Jackie Vernon (comedian)

Vernon's wife, Hazel, died on March 21, 2006, at the age of 77.

Vernon died at his home in Hollywood, California, on November 10, 1987, from a heart attack at age 63.

Vernon also memorably starred in Wayne Berwick's 1979 cult film Microwave Massacre, in which he plays a lascivious construction builder who kills his wife for bossing him around and making him too many microwaved "gourmet" meals.

He often appeared on the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts that were a staple of 1970s television, as well as being a fixture on the dais at the original live Friars Club Roasts before and after the televised versions. Vernon's signature deadpan expression and delivery often had the roast audiences laughing hysterically, long before the punch line of the jokes. On December 6, 1972, one of Vernon's recorded concerts was released which was titled Sex Is Not Hazardous To Your Health, a record album recording of his first stand-up routine of sex jokes. Vernon's X-rated story-style jokes about people engaging in extreme sexual depravity became legend, often with the added tag line, "and I thought to myself... what a neat guy!"

Despite his reputation as a raunchy comedian, Vernon also supplied the voice of the title character of the popular family friendly Rankin-Bass television special Frosty the Snowman (1969), which has been broadcast annually on CBS since its debut. He later reprised the voice in two more Rankin-Bass specials: Frosty's Winter Wonderland (1976) and Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979).

Vernon was once a trumpet player and often carried a cornet with him as a prop during his stand-up routines. As with Henny Youngman and his violin, it was seldom actually played. When he guested on a summer variety program hosted by Al Hirt in 1965, he came on with his cornet and said, "I play like I'm Hirt." He was a popular figure on The Ed Sullivan Show and other variety shows, where he often ended his act by blowing a cornet and saying, "I think I hurt myself!"

During the 1960s, Vernon occasionally worked as the opening act for both Dean Martin and Judy Garland and was a regular fixture on The Merv Griffin Show, where he informed the host that his original stage name had been "Nosmo King," which he had seen on a sign (i.e. "no smoking"). He would take up a topic like prisons in a monologue and begin with, "Hello, prison fans."

Early in the 1950s, according to Dick Brooks, Vernon bounced around the country working whatever stand-up comedy jobs he could find, mostly in strip joints and hotel lounges. Even then he had a unique style, often cracking up members of the audience with his inside humor. He decided to give New York City a try, and he was often seen hanging around Hanson's Drug Store, a place where small-time comedians and acts in the theater section of New York would meet after making the rounds of agents who had their offices in the area. He was picked up by manager of comedian Willie Weber. In 1963, Vernon was noticed while performing stand-up at a local nightclub in Windsor, Ontario, Canada where Steve Allen was in attendance and he invited Vernon to appear on his late-night television show, Celebrity Talent Scouts, and after that, Vernon's career finally took off.

Vernon said that for the first few years after starting standup in the 1950s, he would write letters to his hero Charlie Chaplin, although he never got a reply or any acknowledgement of his letter-writing. After Vernon became famous and was making TV appearances, he eventually stopped writing to Chaplin. During an appearance in Las Vegas, the hotel management told him that Charlie Chaplin would be in the audience that night; Jackie asked if he could meet Chaplin. He was told that Chaplin was eating dinner right then in the restaurant. Vernon walked up to Chaplin's table, and as he started to introduce himself, Chaplin interrupted him, saying, "Of course, Jackie Vernon. Tell me: why did you stop writing?"

Jackie Vernon (born Ralph Verrone; March 29, 1924 – November 10, 1987) was an American stand-up comedian and actor, who was best known for his role as the voice of Frosty the Snowman in the Rankin/Bass Productions Christmas special Frosty the Snowman and its sequel Frosty's Winter Wonderland.

Jackie Vernon was born Ralph Verrone on March 29, 1924, in New York City. After attending and graduating from high school, he attended City College before enlisting and serving in the U.S. Air Force. He began his career in 1955 with performing stand-up comedy in various small nightclubs and hotel lounges around the country from New York, to Chicago, to Miami and Los Angeles.