According to his commentary on "The Love Bug", he was offered $2000 a week to replace Curly of The Three Stooges. He refused.
Allegedly regretted turning down the sequels for "The Love Bug".
Although his on-stage humor was not nearly as raw, in retrospect, as many of the young comedians who would succeed him, his frequently ribald performances in nightclubs and in concert came as something of a shock to those who had enjoyed his "cleaned-up" (at the behest of the censors) performances on TV and in films.
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 7, 2003-2005, pages 224-226. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2007.
Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith, pg. 201-202. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
Father of Sandy Hackett, Ivy Julie, Lisa Jean.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Live Theatre at 6834 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
His real name, Lenny Hacker, was used as the name of a character he played in episode 1.05 ("The Entertainer") of "Space Rangers" (1993).
In 1953, gossip columns reported that Universal Pictures wanted to team Buddy Hackett with his friend, popular baritone Alan Dale, as their studio's answer to Paramount's box office sensations, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Nothing came of the idea because Dale preferred to remain a solo act. Hackett, however, did appear in Universal's Walking My Baby Back Home (1953) later that year.
Next door neighbor of Sandy Koufax in childhood.
Quit doing appearances in 1996 after he suffered stage fright, including extreme dizziness, for the first time in his career. This event immediately followed gum surgery, which Buddy believes had something to do with the situation.
Served three years in the Army with an antiaircraft unit during World War II. On a furlough in 1945, he returned home and bought a ticket to see the musical "Oklahoma!". He decided on a career in show business following his discharge.
Son of Philip Hackett and Anna Geller.
Towards the end of his life, he was raising money for an animal shelter.