Biographie
Born Charles Callias in Brooklyn, NY on December 20, 1927, he served in the US Army in Germany during World War II.
Initially a drummer, he performed with Tommy Dorsey, Claude Thornhill, and Buddy Rich. Known for his playful antics, he often annoyed fellow band members on the bus during tours, leading them to suggest he pursue comedy. "He was just messing around with the guys and it worked, I guess," his son Mark recalled. Naturally gifted in humor, he soon transitioned from drumming to stand-up comedy. When making his first television appearance in 1963 on the "Hollywood Palace" variety show, he dropped a vowel from his last name, Callias, adopting the stage name Callas.
In 1967, he appeared on The Merv Griffin Show, where his performance left Jerry Lewis in stitches. So impressed, Lewis told Merv Griffin he wanted to cast Callas in his upcoming film "The Big Mouth."
He was a regular on the Andy Williams Show and appeared semi-regularly on the Flip Wilson and Des O'Connor Variety Shows, also serving as co-host on the Joey Bishop Show.
From 1975, Callas co-starred for three years alongside Robert Wagner and Eddie Albert on the series "Switch," where his character showcased his versatility by using different disguises in most episodes.
He made over 50 appearances on The Tonight Show and was a favorite of Johnny Carson’s until September 1982, when during a performance he pushed Carson off his chair. Carson declared in front of the audience that Callas would never appear on the show again, and he did not.
Callas’s rapid-fire humor captivated audiences in nightclubs nationwide. He toured for a year with Frank Sinatra, performing at venues including the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles. His appearances also included prestigious locations such as the Hilton Hotels, Caesar's Palace, The Sands Hotel, Flamingo Hilton, Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas; Harrah's Clubs in Reno and Lake Tahoe; Cal-Neva Lodge; Lake Geneva Playboy Club; Resorts International; Claridge Hotel; and Park Place.
Among his recent television appearances were "Larry The Cable Guy's Christmas Spectacular" (2007) and "Larry The Cable Guy's Star-Studded Christmas Extravaganza" (2008), where he delighted audiences with his signature antics and exceptional comedic talent.
He was married to Eve Velac, who passed away in July 2010, and had two sons, Mark and Larry, as well as two grandsons.
