Biography
Although Red Buttons is best known as a stand-up comic, he is also a successful songwriter, an Academy Award-winning actor (and has been nominated for two Golden Globe awards) and an accomplished singer. Born Aaron Chwatt on February 5, 1919 (Aquarius) in New York City's Lower East Side, stood at a height of 5' 6" (1.68 m). Buttons (who got his name from a uniform he wore while working as a singing bellhop), also known as Cpl. Red Buttons, started his show-business career singing on street corne...
Known For
Complete Filmography
Goodnight, We Love You
2004
as Self
GOODNIGHT, WE LOVE YOU is a film that chronicles the final stand-up comedy performance of a true living legend - the first female stand-up comic in hi...
The Story of Us
1999
as Arnie Jordan
Ben and Katie Jordan are a married couple who go through hard times in fifteen years of marriage.
Twentieth Century Fox: The First 50 Years
1997
as Self
The first half century of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation from its beginnings under Hungarian immigrant William Fox to it emergence as a major ...
Darryl F. Zanuck: 20th Century Filmmaker
1995
as Self
A biography of Darryl F. Zanuck, mogul and the power behind 20th Century Fox throughout the Golden Age.
It Could Happen to You
1994
as Walter Zakuto
Charlie Lang is a simple, kindhearted New York City cop. When he realizes he has no money to tip waitress Yvonne Biasi, Lang offers her half the winni...
The Ambulance
1990
as Elias Zacharai
Josh meets a young woman who shortly afterwards collapses and is rushed to hospital in an ambulance. He follows after her only to find that there is n...
Jackie Gleason: The Great One
1988
as Self
Documentary about the life and times of Jackie Gleason.
18 Again!
1988
as Charlie
81-year-old millionaire Jack Watson switches bodies with his 18-year-old grandson David, leading the two to experience life on opposite ends of the ag...
Reunion at Fairborough
1985
as Jiggs Quealy
World War II vets travel to England for a reunion at their old base. Stars Judi Trott, Barry Morse, Red Buttons, Deborah Kerr, Shane Rimmer, Robert Mi...
Night of 100 Stars II
1985
as Self
This special is the second "Night of 100 Stars" to benefit The Actors Fund of America. Edited from a seven-hour live entertainment marathon that was t...
George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business
1983
as Self
An all-star celebrity tribute to celebrate George Burns 80th Anniversary in show business.
Off Your Rocker
1982
as Seymour Saltz
The residents of Mapleview retirement home rebel against their oppressors and take the staff hostage. Their demands are simple. They want more freedom...
Side Show
1981
as Harry Hubbell
A teenage boy who runs off to join the circus as a side show puppeteer stumbles onto the dark secrets of the fellow performers.
Leave 'Em Laughing
1981
as Roland Green
Real-life clown Jack Thum, along with his devoted wife, Shirlee, cared for dozens of homeless children — 37 of them over the years — in the Chicago ar...
When Time Ran Out...
1980
as Francis Fendly
An active volcano threatens a south Pacific island resort and its guests as a power struggle ensues between the property's developer and a drilling fo...
Power
1980
as Solly Weiss
Loosely based on the life of Jimmy Hoffa, this traces the rise of Tommy Vanda (Joe Don Baker) from a Chicago dock worker to an influential labor leade...
C.H.O.M.P.S.
1979
as Bracken
A young man invents a robot dog that has super strength, x-ray vision and can detect crimes being committed. A greedy businessman tries to steal the b...
Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July
1979
as Milton (voice)
Winterbolt is trying to make the North Pole his evil wonderland, and it is up to Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and others to stop...
The Muppets Go Hollywood
1979
as Self
Kermit the Frog throws a glamorous party at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub to celebrate the premiere of the Muppets' first feature film, The Muppet Movi...
Movie Movie
1978
as Peanuts / Jinks Murphy
Three movie genres of the 1930s, boxing films, WWI aviation dramas, and backstage Broadway musicals, are satirized using the same cast.
The Users
1978
as Warren Ambrose
A beautiful girl from a small town with dreams of making it in Hollywood marries an actor whose career is fading, then schemes to get him back into th...
Telethon
1977
as Marty Rand
The behind-the-scenes intrigues — including, possibly, a murder — of an all-star fundraising telethon set in Las Vegas.
Pete's Dragon
1977
as Hoagy
Pete, a young orphan, runs away to a Maine fishing town with his best friend a lovable, sometimes invisible dragon named Elliott! When they are taken ...
Viva Knievel!
1977
as Ben Andrews
The legendary stuntman plans his most incredible stunt yet while battling the mob in this action-adventure.
Joys
1976
as Self
Over fifty of the greatest living comedians are called to a party at Bob Hope's house, where each of them is systematically killed (and their bodies t...
Gable and Lombard
1976
as Ivan Cooper
A biography about the love affair between 1930s Hollywood superstars Clark Gable and Carole Lombard.
Louis Armstrong - Chicago Style
1976
The story of how jazz great Louis Armstrong got his start playing in Chicago clubs, how he was framed on a drug charge, and his travels throughout Eur...
The Poseidon Adventure
1972
as James Martin
When their ocean liner capsizes, a group of passengers struggle to survive and escape.
Who Killed Mary Whats'ername?
1971
as Mickey Isadore
A prostitute is murdered on the streets of a tough, low-income neighborhood. A diabetic retired boxer who knew her is appalled by the lack of interest...
Breakout
1970
as Pipes
A prison inmate comes up with a plan to break out in order to be near his wife--and also the $50,000 in stolen cash for which he was originally impris...
George M!
1970
as Sam Harris
Based on the semi-hit Broadway musical of 1968 and starring original stage star Joel Grey, this TV version has been re-fashioned in significant ways. ...
They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
1969
as Sailor
In the midst of the Great Depression, manipulative emcee Rocky enlists contestants for a dance marathon offering a $1,500 cash prize. Among them are a...
Murder at N.B.C.
1966
A comedy classic whodunit with an amazing comedic ensemble group. An hour comedy special in which Bob Hope plays a mad scientist who invents a nuclear...
Stagecoach
1966
as Peacock
A group of unlikely travelling companions find themselves on the same stagecoach to Cheyenne. They include a drunken doctor, a bar girl who's been thr...
Harlow
1965
as Arthur Landau
Jean Harlow arrives in Los Angeles as a teenager, pushed into showbiz by her mother and stepfather. Kindhearted agent Arthur Landau becomes Jean's men...
Up from the Beach
1965
as PFC Harry Devine
After the D-Day landings in June 1944, a US squadron liberates a small village in Normandy from German occupation.
Your Cheatin' Heart
1964
as Shorty Younger
The story of the country and western singer Hank Williams.
A Ticklish Affair
1963
as Flight Officer Simon 'Uncle Cy' Shelley
A young widow Amy Martin with three young boys is investigated by the Navy after one of her children inadvertently sends out a distress signal in Mors...
Gay Purr-ee
1962
as Robespierre (voice)
Mewsette is a starry-eyed cat who grows weary of life on a French farm and heads for the excitement of 1890s Paris. Her tomcat suitor, Jaune-Tom, and ...
The Longest Day
1962
as Pvt. John Steele
The retelling of June 6, 1944, from the perspectives of the Germans, US, British, Canadians, and the Free French. Marshall Erwin Rommel, touring the d...
Five Weeks in a Balloon
1962
as Donald O'Shay
Professor Fergusson plans to make aviation history by making his way across Africa by balloon. He plans to claim uncharted territories in West Africa ...
Hatari!
1962
as Pockets
A female wildlife photographer arrives on an East African reservation where a group of men trap wild animals for zoos and circuses.
One, Two, Three
1961
as MP Sergeant (uncredited)
C.R. MacNamara is a managing director for Coca Cola in West Berlin during the Cold War, just before the Wall is put up. When Scarlett, the rebellious ...
The Big Circus
1959
as Randy Sherman
A circus owner tries to keep his financially troubled circus on the road, despite the efforts of a murderous saboteur who has decided that the show mu...
A Marriage of Strangers
1959
as Jerry
Jerry and Louise are two shy types who meet and wed through a lonely hearts club. They soon learn that being a married couple is not like the movies o...
Imitation General
1958
as Cpl. Chan Derby
An officer poses as a general after the death of his commanding officer and inspires his troops to victory.
Hansel and Gretel
1958
as Hansel
Musical adaptation of the Brothers Grimm story broadcast as a live television special on NBC.
Sayonara
1957
as Joe Kelly
Air Force Major Lloyd Gruver is reassigned to a Japanese air base and is confronted with US racial prejudice against the Japanese people. The issue is...
Footlight Varieties
1951
as Himself
A compilation of scenes and acts from various comedy and musical shorts over the years.
Winged Victory
1944
as Whitey / Andrews Sister
Pinky Scariano, Allan Ross, and Frankie Davis all join the Army Air Forces with hopes of becoming pilots. In training, they meet and become pals with ...