Birthday: Red Buttons

Born Aaron Chwatt on the east side of Manhattan, Red Buttons started performing at a very young age. When he was just seven years old he could be found singing on street corners for pennies. By the time he was twelev he was entering every amateur contest he could find. At sixteen he worked as an entertaining bellhop at a hotel called Ryan's in City Island, New York. It was there that he received his nickname due to his red hair and crazy jacket covered in buttons.

Red worked in the Catskills and then did bulesque before it was shut down in 1942. One year later, while in the Army Air Corp, he was chosen for a role in "Winged Victory." He worked the show on Broadway and the movie. He spent the rest of the war entertaining troops with Micky Rooney.

In 1952, "The Red Buttons Show" premiered on CBS and it was a huge hit. Red was awarded an Emmy in 1953 for Best Comedian. But the show only lasted three years and Buttons turned to film. In 1957 the film "Sayonara" starring Marlon Brando gave Red a role as supporting actor for which he won an Oscar and Golden Globe.

Red went on to star in numerous films including "The Big Circus", "Hatari", "Stagecoach", and the "Poseiden Adventure". Red also appeared on numerous television variety and talk shows as well as cameo's on shows such as "Knotts Landing" and "ER."

If Red died today he would be worth 14 points for Greg.