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Monday, June 29, 2009

Impressionist, Vegas headliner Fred Travalena dies


Fred TravalenaLOS ANGELES (AP) - Impressionist Fred Travalena, a headliner in Vegas showrooms and a regular on late-night talk shows with his takes on presidents, crooners and screen stars, has died in Los Angeles. He was 66.

Publicist Roger Neal says Travalena died Sunday at his home in the Encino area after a recurrence of the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that first surfaced in 2002.

Travalena was known for the sheer volume of celebrities he imitated, leading to the nicknames "The Man of a Thousand Voices" and "Mr. Everybody."



His act included presidents from Kennedy to Obama, musicians from Frank Sinatra to Bruce Springsteen and actors from Marlon Brando to Tom Cruise. Travalena was a comic impressionist who appeared numerous times on the Johnny Carson show in the 70's and early 80's.

The Bronx native started his career in Las Vegas in 1971.


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