I began painting well before I started doing comedy. In fact, when I came out of the war in 1946, I enrolled in art school in Dayton, Ohio. I painted for three years, and then show business took hold.

I began painting well before I started doing comedy. In fact, when I came out of the war in 1946, I enrolled in art school in Dayton, Ohio. I painted for three years, and then show business took hold.

You've got to be an observer. And you've got to take time to listen to people, talk, to watch what they do.

I don't do jokes. The characters are my jokes.

Throughout my life, I've been gratified that I've been able to keep the child in me alive and inspire others.

I find painting a much slower process than comedy, where you can go a mile a minute verbally and hope to God that some of the people out there understand you.

My mother had a radio show - a Barbara Walters type of gal and was very successful for about 20-some years on a radio station.