UPDATED 5/24/2023
Paul Lynde was born on June 13th, 1926. While he sadly had a short life, he was a very successful comedian, voice artist, game show panelist, and actor. He had an extremely spunky and snarky attitude. He would often poke fun at his sexual orientation (he would never shy away from it)! Many may remember Lynde for his roles as Uncle Arthur on Bewitched and Harry MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie. However, many people know him as a regular “center square” panelist on the game show The Hollywood Squares from 1968 to 1981.
On the show Hollywood Squares, two contestants compete in a game of tic-tac-toe to win cash and other prizes. While the show was completely legitimate, the focus mainly surrounds its comedic aspect. Lynde just so happened to provide some of the best one-liners in the show.
Paul Lynde is dynamite with his jokes on ‘Hollywood Squares’
In the video of Paul Lynde’s best Hollywood Squares one-liners below, many people have commented on their favorite parts of the video. “The best one of all was when he was asked, why does a chef pound his meat, Paul says ‘loneliness’,” one person says. Another says, “Sometimes he looks like even he can’t believe some of the stuff that came out of his mouth. He’s always been #1 in my book.”
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FAQs
Who was always in the middle of Hollywood Squares?
During the majority of the show’s original run, Paul Lynde held a prominent role in the strategically crucial center square. Following his two-year tenure on the show, Lynde was promoted to the position of permanent center square in 1968.
What personalities were on Hollywood Squares?
Hollywood Squares featured a diverse lineup of personalities throughout its run. Some of the notable celebrities who appeared on the show as panelists or center squares include:
- Paul Lynde
- Charley Weaver (Cliff Arquette)
- Rose Marie
- Wally Cox
- George Gobel
- Abby Dalton
- Vincent Price
- Joan Rivers
- George Hamilton
- John Davidson
- George Segal
- Jim J. Bullock
- Whoopi Goldberg
- Martin Mull
- Gilbert Gottfried
Who was the biggest winner on Hollywood squares?
During the original run of the show, Peter Marshall served as the host from 1966 to 1981, and during his time, a contestant named Karen Lesko held the record for the highest winnings on Hollywood Squares. On October 15, 1980, she won a grand total of $156,600.