Soupy Sales: Famed comedian dies at 83

Soupy Sales: Famed comedian dies at 83

Soupy Sales, the rubber-faced US comedian has died at the age of 83.

Soupy Sales was best known for his long-running children's television show, "Lunch with Soupy Sales". His career was built on 20,000 pies to the face and 5,000 live TV appearances.

Sales died on Thursday night at Calvary Hospice in the Bronx, New York after being admitted a week ago, his former manager and longtime friend, Dave Usher said.

Usher said that during the 1950s and 60s, Sales was one of the most well known faces in the US.

Having pies hurled at him became his trademark and delighted his fans.

In an interview in 1985, Sales said, "I'll probably be remembered for the pies, and that's all right".

Sales began his television career in Cincinnati on WKRC-TV with Soupy's Soda Shop, TV's first teen dance program, and Club Nothing!, a late-night comedy/variety program.

When WKRC canceled his TV shows, the funnyman moved to Cleveland, Ohio to host another radio and TV series and continued his nightclub act.

Later, Sales moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1953 where he drew a large audience on WXYZ-TV. He moved to Los Angeles in 1961.

During the 1980s Sales hosted his own show on WNBC-AM in New York City.

Soupy Sales, whose birth name was Milton Supman, was born on January 8, 1926 in Franklinton, North Carolina, U.S.

Soupy Sales is survived by his wife, Trudy Carson, and two sons, Hunt Sales and Tony Sales. Both Hunt and Tony are musicians who have played with David Bowie, Todd Rundgren and Iggy Pop.