Jackie Vernon was a popular comedian and actor who entertained audiences with his gentle, low-key delivery and self-deprecating humor. He was best known for his role as the voice of Frosty the Snowman in the classic animated Christmas specials. But how did he die and what was his life like? Here is a brief overview of Jackie Vernon’s cause of death and biography.
Early Life and Career
Jackie Vernon was born as Ralph Verrone on March 29, 1924, in New York City. He attended City College before enlisting and serving in the U.S. Air Force. He began his career in 1955 by performing stand-up comedy in various small nightclubs and hotel lounges around the country. He had a unique style of humor that often cracked up the audience with his inside jokes and absurd situations.
He decided to give New York City a try and was often seen hanging around Hanson’s Drug Store, a place where small-time comedians and acts in the theater section of New York would meet after making the rounds of agents who had their offices in the area. He was picked up by the manager of comedian Willie Weber. In 1963, he was noticed by Steve Allen, who invited him to appear on his late-night television show, Celebrity Talent Scouts. After that, Vernon’s career finally took off. Wikipedia
Television and Film Appearances
During the 1960s, Vernon occasionally worked as the opening act for both Dean Martin and Judy Garland and was a regular fixture on The Merv Griffin Show, where he informed the host that his original stage name had been “Nosmo King,” which he had seen on a sign (i.e. “no smoking”). He also appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show, The Dean Martin Show, and many other television variety shows. He was known for his deadpan delivery and his signature opening line, “To look at me now, it’s hard to believe I was once considered a dull guy.”
Vernon was also known to perform unique and darker sketches, such as his ultimately tragic attempt to turn a watermelon into a house pet. Plagued by strange occurrences and misfortune, Jackie would tell of traveling all the way to see the Grand Canyon, only to find it was closed. He also told of the time he went to see a fistfight, and it broke out into a hockey game. One of his early bits was the “Vacation Slide Show.” There were no slides visible; they were presumably off-screen as he described them, using a hand-clicker to advance to each “slide”. Wikipedia
Vernon also appeared in several films, such as The Night They Raided Minsky’s (1968), Skidoo (1968), The Projectionist (1971), and Microwave Massacre (1983). He also voiced Frosty the Snowman in the Rankin/Bass Productions Christmas specials Frosty the Snowman (1969) and Frosty’s Winter Wonderland (1976). He also voiced Milton the Monster in the animated series of the same name. IMDb
Cause of Death
Vernon died of a heart attack on November 10, 1987, at his home in Hollywood, California. He was 63 years old. His wife, Hazel, found him unconscious when she returned home from work. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. UPI
Vernon had just returned from an engagement at the Marina Hotel in Las Vegas, where he had performed his stand-up comedy. He had also taken part in a tribute to Milton Berle in Atlantic City, New Jersey, a few days before his death. He had complained of back pains in the morning of his death, but did not seek medical attention. The Washington Post
Vernon was survived by his wife and three children, David, Lisa, and Tracey. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills. He is remembered as one of the most original and influential comedians of his time, who inspired many others with his gentle wit and quirky humor. Dead or Kicking
