One of the last things that Red Skelton did with his son Richard was watch the cartoon Mighty Mouse and plan a 10th birthday cookout that the boy would never attend.
Richard, who died of leukemia only 10 days before his birthday, spent the last few hours of his life with his dad at his bedside, leafing through a Sears-Roebuck catalog for the perfect birthday gifts.
But more than anything, Richard really wanted his dad to buy a red blanket that he picked from the pages to give to his mom on Mother’s Day, that was the next day.
Red Skelton was a comedian and pantomime, best known for his performances on radio shows and on TV, most notably the series the Red Skelton Show that aired 1951 to 1971.
Taking after his dad Joseph Skelton, who for a time was a clown, Red was a natural entertainer who started amusing the public with his bawdy material when he was only 10. Developing his humor as he grew, Red then went on to appear in major films, his first the 1938 romantic comedy Having a Wonderful Time with the legendary Ginger Rogers and Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
After numerous appearances in musical comedies over the next couple of decades, including Ship Ahoy! I Dood It, Zeigfeld Follies and The Clown, Red then made his TV premiere on The Red Skelton Show, which was renamed to The Red Skelton Hour in 1962.
At the time, Red was juggling his career and parental duties as a father to Richard, who was born in 1948 to his second wife Georgia Davis (1945 to 1971). The couple also had a daughter, Valentina, who was born in 1947.
At the height of Red’s career, his hectic schedule included radio TV and film, his nine-year-old son Richard was diagnosed with leukemia and given only one year to live.
Red, choosing family over fame, took a leave of absence and left his show during the 1957 to 1958 season, with several guest filling in as host, including a very young Johnny Carson.
Deciding not to explain the seriousness of leukemia to the boy, and wanting him to enjoy his days without dread, the Skeltons hatched a deal with national news to keep Richard’s condition out of the media.
Last wish
But then, Richard saw the Last Days of Pompeii on TV and became fascinated with the ancient city that was destroyed by the deadly eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Wanting to give Richard his every last wish, Red planned a family trip across Europe–that included consultations with international physicians–allowing his son to visit Pompeii.
While travelling, British tabloids, that were not part of the embargo the Skeltons had with US media, dropped stories about the star and Richard’s illness.
Responding to reports about his fatal condition, Richard, who at the time was in remission, bravely said, “Everybody says I’m going to die but that means everybody but me.”
Continuing the trip, the family also had a private audience with Pope Pius XII, where Richard was given a Papal blessing.
The excitement of the trip quickly ended when, after returning home, the boy relapsed, and the leukemia became more aggressive.
Only 10 days before what would have been his 10th birthday, Red sat in the hospital room with his boy, making plans for the birthday cookout for Richard and a handful of friends.
Leafing through a Sears-Roebuck catalog, Red told Richard to pick anything he wanted.
He chose a tent, camping equipment, and a red blanket.
“We had asked him if he wanted a party for his birthday on May 20. He said no, all he wanted was a cookout with two or three of his friends,” Red said.
What was mostly on the child’s mind was Mother’s Day, which was the next day, May 11.
Richard told his father, “Daddy, will you get Mama that red blanket for Mother’s Day? I don’t suppose they’d let me out of here with this cut on my leg.”
The little boy was referring to the IV that was connected to his leg since all his other veins had collapsed from repeated transfusions over the past few weeks.
Later that day, Valentina, 11, wanted to kiss her brother goodbye. His parents never told him he was dying but Richard’s response to his sister showed that he knew time was running out.
“You’d better hurry up,” he said to Valentina, who at about 7:30 p.m. climbed a footstool to reach her little brother to give him a little peck.
Only moments later, Richard had a final hemorrhage and fell into a coma. About an hour later Georgia said he woke and whispered his haunting last words, “I can’t see. Everything is fuzzy.”
Richard died on May 10, 1958 at 8:36 p.m., 16 months after he was diagnosed.
Red and Georgia stayed with their dead son in the room, that was scattered with his toys, the stuffed dog he had since he was six, and a bag that Richard packed, in case the family decided to go on another trip.
Georgia recalled that he “packed it himself last week before he went to the hospital.” “He said, ‘Mama, you never know when we’ll be leaving on a trip. It’s best to be ready.’”
Weeping for almost an hour in his room, Georgia said, “I had to sit there and cry. Richard wouldn’t let me cry before. He always chided me if I came in to see him with my eyes red.”
Valentina, who had returned to home after kissing her brother, was told of his death after her parents joined her at their Bel Air mansion.
“I wonder what the Big Man looks like,” Valentina reportedly said in response. “Richard knows now…By the Big Man, I mean God.”
Richard had made one last wish on Saturday.
“The highlight of his life was our audience with the Pope last year, so he asked me if I could get him a crucifix blessed by His Holiness.” Using his connections, Red had the crucifix blessed and it was en route when the boy died. Red continued, “Richard seemed happy when I told him that the crucifix was on its way by airplane. It was wonderful of His Holiness to take out of his busy schedule for our boy.”
After Richard died, the family moved to Palm Springs but kept the home in Bel Air that was used by Red when he was in LA taping his show.
On September 17, 1997, Red, who voiced Father Time in the Christmas Classic Rudolph’s Shiny New Year, died after what was described as a “long, undisclosed illness.” He was 84.
Georgia, who divorced Red after 26 years of marriage, died in 1976 and their daughter Valentina, an actor and painter like her dad, died at 76 in 2022.
Richard’s death is so tragic and we cannot imagine the pain felt by Red Skelton and Georgia Davis. Though the family is now gone, we hope they found some peace.
What are your favorite memories of Red Skelton?
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