Biography/TV & Film Credits

Born: Paul Edward Lynde on June 13, 1926 in Mount Vernon, Ohio (Knox County)

Died: January 10, 1982 due to cardiac arrest

Paul had three brothers (Richard, Corydon, Johnny) and two sisters (Helen, Grace). Parents: Hoy & Silvia. Paul's father was a sheriff & a butcher. Paul's nickname as a child was "chicken plucker" because his father was the local butcher. (Lynde attempted to glorify his father's occupation by referring to him as a "cattle surgeon".)

When Lynde was 10 years old, he became quite ill with peritonitis (following an appendectomy) and was immobile for nearly a year. His mother set up the dining room as his bedroom & constantly fed him. He gained over 100 pounds & battled a weight problem for the rest of his life, ballooning at one point, to 260 pounds.

From the time he was a small child, he was obsessed with being rich and famous.

Graduated (barely) from Northwestern University, where he befriended Cloris Leachman & Charlotte Rae. On the day of commencement, he was not scheduled to graduate. It was only by appealing to the student senate (which held a special session while the orchestra was rehearsing the processional), that Paul was able to graduate.

Was in "New Faces of 1952" with Alice Ghostley.

Starred in the 1960 Broadway production of "Bye, Bye Birdie" which featured his hit song, "Kids". Paul & Dick Van Dyke were the only two people in the Broadway production to have been featured in the movie version.

Lynde's most public relationship was with his dog, Harry MacAfee, a Dandie Dinmont named after the character he played in "Bye Bye Birdie". Harry (the dog) earned his championship in the canine world and had a string of trophies to match his master's citations.

Although well known as the "Center Square" on Hollywood Squares, Lynde did NOT appear on the first OR the last episodes of the original/classic/Marshall Hollywood Squares! Additionally, during his initial appearances on Squares, he was NOT IN the center square!!!! (I have video of this but have not had the time to upload it yet!)

Starring Roles

Temperatures Rising (1972) - Dr. Paul Mercy
The Paul Lynde Show (1972) - Paul Simms
It's The Wolf (1970) - Mildew Wolf
Where's Huddles (1970) - Pertwee
Perils of Penelope Pitstop (1969) - Sylvester Sneekley (The Hooded Claw)
The Cattanooga Cats (1969) - Mildew Wolf
The Jonathan Winters Show (1967) - Himself (1968-1969)
The Hollywood Squares (1966) - Panelist
The Pruitts of Southampton (1966) - Harvey (1967)
The Red Buttons Show (1952) - Regular (1955)

Guest Starring Roles

Co Starring Roles

(For more information regarding the Bewitched series - check out Harpies Bizarre!)

Movie/Mini-Series/Special Roles

Bewitched (movie 2006) - Uncle Arthur (has a clip of Paul from the original "Bewitched" tv series)
The Villain (1979) - Nervous Elk
Charlotte's Web (1973) - voice of Templeton the rat
Journey Back to Oz (1971) - Pumpkinhead
Bye Bye Birdie (1964) - Harry McAfee
For Those Who Think Young (1964) - Sid
Send Me No Flowers (1964) - Mr. Akins
Son of Flubber (1963) - Sportscaster at football game

Source: Tvtome.com

Additional information:

Joe Florenski's site. Joe is one of the featured people in the A&E bio about Paul, "Off Center".
Bewitched Beography (No, that's no typo. It's the Be-witched Be-ography page on Paul Lynde (Uncle Arthur). Notice how your cursor changes to a broom on this page!) This is a truly extensive site about the the Bewitched show including in depth looks at all the actors and the set, as well. This is an especially fun site to visit around Halloween!!!