Fred Travalena
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Born Name:
Frederick Albert Travalena III
Born Date: October 6, 1942
Born Place: Bronx, New York
Died Date: June 28, 2009
Died Place: Encino, California
Occupations: Comedian, singer, master impressionist
Brief Biography: Fred Travalena was dubbed "The Man of a Thousand Faces," he mastered hundreds of celebrity and political voices, including U.S. Presidents from Kennedy to Obama, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005.
Early Life and Military Service:
Born Frederick Albert Travalena III in the Bronx, New York, he grew up on Long Island. His father was an ink salesman who harbored dreams of being an entertainer himself. Travalena first honed his comedic talents while serving stateside in the U.S. Army Special Services division during the Vietnam War, entertaining troops and doing impressions of sergeants to defuse tense situations.
Career Highlights:
Travalena's comedy and music career took off in the early 1970s after he began performing his act at officers' clubs and local catering events alongside his wife, Lois, who was also a singer. His transition into impressions quickly made him a Las Vegas staple. Over the span of his 40-year career, he opened for heavyweights like Shirley MacLaine and Wayne Newton.
Television: He was a frequent guest on late-night staples such as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Late Night with David Letterman.
Voice Acting: He was a popular voice actor for several animated television series, including Warner Bros.'s Histeria!.
Live Performances: He regularly headlined casino showrooms in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, and performed on cruise ships and USO tours for overseas troops.
Born Date: October 6, 1942
Born Place: Bronx, New York
Died Date: June 28, 2009
Died Place: Encino, California
Occupations: Comedian, singer, master impressionist
Brief Biography: Fred Travalena was dubbed "The Man of a Thousand Faces," he mastered hundreds of celebrity and political voices, including U.S. Presidents from Kennedy to Obama, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005.
Early Life and Military Service:
Born Frederick Albert Travalena III in the Bronx, New York, he grew up on Long Island. His father was an ink salesman who harbored dreams of being an entertainer himself. Travalena first honed his comedic talents while serving stateside in the U.S. Army Special Services division during the Vietnam War, entertaining troops and doing impressions of sergeants to defuse tense situations.
Career Highlights:
Travalena's comedy and music career took off in the early 1970s after he began performing his act at officers' clubs and local catering events alongside his wife, Lois, who was also a singer. His transition into impressions quickly made him a Las Vegas staple. Over the span of his 40-year career, he opened for heavyweights like Shirley MacLaine and Wayne Newton.
Television: He was a frequent guest on late-night staples such as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Late Night with David Letterman.
Voice Acting: He was a popular voice actor for several animated television series, including Warner Bros.'s Histeria!.
Live Performances: He regularly headlined casino showrooms in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, and performed on cruise ships and USO tours for overseas troops.