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Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Michael Denison to Carol L. Dudley
Phyllis Diller Biography (1917-)
Original name, Phyllis Ada Driver; born July 17, 1917, in Lima, OH; daughterof Perry Marcus and Frances Ada (maiden name, Romshe) Driver; married Sherwood Anderson Diller, November 4, 1939 (divorced, September 1965); married WardeDonovan (an actor), October 7, 1965 (divorced, July 1975); companion of Robert Hastings (an attorney), c. 1985 (died, 1996); children: (first marriage) Sally, Suzanne, Stephanie, Perry, Peter III. Addresses: Agent: WilliamMorris Agency, 151 El Camino Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212.; Manager: Milton B. Suchin, 12747 Riverside Dr., Suite 208, Valley Village, CA 91607.
- Nationality
- American
- Gender
- Female
- Occupation
- Actress, stand–up comedienne
- Birth Details
- July 17, 1917
- Lima, Ohio, United States
Famous Works
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CREDITS
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Stage Appearances
- (Stage debut) The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, 1961
- Dolly Levi, Hello Dolly, St. James Theatre, New York City, 1970
- Also appeared in Happy Birthday;
Dark at the Top of the Stairs;
Everybody Loves Opal;
What Are We Going to Do with Jenny?;
Subject to Change.
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Film Appearances
- Texas Guinan, Splendor in the Grass (also known as Splendour inthe Grass), Warner Bros., 1961
- Camille, The Fat Spy, Magna Pictures Distribution Corp., 1966
- Lily, Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number, United Artists, 1966
- Golda, Eight on the Lam (also known as Eight on the Run), United Artists, 1967
- Voice of Mrs. Frankenstein, Mad Monster Party (animated; also known as Mad Monsters Party?), AVCO Embassy Pictures, 1967
- Agatha Knabenshu, Did You Hear the One about the Traveling Saleslady?, Universal, 1967
- Nurse Nellie Krause, The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell, United Artists, 1967
- Herself, Rowan & Martin at the Movies (documentary short), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1968
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Silent Treatment, 1968
- Mrs. Zero, The Adding Machine, 1969
- (Uncredited) Herself, Mooch Goes to Hollywood (also known as Mooch), Reel Media International, 1971
- (Uncredited) Herself, The Sunshine Boys, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1975
- (Uncredited) Herself, The Lion Roars Again (documentary short film), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1976
- Mrs. Wildebeast, A Pleasure Doing Business, 1978
- Margaret, Pink Motel, New Image, 1982
- Mrs. Trilling, Doctor Hackenstein, Troma Team Video, 1988
- Voice of Mousequeen, The Nutcracker Prince (animated), Warner Bros., 1990
- Mrs. Frasco, Pucker Up and Bark Like a Dog, 1990
- Miss Poopinplatz, The Boneyard, Prism Entertainment Corp., 1991
- Herself, Wisecracks (documentary), Alliance International Pictures, 1991
- Voice of Mother Nature, Happily Ever After (animated), First National Pictures, 1993
- Mother, The Perfect Man, 1993
- Old secretary, Il silenzio dei proscuitti (also known as The Silence of the Hams), October Films, 1994
- Voice of Queen, A Bug's Life (animated), Buena Vista, 1998
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The Debtors, 1999
- Voice of Sugar Plum Fairy, Nuttiest Nutcracker (animated), Columbia TriStar Home Video, 1999
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Everything's Jake, 2000
- Mrs. Baskin, The Last Place on Earth, 2002
- Mrs. Higgenbothen, Hip! Edge! Quirky!, 2002
- Herself, Bitter Jester (documentary), Anchor Bay Entertainment, 2003
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Goodnight, We Love You, (documentary), 2004
- Lou, Motocross Kids, Tag Entertainment, 2004
- The cashier, West from North Goes South, 2004
- Mrs. Clancy, Unbeatable Harold, 2005
- Mrs. Hertzberg, Forget about It, 2005
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Television Appearances
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Series
- Phyllis Pruitt, The Pruitts of Southampton (also known as The Phyllis Diller Show), ABC, 1966-67
- Herself, The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show, NBC, 1968
- Herself, The Gong Show, NBC and syndicated, 1976
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Miniseries
- Herself, Hollywood Women (documentary), ITV, 1994
- Herself, Comedy Central Presents: 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time, Comedy Central, 2004
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Movies
- Belva A. Lockwood, Swing Out, Sweet Land, NBC, 1970
- Herself, Kiss My Act, ABC, 2001
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Pilots
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Whatever Became Of ... , ABC, 1981
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Specials
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The Phyllis Diller Special, ABC, 1963
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Show Street, ABC, 1965
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An Evening with Phyllis Diller, WGN, Chicago, IL, 1966
- Copresenter, The 38th Annual Academy Awards, ABC, 1966
- Herself, The Jack Benny Hour, NBC, 1966
- Guest, The Bob Hope Show, NBC, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972
- Herself, Jack Benny's Bag, NBC, 1968
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Phyllis Diller Special, NBC, 1968
- Voice, The Mad, Mad, Mad Comedians, ABC, 1970
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Plimpton! Did You Hear the One About ... ?, ABC, 1971
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The Shape of Things, CBS, 1973
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Phyllis Diller's 102nd Birthday Party, ABC, 1974
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Swing Out, Sweet Land, NBC, 1976
- Herself, Joys (also known as Bob Hope Special: Bob Hope in "Joys"), NBC, 1976
- Herself, Christmas at Walt Disney World, 1978
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Leapin' Lizards, It's Liberace, CBS, 1978
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Bob Hope Special: The Bob Hope Special from Palm Springs, NBC, 1978
- Herself, The Bob Hope Funny Valentine Special, NBC, 1981
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Take One Starring Jonathan Winters, NBC, 1981
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Bob Hope Special: The Bob Hope Christmas Special, NBC, 1981
- Host, Minsky's Follies, HBO, 1982
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Bob Hope Special: Bob Hope's "Women I Love--Beautiful But Funny,"NBC, 1982
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George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business, NBC, 1983
- Performer, Circus of the Stars #8, CBS, 1983
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Bob Hope Special: Happy Birthday, Bob!, NBC, 1983
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The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast, NBC, 1984
- Herself, Unrehearsed Antics of the Stars (also known as Bob Hope's "Unrehearsed Antics of the Stars"), 1984
- (In archive footage) Herself, TV's Funniest Gameshow Moments, 1984
- (In archive footage) Herself, The Great Standups (documentary), 1984
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Blondes vs. Brunettes, ABC, 1984
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Bob Hope's Happy Birthday Homecoming, NBC, 1985
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Bob Hope Buys NBC?, NBC, 1985
- Herself, Circus of the Stars #10 (also known as The Tenth Annual Circus of the Stars), CBS, 1985
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Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NBC, 1986
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Funny, ABC, 1986
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An All-Star Tribute to General Jimmy Doolittle, syndicated, 1986
- Jonathan's mother/various characters, Jonathan Winters: On the Ledge, Showtime, 1987
- Voice of The White Queen, Alice through the Looking Glass, 1987
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Bob Hope's High-Flying Birthday Extravaganza, NBC, 1987
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Hope News Network, NBC, 1988
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Happy Birthday, Bob--50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC, NBC,1988
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Friday Night Surprise!, NBC, 1988
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America's Tribute to Bob Hope, NBC, 1988
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The Second Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1988
- (Uncredited; in archive footage) Herself, We Can Keep You Forever(documentary), BBC, 1988
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Hanna-Barbera's 50th: A Yabba Dabba Doo Celebration, TNT, 1989
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Ole! It's Bob Hope's Acapulco Spring Fling of Comedy and Music, NBC, 1990
- Herself, The Horror Hall of Fame, syndicated, 1990
- Herself, The Very Best of Ed Sullivan Show 2, CBS, 1991
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Super Bloopers & New Practical Jokes, NBC, 1992
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Carol Leifer: Gaudy, Bawdy & Blue, Showtime, 1992
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Bob Hope Presents the Ladies of Laughter, NBC, 1992
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Bob Hope and Other Young Comedians: The World Laughs, Young and Old, NBC, 1992
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The 6th Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1992
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The 61st Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade, syndicated, 1992
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More of the Best of the Hollywood Palace, ABC, 1993
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Bob Hope: The First Ninety Years, NBC, 1993
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Lassie Unleashed: 280 Dogs Years in TV, ABC, 1994
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Cirrus of the Stars Goes to Disneyland, CBS, 1994
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Bob Hope's Birthday Memories, NBC, 1994
- (In archive footage) Herself, The Best of the Don Lane show, NineNetwork, 1994
- Herself, Bob Hope: Happy 91st Birthday, Bob, 1995
- (In archive footage) Herself, Ed Sullivan All-Star Comedy Special,CBS, 1995
- (In archive footage) Herself, 50 Years of Funny Females (documentary), 1995
- Host, Young Comedians (also known as Bob Hope's "Young Comedians" and Bob Hope's "Young Comedians: A New Generation of Laughs"),NBC, 1995
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Liberace: Mr. Showmanship (documentary), Arts and Entertainment, 1995
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Liberace: The E! True Hollywood Story (documentary), E! Entertainment Television, 1998
- (In archive footage) Herself, The Best of the Dean Martin Roasts,1998
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People Count: Six Billion (documentary), CNN and TBS, 1999
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Norman Jewison on Comedy in the 20th Century: Funny Is Money (documentary), Showtime, 1999
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Let Me In, I Hear Laughter: A Salute to the Friars (documentary; also known as Let Me In, I Hear Laughter), Cinemax, 1999
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Gypsy Rose Lee: Naked Ambition (documentary), Arts and Entertainment, 1999
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The Great American History Quiz, History Channel, 1999
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Barry Levinson on the Future in the 20th Century: Yesterday's Tomorrows (documentary), Showtime, 1999
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Phyllis Diller: First Lady of Laughter (documentary), A&E, 2000
- (In archive footage) Herself, Playboy: The Party Continues, 2000
- Herself, Tiny Tim: The E! True Hollywood Story (documentary), E! Entertainment Television, 2001
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Phyllis Diller: The E! True Hollywood Story (documentary), E! Entertainment Television, 2001
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AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Barbara Streisand, Fox, 2001
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Marshalls' Women in Comedy, PAX, 2002
- Herself, The First 13th Annual Fancy Anvil Awards Show Program SpecialLive in Stereo, Cartoon Network, 2002
- Herself, Art of Darkness: A Night Gallery Retrospective (documentary), Starz, 2002
- Herself, The Gong Show: The E! True Hollywood Story (documentary),E! Entertainment Television, 2003
- Herself, 100 Years of Hope and Humor, NBC, 2003
- Herself, Jerry Lewis: The E! True Hollywood Story (documentary), E! Entertainment Television, 2003
- Herself, Bob Hope at 100, BBC, 2003
- Guest panelist and honoree, 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time, Comedy Central, 2004
- Also appeared in Annual Rock n' Roll Sports Classic;
Grammy Awards;
How Hollywood Stays in Shape;
Joys of Aging and How to Avoid Them;
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade;
Minsky's Burlesque;
Salute to Gordon Sinclair;
The Twenty-four Days of Christmas;
John Wayne Special;
Women Who Rate a 10.
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Episodic
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The Ed Sullivan Show, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1970
- Mystery guest, What's My Line?, CBS, 1963, 1964
- Herself, The Andy Williams Show, NBC, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971
- Herself, The Dean Martin Show, NBC, 1966, 1967, 1973, 1974
- Scrubwoman, "The Minstrel's Shakedown," Batman, ABC, 1966
- Herself, The Pat Boone Show, 1967
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The Hollywood Palace, ABC, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970
- Herself, The Carol Burnett Show, CBS, 1967
- Host, "The Phyllis Diller Happening," Kraft Music Hall, 1967
- Guest performer, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, NBC, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973
- (Uncredited) Maxwell Smart, "Pheasant under Glass," Get Smart, CBS, 1969
- Herself, Toast of the Town, CBS, 1969
- "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep Unless You're a Banana," The Red Skelton Show, 1969
- "Chalk Can Be Sexy," That's Life, 1969
- Daphne Daniels, "Love and the Phonies," Love, American Style, ABC,1969
- Herself, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, 1969, 1970,1971, 1979, 1980
- Herself, The Dick Cavett Show, ABC, 1970
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Can You Top This, 1970
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Kraft Music Hall, 1970, 1971
- Pamela, "Pamela's Voice," Night Gallery, NBC, 1971
- "Love and the Heist," Love, American Style, ABC, 1971
- Herself, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, CBS, 1971
- "Love and the Vacation," Love, American Style, ABC, 1971
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The Red Skelton Show, 1971
- Herself, The Flip Wilson Show, NBC, 1971, 1973
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The Julie Andrews Hour, 1972
- Voice of herself, "A Good Medium Is Rare," The New Scooby-Doo Movies (animated), CBS, 1972
- Voice, "The Lady Detective," Wail Till Your Father Gets Home (animated), syndicated, 1973
- Herself, The Mike Douglas Show, syndicated, 1976
- Herself, The Hollywood Squares, NBC and syndicated, 1976
- Herself, Easy Does It ... Starring Frankie Avalon, CBS, 1976
- Herself, The Muppet Show, syndicated, 1977
- Wanda, "Crack-Up," CHiPs, NBC, 1978
- Herself, Dinah!, 1979
- Viola Penny, "The Audit Couple/The Scoop/My Boyfriend's Back," The Love Boat, ABC, 1979
- Guest host, An Evening at the Improv, 1981
- "Bewigged, Bothered and Bewildered/The Anniversary Gift/Honey Bee Mine,"The Love Boat, ABC, 1982
- Herself, "You'll Never Get Rich," The Jeffersons, CBS, 1985
- Nora Mills, "The Trouble with Mary Jane," Tales from the Darkside,syndicated, 1985
- Guest, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, 1988
- Herself, "But Seriously Folks," Full House, ABC, 1988
- Mrs. Mallik, "Better Part of Valor," Night Heat, 1988
- Voice of herself, "Ludlow Laughs," Reading Rainbow, PBS, 1989
- "The Class of 90," 227, NBC, 1990
- Mrs. Barish, "Oral Sex, Lies and Videotape," Dream On, HBO, 1993
- Mrs. Peterson, "Kiss and Tell," Blossom, NBC, 1993
- Herself, "Beach Blanket Blossom: Part 2," Blossom, NBC, 1994
- Mrs. Peterson, "Sex, Lies, and Mrs. Peterson," Blossom, NBC, 1994
- Mrs. Peterson, "Oh, Baby," Blossom, NBC, 1994
- Ditmara Wink, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, Showtime, 1994
- Madam Ouspenskaya, "Who's Afraid of Cory Wolf?," Boy Meets World,ABC, 1994
- Herself, "Romancing the Crone," Cybill, CBS, 1996
- Gladys Pope, The Bold and the Beautiful, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004
- Herself, "Talked to Death," Diagnosis Murder, CBS, 1998
- Voice of Suzi Squirrel, "Sunshine Squirrels," Animaniacs (animated), 1998
- Great Aunt Nancy Priest, "The Ghost of Whyther Grange," Emily of New Moon, 1998
- Host, Mad TV, Fox, 1998
- Great Aunt Nancy Priest, The Book of Hours, 1999
- Mabel, "Nobody Knows ... ," 7the Heaven, The WB, 1999
- Voice of Lillian, "Escape from Party Island," King of the Hill (animated), Fox, 1999
- Voice of Sam, "Two's Company," The Wild Thornberrys (animated), Nickelodeon, 1999
- Voice of Mitzi, "Grandpa's Sister/Synchronized Swimming," Hey Arnold! (animated), Nickelodeon, 1999
- Herself, Pajama Party, Oxygen, 2000
- "Unfunny Girl," Hollywood Off-Ramp, E! Entertainment Television, 2000
- "As Others See Us," Arli$$, HBO, 2001
- Herself, Larry King Live, CNN, 2001
- Bebe, "Look Mom, One Hand!," The Drew Carey Show, ABC, 2002
- Voice of Grandma Neutron, "Granny Baby/Time Is Money," The Adventuresof Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (animated), Nickelodeon, 2002
- Coach Korns, "Snow Job," Even Stevens, The Disney Channel, 2002
- Grandma Titus, "Grandma Titus," Titus, Fox, 2002
- Gabrielle, "Gabrielle Come Blow Your Horn," 7th Heaven, The WB, 2002
- Herself, "Phyllis Diller," Star Dates, E! Entertainment Television, 2003
- Gabrielle, "We Do," 7th Heaven, The WB, 2003
- Contestant, Street Smarts, 2003
- "Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment," E!'s 101, E! Entertainment Television, 2003, 2004
- Herself, Hollywood Squares, 2003, 2004
- Herself, The Wayne Brady Show, syndicated, 2004
- Voice of Mask Scara, "A Made Up Story," The Powerpuff Girls (animated), Cartoon Network, 2004
- Voice of Granny Neutron, "MaternoTron Knows Best/Send in the Clones," Adventures of Jimmy Neutron (animated), 2004
- Made television debut in The Jack Paar Show; also appeared in All Nonsense News Network;
America 2-Night;
Chuck Barris Rah RahHou;
The Bonkers;
Celebrity Battle Stars;
Celebrity Bullseye;
Comedy Tonight;
Norm Crosby's Comedy Shop;
Crosswits;
Dance Fever;
John Davidson Show;
Daytime;
Door Diet Show;
Phil Donahue Show;
Epcot Magazine;
Fantasy;
David Frost Show;
Jackie Gleason Show;
Good Morning America;
Merv Griffin Show;
Heavenly Bodies;
Hour Magazine;
Jack Jones Show;
Madame Place;
Made in Hollywood;
Barbara Mandrell Show;
Match Game;
Mindreaders;
Monte Carlo Show;
Jim Nabors Show;
Over Easy;
Password +;
Regis Philbin Show;
Richard Simmons Show;
Soap World;
Take Off;
Take One;
Tattletales;
Toni Tennille Show;
Alan Thicke Show;
This Is Your Life;
Today Show;
Bobby Vinton Show;
As the World Turns;
Fame, Fortune & Romance, ABC; The Test; as herself, Last Comic Standing 2, NBC;Lilli Resphighi, "No Orchids for Dinner," The Good Guys; guest host,Nashville Now, TNN.
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Television Work
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Series
- Additional voices, Captain Planet and the Planeteers (animated; also known as The New Adventures of Captain Planet), TBS and syndicated,1990
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RECORDINGS
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Albums
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Phyllis Diller Laughs, Verve, 1961
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Are You Ready for Phyllis Diller?, Verve, 1962
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Born to Sing, Columbia, 1968
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Phyllis Diller, Comedienne, National Public Radio, 1986
- Also recorded Great Moments of Comedy with Phyllis Diller, Verve;Harold Arlen Revisited, Crewe Records.
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Videos
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How to Have a Moneymaking Garage Sale, 1987
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WRITINGS
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Books
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Phyllis Diller Tells Us about Fang, Doubleday, 1963
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Phyllis Diller's Housekeeping Hints, Doubleday, 1966
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Phyllis Diller's Marriage Manual, Doubleday, 1967
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The Joys of Aging and How to Avoid Them: Can Sex Keep You Young? And Other Silly Questions, Doubleday, 1981
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Like a Lampshade in a Whorehouse: My Story, 2005
- Also wrote The Complete Mother by Phyllis Diller, Doubleday.
Further Reference
OTHER SOURCES
Books
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St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture, St. James Press, 2000
Periodicals
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Saturday Evening Post, April, 1989, p. 30
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Time, June 18, 2001
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