Charlie Callas, R.I.P.

Charlie Callas as Sinestro from
"Legends of the Superheroes"

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Charlie Callas, a versatile comedian and sidekick whose zany faces and antics made him a regular for more than four decades on television, in films and on casino stages, has died in Las Vegas. He was 83.

A son, Mark Callas, tells The Associated Press that Callas died Thursday in a hospice.

Clark County Coroner Mike Murphy says the death was from natural causes.

Callas toured with Frank Sinatra and Tom Jones, and had a screen part with Jerry Lewis in "The Big Mouth" in 1967.

His facial expressions and rapid-fire comedy also made Callas a favorite on the "Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson.

He also worked with Mel Brooks and was the voice of Elliot in Disney's "Pete's Dragon."

Filmography

The Big Mouth (1967) — Rex
Switch (TV) (1975–1978) — Malcolm Argos
Silent Movie (1976) — Blindman
Pete's Dragon (1977) (voice) — Elliott
High Anxiety (1977) — Cocker Spaniel
Legends of the Superheroes (1979) — Sinestro
History of the World: Part I (1981) — Soothsayer
Hysterical (1983) — Count Dracula
The Dom DeLuise Show (TV) (1987) — Charlie
Amazon Women on the Moon (1987) — Himself
Silk Stalkings (TV) (1993) — El Cid
Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995) — Man in Straitjacket
Horrorween 3D (2010)