Sammy Labella (June 6, 1929 – September 22, 2014), better known by his stage name Skip E. Lowe, was an American stand-up comedian, talk show host and actor.
Live performance Before adopting his now familiar stage name, LaBella worked as a stand-up comic, impressionist and master of ceremonies. In 1958, he performed in a number of Pittsburgh venues,"Show at Elmhurst Has Johnny Jack". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. November 19, 1958. p. 13. Retrieved September 11, 2022."Rosemary Bellan Stays at Showcase". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. May 19, 1958. p. 13. Retrieved September 11, 2022. most notably Lenny Litman's Copa, where he opened for Lambert, Hendricks and Ross and Dakota Staton."Lambert Singers Debut at Copa". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. September 12, 1958. p. 12. Retrieved September 11, 2022."Dakota Staton at Litman's Copa". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. December 1, 1958. p. 12. Retrieved September 11, 2022. The following summer saw a number of engagements in New York State, and it was in July 1959 that LaBella made his first appearance as Skip E. Lowe at Glen Casino in Williamsville, New York."Glen Casino: Opens Tomorrow". Buffalo Evening News. July 6, 1959. p. 12. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
Film He appeared in the films Black Shampoo (1976), The World's Greatest Lover (1977), Cameron's Closet (1988), and A-List (2006).
Television Beginning in 1978, he hosted Skip E. Lowe Looks at Hollywood, a weekly talk show for public-access cable television that aired in Los Angeles and New York City. It is estimated that Lowe conducted some 6,000 cable-television interviews from 1978 to 2014.
Personal life He was openly gay. In 2001, Lowe wrote The Boy with the Betty Grable Legs: A Showbiz Memoir. In 2014, he released another memoir, Hollywood Gomorrah.
Death Lowe died in Los Angeles, at age 85, on September 22, 2014, from emphysema.
According to his former website, Lowe was cremated and had his ashes scattered at Ventura Pier on November 23, 2014.
Legacy Martin Short cited him as the inspiration for his character Jiminy Glick.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1943 Best Foot Forward Cadet uncredited1944 Song of the Open Road Minor Role uncredited1945 Hotel Berlin Teenage Boy uncredited1947 Forever Amber Young Man uncredited1975 Crazy Mama uncredited1976 Black Shampoo Artie 1976 Ilsa, Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks Doctor uncredited1977 Bare Knuckles Cedric 1977 The World's Greatest Lover First Wardrobe Man 1979 Bitter Heritage 1988 Cameron's Closet Newscaster 1989 Prime Suspect Patient 1994 Sunny Side Up Himself 2005 Murder on the Yellow Brick Road Security Guard 2006 A-List Harry 2006 Pittsburgh Himself 2006 Running Out of Time in Hollywood 2014 The Final Song Himself
See also
List of people from Los Angeles List of people from Mississippi List of talk show hosts
References
Further reading
External links Skip E. Lowe Looks At Hollywood (playlist) from Romeo Carey Content via: YouTube Metadata