his brash visual and verbal comedy style, especially by his character Ralph Kramden on The Honeymooners, a situation-comedy television series. His most noted film roles were as Minnesota Fats in the drama film The...
and Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney is an American film actor and entertainer whose film, television, and stage appearances span nearly his entire lifetime. He has won multiple awards, including an Honorary Academy Award, a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award...
in Keenan and Ed Wynn's roles.
Cast
Keenan WynnKeenan Wynn
Keenan Wynn was an American character actor. His bristling mustache and expressive face were his stock in trade, and though he rarely had a lead role, he got prominent billing in most of his film and TV parts....
... Keenan Wynn
Ed Wynn
Ed Wynn
Ed Wynn was a popular American comedian and actor noted for his Perfect Fool comedy character, his pioneering radio show of the 1930s, and his later career as a dramatic actor....
... Ed Wynn
Rod Serling
Rod Serling
Rodman Edward "Rod" Serling was an American screenwriter, novelist, television producer, and narrator best known for his live television dramas of the 1950s and his science fiction anthology TV series, The Twilight Zone. Serling was active in politics, both on and off the screen and helped form...
... Rod Serling
Maxine Stuart
Maxine Stuart
Maxine Stuart is a retired American actress. She has appeared in numerous television series, including Chicago Hope, NYPD Blue and Trapper John, M.D.....
... Sharley Wynn
Ralph Nelson
Ralph Nelson
Ralph Nelson was an American movie and television director, producer, writer, and actor.-Life and career:...
... Ralph Nelson
Red Skelton
Red Skelton
Richard Bernard "Red" Skelton was an American comedian who is best known as a top radio and television star from 1937 to 1971. Skelton's show business career began in his teens as a circus clown and went on to vaudeville, Broadway, films, radio, TV, night clubs and casinos, all while pursuing...
... Red Skelton
Bob Mathias
Bob Mathias
Robert Bruce "Bob" Mathias was an American decathlete, two-time Olympic gold medalist, actor and United States Congressman representing the state of California.-Early life and athletic career:...
... Bob Mathias
William Roerick ... Martin Manulis
Martin Manulis
Martin Manulis was an American film, television and theater producer. Manulis was best known for creating the television program, Playhouse 90 on CBS.-Career:...
Max Rosenbloom ... Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom
Seymour Berns ... Skelton's Director
Robin Blake ... Script Girl
Joey Faye ... Latecomer
Ned Glass
Ned Glass
Ned Glass was an American character actor who appeared in more than eighty films and on television more than one hundred times, frequently playing nervous, cowardly or weasely characters...
... Ed Wynn's Understudy
Charlene Glazer ... Secretary
Drew Handley ... Assistant Director
Robert H. Harris ... Technical Director
Richard Joy ... Announcer
Bill Walker ... Porter