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For more than five decades, Ottawa-born Rich Little has entertained
millions of fans with his impressions of past and present
celebrities. While he is best known for his stand-up
impressions of famous people, his latest creative venture will see
him starring in a one-man show destined for Broadway, featuring
the life and career of Jimmy Stewart. Rich was a close friend of
Jimmy and Gloria Stewart,and for many years Rich has
participated in a variety of charitable fundraising
events in Jimmy’s memory. Rich is a strong supporter
of the Jimmy Stewart Museum in Indiana,
Pennsylvania,and is a member of the museum’s board
of directors. In 2007, Rich and his wife Marie donated
funds to provide a new canopy sign for the museum.
His ability to come close to “becoming” the
celebrity he is presenting has amazed his fans and
friends since the beginning of his career. Watching
him perform,audience members often forget that it’s
Rich Little and almost believe they are watching
George Burns, Jack Nicholson or Tom Jones! His
uncanny ability to recreate not only the voices and
inflections of the characters, but also their unique
body language, creates a complete impression, right
before your eyes!
Rich played all the roles in a television special,
Rich Little’s Christmas Carol, based on the Charles
Dickens classic. Awarded the Montreaux Festival
Award in Switzerland, as well as an international
Emmy,this classic has been released on DVD with an
additional bonus feature, Rich Little’s Robin Hood,
and a conversation with director Trevor Evans.
His talents also extend to creating portraits. His
lifelike charcoal portraits of celebrities have been in
great demand. Over the many successful years of his
career, Rich has appeared regularly with Ed Sullivan,
Jackie Gleason, Glen Campbell and Dean Martin, and
has appeared on Laugh-in, the Julie Andrews Show
and, at one time, starred in his own television variety
show. He was named comedy star of the year by the
American Guild of Variety Artists,and his impressions
of Johnny Carson were so memorable that he portrayed
Johnny in a recent HBO movie about his life,
entitled The Late Shift.
He has appeared in many major Hollywood
movies and his career continues to flourish. He was
recently the headliner at the Golden Nugget Resort
Casino in Las Vegas, where he entertained his fullhouse
audiences with the voices of famous superstars
and presidents. Now he has added the latest
crop of celebrities to his incredible repertoire.
But his real love is donating his time and talent to the many
charitable causes he and Marie support. Rich was co-host of the
Canadian Division of the Children’s Miracle Network and has
given his time to the Las Vegas Heart Association, Northern
PHOTO: PETER HARASTY
June 2008 • 9 • Fifty-Five Plus Magazine