Paul Lynde was born in 1926 in Mount Vernon, Ohio (one of six children and the middle of four boys). His father was a local police officer and the sheriff of the Mount Vernon Jail for two years. Lynde got his inspiration to become an actor at the age of four or five after his mother took him to see the original silent film Ben Hur (1926). After graduating from Northwestern University, Lynde relocated to New York City where his first break came from being a stand-up comedian at the Number One Fifth Avenue nightclub. Then came an appearance on a Broadway play, New Faces of 1952.

Lynde also had a two-year run on TV with Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall and the Broadway and film versions of Bye Bye Birdie. Throught his life, Lynde appeared in the Broadway plays The Impossible Years, Don't Drink the Water, and Plaza Suite. His many film credits include New Faces, Send Me No Flowers and Rabbit Test. One of his memorable roles is a recurring role on Bewitched playing the sneering, sarcastic, Uncle Arthur. He appeared on TV's "The Dean Martin Show," "The Kraft Music Hall," "The Donny and Marie Show," and both the prime-time and daytime versions of the game show The Hollywood Squares where he occupied the famous center square. He had two TV series of his own, The Paul Lynde Show and The New Temperatures Rising Show. Paul Lynde's witty, wisecracking one-liners and his novel line delivery made him one of Hollywood's funniest and best loved entertainers. Paul Lynde died under mysterious circumstances when he was found dead after having drowned in his backyard swimming pool allegedly under the influence of alcohol, or after suffering a heart attack in January 1982 at age 55. He had been in ill-health for over a year with cancer or some other illness that was never fully revealed to the public before or after his death.


Attended Northwestern University (Evanston, IL). The coroner who examined his body said he had the heart of an 88-year-old man. Long-time "center square" and court jester in residence on the original "The Hollywood Squares" (1965), Paul Lynde's quips on that show are still quoted, and laughed at, to this day. His older brother Cordon died in World War II. Explained his lifelong bachelorhood to fans (in the days before "coming out") by telling them his high-school sweetheart had broken his heart, and he was still too hurt to give other women a chance. He had a weight problem that he fought to control his entire life. Holds a unique place in show business history - he actually got to sing on "The Ed Sullivan Show" the song he performed nightly in the Broadway musical "Bye Bye Birdie" about the excitement of appearing on the iconic "Ed Sullivan Show". The sign proclaiming Mount Vernon, Ohio, as the birthplace of Paul Lynde was recently changed to read: "Home of Daniel Decatur Emmett, Author of [the song] 'Dixie.'" Was an accomplished cook. His father's name was Hoy Lynde, and his mother's name was Sylvia Bell. He had three brothers: Richard, Cord, and John.