I had the pleasure of seeing Red Buttons in the flesh at a post-screening discussion of Sayonara at the Motion Picture Academy about a year, or so, ago. I cannot begin to describe how he had the audience of maybe 800 roaring with laughter joke after joke and comment after comment. It was a wonderful reminder of the power of the older generation of great comedians, who I feel are less and less respected these days, maybe because so few younger people have first-hand knowledge of the routines and the quick-witted spontaneity of the old guard. And that is just too, too bad.

Associated Press obituary by Bob Thomas.