Joey Faye
Joey Faye, among the greatest of second bananas, died on April 26th, aged 87
IN THE art of making people laugh it was probably better to be the second banana than the top banana. The second banana was the clown taking the rise out of the straight man. Joey Faye was one of the greatest of all second bananas. Some people say he was one of the last. It is true that bananas of Mr Faye's background are close to extinction, surviving mainly only in the memories of those in America old enough to have seen vaudeville or burlesque or, in England, music hall. But he showed during a career of nearly 70 years that comedy is immensely accommodating to whatever audience is out there waiting to be diverted.
This article appeared in the Obituary section of the print edition under the headline “Joey Faye”
From the May 10th 1997 edition
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