Trivia

From very early in his career, Charles Chaplin was his hero; he frequently wrote to him. After many years and no replies he stopped writing. Later while working in Las Vegas he heard that Chaplin was in the audience. Jackie went up to his table to introduce himself; Charlie stopped him, telling him he knew who he was, and then asked, "Why did you stop writing".

One of his most famous lines was, "I used to be an atheist; gave it up: no holidays.".

Rotund, soft-voiced comedian best known for his gentle wit and for providing the voice of Frosty the Snowman on several of the beloved Rankin/Bass Christmas specials, most notably Frosty the Snowman (1969) and Frosty's Winter Wonderland (1976).

Frequent entertainer in Las Vegas, as well as at the Blue Angel club in New York and the Hungry I in San Francisco. His dead pan-delivered comedy routine consisted either of caustic or satirical social commentary or self-deprecating humour.

Was discovered in a Winslow, Ontario, nightclub in 1963, by Steve Allen, who persuaded him to appear in his show "Celebrity Talent Scouts".

Mother's maiden name was Riccio.