CHARLES NELSON REILLY

JANUARY 13, 1931

Charles Nelson Reilly II was born in the Bronx, New York. Reilly wanted to become an opera singer but abandoned this pursuit when he realized that he lacked the natural vocal talent to have a major career. 
Most of his early career was spent on the stage. He appeared in many Off Broadway productions but his big break came in 1960 with the enormously successful original Broadway production of Bye Bye Birdie. Reilly had a small onstage part, and was Dick Van Dyke’s understudy / replacement in the leading role. 

In 1961, Reilly was in the original cast of another Broadway show, the Pulitzer prize-winning musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. For his memorable origination of the role of Bud Frump, Reilly earned a 1962 Tony Award for featured actor in a musical.

In 1964, Reilly was in the original cast of Hello, Dolly!, another successful Broadway show. For originating the role of Cornelius Hackl, Reilly received a second nomination for a Tony Award for performance by an actor in a featured role in a musical.

Reilly made his film debut with an uncredited role in A Face in the Crowd (1957), starring Andy Griffith. 

His television acting debut came in an episode of “Car 54 Where Are You?” in 1962. He did a second episode in 1963. 

On September 13 1965, he was seen with Lucille Ball on the debut of “The Steve Lawrence Show” alongside Lucille Ball.

Lucy and Charles both did brief cameos on “The Dean Martin Christmas Show” on December 19, 1968.  Two years later, they were back again on the show for the sixth season opener. 

On TV his first regular role was as Claymore Gregg in “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir,” which ended its two-season run in 1970. The role earned him the first of his three Emmy Award nominations. 

It was then that Reilly filmed an episode of “Here’s Lucy” titled “Lucy the Crusader” (HL S3;E5) on October 12, 1970. 

He played Elroy P. Clunk, the clerk at a department store complaint counter. 

Reilly is perhaps best remembered as a panelist on the game show “Match Game.”  He appeared on every iteration of the game show from 1975 to 1991. 

“When I die, it’s going to read, ‘Game Show Fixture Passes Away’. Nothing about the theater, or Tony Awards, or Emmys. But it doesn’t bother me.” ~ Charles Nelson Reilly  

On “Happy Birthday, Bob” a salute to Bob Hope’s 75th birthday on May 29, 1978, Charles Nelson Reilly interviews “the President” (Fred Travalena) about his role in Bob Hope’s success – mostly on the golf course. Lucy reminisces and sings “Hey, Look Me Over” with specially written lyrics about Hope.

He did a week of shows with Lucille Ball on the game show “Body Language” in 1984. 

Also in 1984, Reilly and Ball were part of the “36th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards”. On April 5, 1987, the both were part of “The Annual Friars Club Tribute Present a Salute to Liza Minnelli.” 

Charles Nelson Reilly died in 2007 at age 76.