Rip Taylor (Actor)

Actor Rip Taylor arrives at the opening night of Hairspray. (Photo: Amanda Edwards / Getty Images)

Outlandish American comedian, a Mad Hatter type famous for his bewigged hairstyle, prominent moustache and bag of confetti, which he delights in showering upon live audiences any chance he gets. Taylor kept busy in TV during the 1960s and 70s as a regular on comedy-variety series starring Jackie Gleason, Phyllis Diller and Bobby Darin, working onstage live (especially in Las Vegas) between tapings.

The 70s witnessed the opening of a new line of work for the master zany, as his dithering, often comically frustrated voice found its perfect medium in children's cartoon programming. He supplied the voice of the title character in "Here Comes the Grump", appeared in person to play the temperamental genie in the minor cult favorite "Sigmund and the Sea Monsters", and later lent his larynx to such "toons" as "Popeye and Son" and "The Addams Family".

For many viewers, Taylor's most typical media manifestation was as the host of the (in)famous "The $1.98 Beauty Show". Parading a series of mock contestants through embarrassing routines, bellowing at the winner a la Bert Parks, and presenting her with the grand prize of $1.98, the garishly garbed Taylor effectively (if broadly) lampooned the vapidity of beauty pageants, even if the show was sometimes almost as annoying as its intended target. Having established himself as a camp icon, Taylor more recently played occasional gag roles in "Things Are Tough All Over" (1982) and "Amazon Women on the Moon" (1987).