Red Buttons, the larkish comic who would eventually evolve into a fine character actor who won the Supporting Actor Academy Award for Sayonara (1957), died on July 13 of vascular disease at his home in Century City, California. He was 87.

Born Aaron Chwatt in New York City on February 5, 1919, Buttons was raised on the Lower East Side, and he developed a love for entertainment at a young age. At 12, billing himself as Little Skippy, he won an amateur night contest at a local movie theater. By 16, he landed a job as a bellboy and singer at Dinty Moore's Tavern on City Island in the Bronx. Patrons, noticing his red hair and uniform studded with brass buttons, gave him the nickname Red Buttons, and that became his professional name for the remainder of his career.

Buttons continued to gain more and more experience, and after high school, he traveled on the Borscht Circuit that included some stand up in the Catskill Mountains. He was discovered by a talent scout for the famed burlesque manager Harold Minsky; From there, he headlined the Gaiety Theater in New York, and it wasn't long before he graduated to Broadway. By the '40s, he was in a string of hit productions: Vickie, Wine, Women and Song, Barefoot Boy With Cheek and Hold It. Red had arrived.

Like many burlesque comics of his era (Phil Silvers, Jackie Gleason, Milton Berle) Buttons took his turn on television in the early '50s when he starred in The Red Buttons Show (1952-55) on CBS. For three seasons, this comedy-variety set featured him with monologues, dance numbers and sketches with regulars and guests. Although not available on DVD, it remains a popular memory for a generation of babyboomers, and most notably, it was featured in Daniel Snyder's acclaimed documentary regarding the struggle for quality maintenance in television Brilliant But Cancelled (2002).

After his series ended, Buttons floated for a few years, but just when it looked like opportunities were drying up for him, he got a huge break when Joshua Logan cast him in Sayonara (1957). Playing under Marlon Brando, Buttons held his own as American airman Joe Kelly, whose marriage to a Japanese national leads to tragic consequences. In the hands of a lesser actor, the performance could have been overtly maudlin, but Buttons kept the pathos at bay, and was awarded both an Oscar® and Golden Globe for his efforts.

After Sayonara his film work became fairly steady. The elfish Buttons, who stood a mere 5' 6", was never going to play the dashing lead, but he peppered up several comedies with his snappy delivery and devilish grin. Imitation General (1958), One, Two, Three (1961) (where he pulls off a great James Cagney impersonation in front of Cagney), and Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962) all benefited from his presence. Yet more impressively, his attempts at drama were surprisingly strong: Your Cheatin' Heart (1964), Stagecoach (1966), They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969), and The Poseidon Adventure (1972) did vary in quality, but Buttons' commitment to the material was admirable.

Like most veterans who found less and less movie parts being offered, Buttons returned to television for steady gigs. He guest appeared in countless shows in the last three decades, the most notable among them: Wonder Woman, Little House on the Prairie, Fantasy Island, Vega$, Roseanne, The Cosby Show, and a recurring role in ER. Most fittingly, Buttons returned to Broadway in 1995 for Buttons on Broadway, a one-man show filled with old anecdotes and warm humor. It received rave reviews, but few thought that was surprise. He is survived by his daughter, Amy; son, Adam; a brother, and a sister.

by Michael T. Toole