11/24/2025
Harry Einstein, better known as Parkyakarkus, the father of Albert Brooks and Bob Einstein (aka Super Dave Osborne), was a big star on the radio in the ‘30s and ‘40s but he is probably best known today for having one of the most remarkable deaths in the history of show business. At the Friars Club roast of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Parkyakarkus got big laughs from the celebrity filled crowd doing his usual schtick slinging Greek accented malaprops. He took his seat to great applause and promptly slumped over into the lap of Milton Berle who asked if there was a doctor in the house. Thinking this was part of the act, the audience continued to laugh and applaud until the seriousness of the situation became apparent. Being a charity fundraiser for local hospitals, there were in fact several doctors in the house, and five physicians worked together to save Einstein. One used a pen knife to cut open his chest for open heart massage while another repurposed a lamp cord as a makeshift defibrillator. Singer Tony Martin, at the behest of emcee Art Linkletter, tried to pacify the crowd by performing the unfortunately selected ditty “There’s no Tomorrow,” but it was all for naught. The festivities, like Parkyakarkus himself, were beyond saving. Arnaz closed the night by saying “This is one of those moments that Lucy and I have waited a lifetime for, but it’s meaningless now. They say the show must go on, but why must it? Let’s close the show now by praying for this wonderful man… who has made a world laugh.” Einstein was pronounced dead at the hospital at 1:20am Nov. 24, 1958
