Victor Charles Buono (February 3, 1938 – January 1, 1982) was an American actor and comedian whose work spanned Shakespeare plays and horror movies, as well as some memorable TV roles.
Buono's grandmother, a retired vaudeville performer, encouraged his performing talents when he was a boy, and at age 18 he joined the Globe Theater Players in his native San Diego. Starting in the late 1950s he started appearing on television series and in movies. He had major roles in two films from the 1960s “hagsploitation” craze: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? and Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte. The former earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. On the series Batman (1966), Buono played the recurring role of Professor William McElroy, a.k.a. the villainous King Tut. Tut was perhaps the most popular of the villains created for the show,note and definitely the most prolific, appearing in ten episodes from 1966 to 1968.
Buono was also a popular monologist and spoken word artist, releasing a few comedy albums in The '70s. A good deal of his humor was based on Self-Deprecation, especially about his weight. His life as a gay man also provided material, although he was coyer about this aspect.
Buono died of heart failure on New Year's Day in 1982, at the age of 43. In the miniseries Feud, he is played by British actor Dominic Burgess.
Filmography:
- 1960 The Story Of Ruth: Guard (Uncredited Role)
- 1961 Judgment at Nuremberg: Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
- 1962 Whatever Happened To Baby Jane: Edwin Flagg
- 1963 My Six Loves: Gatecrasher (uncredited)
- 1963 Four For Texas: Harvey Burden
- 1964 The Strangler: Leo Kroll
- 1964 Robin and the 7 Hoods: Deputy Sheriff Alvin Potts
- 1964 Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte: Big Sam Hollis
- 1965 The Greatest Story Ever Told: High Priest Sorak
- 1965 Young Dillinger: Professor Hoffman
- 1966 The Silencers: Tung-Tze
- 1967 Who's Minding the Mint?: The Captain
- 1969 Target Harry: Mosul Rashi
- * 1969 Big Daddy: A. Lincoln Beauregard
- 1969 Boot Hill: Honey Fisher
- 1970 Beneath the Planet of the Apes: Adiposo / Fat Man
- 1971 The Man With Icy Eyes: John Hammond
- 1972 The Wrath of God: Jennings
- 1972 Goodnight My Love: Julius Limeway (Made-for-TV Movie)
- 1972 Northeast Of Seoul: Portman
- 1973 Arnold: The Minister
- 1974 Moonchild: Maitre’D
- 1978 The Evil: The Devil
- 1979 Better Late Than Never: Dr. Zoltan Polos
- 1980 The Man With Bogarts Face: Commodore Anastas
- 1982 The Flight of Dragons: Aragh
- 1960-61 Sea Hunt: Seminard/Dr. Tank Wallace (2 episodes)
- 1960 Bourbon Street Beat: Joe Leslie (1 episode)
- 1960 The Rebel: Young/Ralph Babcock (2 episodes)
- 1960 Surfside 6: Mr. Beamish (1 episode)
- 1960 Checkmate: Carlos Rodriguez (1 episode)
- 1960 Outlaws: Mayor (1 episode)
- 1960 Rogue For Hire: Sagasti (1 episode)
- 1960-63 77 Sunset Strip: Bongo Bennie/Gunther/Charlie Case/Stanison/Victor Traymund (6 episodes)
- 1960-61: Thriller: Dr. Van de Velde/Carolik (2 episodes)
- 1961 Michael Shayne: Calder Lamont (1 episode)
- 1961 Harrigan And Son: Dr. Blaine (3 episodes)
- 1961 Target The Corrupters: Winston Prentis Manners (1 episode)
- 1961 Everglades: Willie Willamette (1 episode)
- 1961 The Detectives: Gustafson (1 episode)
- 1961-62 The Untouchables: Melanthos Moon/Parnise Surigao (2 episodes)
- 1962 The New Breed: Manrique (1 episode)
- 1962-66 Perry Mason: Alexander Glovatski/John Sylvester Fossette/Nathon Fallon/Ben Huggins (4 episodes)
- 1963 GE True: Charles Colvin (1 episode)
- 1963 The New Loretta Young Show: Ralph Fraser (1 episode)
- 1965 Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea: Tabor Ulrich (1 episode)
- 1965-67 The Wild Wild West: Juan Manolo/Count Carlos Manzeppi (3 episodes)
- 1966 The Man from U.N.C.L.E.: Colonel Hubris (1 episode)
- 1966 I Spy: Karafatma (1 episode)
- 1966-68 Batman: Professor William McElroy / King Tut (10 episodes)
- 1967 The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.: Sir Cecil Seabrook (1 episode)
- 1967 THE Cat: General Burek (1 episode)
- 1967 Daniel Boone: Mr. Quaife (1 episode)
- 1969 The Flying Nun: Marko (1 episode)
- 1969 The Lucy Show: Mr. Vermillion (1 episode)
- 1969 It Takes A Thief: Mr. Kent (1 episode)
- 1970 Get Smart: Hannibal Day (1 episode)
- 1971 O Hara US Treasury: Al Connors (1 episode)
- 1971-72 Night Gallery: Vampire/Customer (2 episodes)
- 1972 Assignment Vienna: Karafatma (1 episode)
- 1972 The Mod Squad: Alexander Vlahos (1 episode)
- 1973 Hawaii Five-O: Eric Damien (1 episode)
- 1973 The Snoop Sisters: Nathan (1 episode)
- 1973-75 The Odd Couple: Dr. Clove/Hugo Lovelace (2 episodes)
- 1973 Mannix: Hamilton Starr (1 episode)
- 1976 The Tony Randall Show: Judge Bernard Gluck (1 episode)
- 1976 Ellery Queen: Dr. Friedland (1 episode)
- 1976 Alice: Mr. James (1 episode)
- 1977 The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries: Seth Taylor (1 episode)
- 1977 Man from Atlantis: Mr. Schubert (6 episodes)
- 1979 Backstairs At The White House: William Howard Taft (1 episode)
- 1980 Matt And Jenny: Hezikiah Pike (1 episode)
- 1980 Fantasy Island: Dr. Albert Z. Fell / Jack the Ripper (1 episode)
- 1980 Taxi: Mr. Caldwell (1 episode)
- 1981 Heres Boomer: Dr. Frankenstein (1 episode)
