Hackett, Buddy

Buddy Hackett (1924–2003) was one of America's most popular comedians and comic actors, known for his distinctive New York accent, self-deprecating humor, and memorable performances in film, television, and stand-up comedy. During a career that spanned more than fifty years, he starred in such classic films as The Music Man (1962), It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), and Disney's The Love Bug (1968), while also becoming a familiar face on television through frequent appearances on The Tonight Show, The Perry Como Show, and numerous variety and game shows.

Although born in Brooklyn, New York, Hackett developed strong ties to Englewood, New Jersey, during the 1950s. Contemporary newspaper accounts regularly referred to him as an "Englewood comedian," reflecting his residence in the city at the height of his early television success. In 1956, while appearing frequently on Perry Como's television program, newspapers noted that the "Englewood, N.J., comedian" had earned his own NBC sitcom, Stanley, a milestone that helped establish him as a national television star.

Hackett's move to Englewood was closely connected to fellow comedian Dick Shawn. According to a contemporary profile, Shawn introduced Hackett to the social and recreational life of the area, including the Englewood Country Club. After admiring Shawn's ranch-style home in Englewood, Hackett purchased the house from him, while Shawn moved to a larger residence nearby. Their friendship reflected the growing community of entertainers who settled in Bergen County during the postwar era.

Hackett was also part of Englewood's vibrant social and entertainment scene through his involvement with the Englewood Country Club. The club attracted a number of well-known performers and comedians and served as a gathering place for entertainment figures who worked in nearby New York City. A later newspaper account noted Hackett's association with the club alongside fellow entertainers Joey Bishop and Corbett Monica and nightclub owner Phil Corio. These connections helped make Englewood and its neighboring communities a notable residential center for television, film, and nightclub personalities during the 1950s and 1960s.

After leaving Englewood, Hackett later lived in nearby Leonia and Fort Lee, where he purchased the former estate of notorious crime boss Albert Anastasia. Despite these moves, his years in Englewood coincided with the period when he emerged as one of America's most recognizable comedians. His success eventually earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2021 he was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Today, he remains one of the most notable entertainers to have called the Englewood area home.

Earl Wilson, "The Midnight Earl," St. Louis Globe-Democrat (St. Louis, MO), May 17, 1956, p. 8.

"Buddy Hackett and Dick Shawn" profile, Radio Mirror, November 1956, describing Hackett's purchase of Dick Shawn's Englewood home and their connection through the Englewood Country Club.

The Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), February 22, 1976, p. 95, discussing Hackett's association with the Englewood Country Club alongside Joey Bishop, Corbett Monica, and Phil Corio.

New Jersey Hall of Fame, Buddy Hackett induction biography, 2021.

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Extracted from a 1973 Buddy Hackett, Flip Wilson photo.

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