On January 13, 1962, groundbreaking comedian Ernie Kovacs died at the age of 42 in a car crash. In the early morning hours, his Chevrolet Corvair crashed into a telephone pole in Los Angeles, California.
Some authorities surmised that he was lighting one of his trademark cigars when he lost control of his vehicle. A photographer at the scene of the crash captured the comedian’s body next to an unlit cigar.
His tombstone at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles is inscribed, “Ernie Kovacs 1919 – 1962 — Nothing In Moderation.”
The unique style of comedy that Kovacs brought to television and several movies is often cited as inspiring a number of later classic shows. You can see Kovacs in shows ranging from Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In to Saturday Night Live to children’s shows like Sesame Street. And anytime you see the madcap antics of late night TV hosts like David Letterman or Conan O’Brien, you are seeing a little bit of the visual and surreal humor of Kovacs.
You may read more about the career of Ernie Kovacs on the Ernie Kovacs website, or you may watch an episode of The Ernie Kovacs Show from around 1962 below.
The car that Kovacs was driving, the Chevrolet Corvair, would go on to further fame when Ralph Nader crusaded to reveal safety problems with the car.
What is your favorite clip of Ernie Kovacs? Leave your two cents in the comments.
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