Dick Shawn was an American actor. He played a wide variety of supporting roles and was a prolific character actor. During the 1960s, he played small roles in madcap comedies, usually portraying caricatures of counterculture personalities, such as the hedonistic but mother-obsessed Sylvester Marcus in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), and the hippie actor Lorenzo Saint DuBois ("L.S.D.") in The Producers (1967). Beyond his film work, he appeared in numerous television shows from the 1960s through the 1980s.
Dick Shawn, American actor (born 1923)
Dick Shawn, American actor (born 1923)
On April 17, in the year 1987, Dick Shawn, American actor (born 1923). This event is recorded as a Notable Deaths event in the history of April 17, one of 401 recorded events on this date across all of history.
1 notable person is associated with this event, including Dick Shawn. Learn more below.
Key Facts
- This event took place on April 17, 1987 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Notable Deaths event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 1 Wikipedia article.
- 1 notable person is recorded as involved in or associated with this event.
- Wikipedia source last updated on 28 February 2026.
On This Date in History 401
This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
People Involved
More on April 17
Proclus, Greek mathematician and philosopher (born 412)
Proclus, Greek mathematician and philosopher (born 412)
Comments 0
Sign in to join the discussion.