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Art Linkletter dies at age 97
Art Linkletter, the host of "People Are Funny" and "House Party" of the 1950s and '60s died Wednesday, May 26, at his home in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles.
"He lived a long, full, pure life, and the Lord had need for him," said his son-in-law, Art Hershey, the husband of Sharon Linkletter.
Linkletter had been ill "in the last few weeks time, but bear in mind he was 97 years old. He wasn't eating well, and the aging process took him," Hershey said.
Linkletter was born Gordon Arthur Kelly in Moose Jaw, in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, in Canada. In his autobiography, Confessions of a Happy Man (1960), he revealed that he had had no contact with his natural parents or his sister or two brothers since he was abandoned when only a few weeks old. He was adopted by Mary and Fulton John Linkletter, an evangelical preacher. When age 5 his family moved to the United States to San Diego, where he graduated from high school at age 16.
Linkletter had one of the longest marriages of any celebrity in America, at over 74 years. He married Lois Foerster on November 25, 1935, and they had five children: Arthur Jack (known as Jack Linkletter, a TV host), Dawn, Robert, Sharon, and Diane. He outlived three of his five children. His 20 year old daughter, Diane Linkletter, committed suicide on October 4, 1969, by jumping out of her sixth-floor kitchen window while a student at UCLA. His son Robert died in a car accident in 1980 and his son Arthur died from lymphoma in 2007.
Local reactions to Art Linkletter's death:
MDM, 87, Sanford: I watched Art Linkletter all the time. He was a household name. I doubt many people even know him now.
Sandy, 32, Springvale: I know him but don't really know why I know him. I think I've seen him on Larry King. He seemed like a nice man.
Sue, 62, Waterboro: Art Linkletter was a joy to watch. I loved when he asked kids questions and they came back with funny answers. Those were the days!
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Darlene Michaud is a lifelong Sanford, Maine resident who writes for The Examiner in the Women's Business category and the Celebrity Headlines category. Darlene is also a member of TOPS ME 113 and is happily achieving weight loss success through the support of her wonderful TOPS family! You can get to know Darlene and see her line of plus size clothing by visiting her website at www.darlenemichaud.com.
Photo: NBC
Comments
I remember watching his show "Kids say the Darnest Things" when I was about 8rs old. I loved it. Art really knew how to get a reaction from the children. You could tell he loved kids and that was why it was so good at what he did. He will be missed.
In 1962 I had the priviledge of meeting Mr Linkletter on his House Party Show, and was on stage with him and Edith Head. A gentle man, with a wonderful sense of humor who enjoyed life, is how I would describe him. He was truly one of the greats. I also got to meet Alan Ludden backstage and was able to visit with him. What a wonderful memory.....
I remember Art Linkletter well, thought it has been many years since he was a public figure. It is so refreshing to read of a clean, family man. I goes to show that people in the entertainment industry don't have to be dishonest and immoral and foul mouthed to be great entertainers. I know there are some today. I hope we hear more about them.
Art Linkletter owned the house that my husband and I live in now in Hill City, Idaho and I use to watch him as a kid on "Kids say the Darnest things". Rest in peace Art and may God give your family comfort in knowing you are with him in heaven.
When his daughter "jumped" from the window she was with her boyfriend, ed durston. In 1985 the tonight show's carol wayne was in mexico where she argued with her boyfriend. She disappeared that night and the next day the boyfriend split with her still missing. Two days later they found her "drowned" in four feet of water. My point? Carol Wayne's boyrfriend was the same ed durston who was with diane linkletter. It was murder.
I hired Art to address a group of people including Marie Osmond, and I asked him "Art do you get nervous still after all these years of speaking to groups" - he replied, "darling some days, that is the only way I know I am alive"
He was a dear a will be not only missed but remembered
Tracey@CreativityGuaranteed.com
Didn’t one of Arts daughters have a son out of wedlock in February of 1964 in Seattle Wa?
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