Duke Mitchell (May 9, 1926 â€" December 2, 1981) was an American film
actor, slapstick comedian, crooner and independent film director of
1970s gangster movies starring himself. Mitchell often performed his
nightclub act in and around Palm Springs, California, and anointed
himself the "King of Palm Springs."Mitchell was born Dominic Salvatore
Miceli in Farrell, Pennsylvania. In 1951, he teamed with comic Sammy
Petrillo for a nightclub act. Mitchell's cabaret-style crooning and
Petrillo's manic, rubber-faced clowning bore more than a passing
resemblance to the popular team of Martin and Lewis (Dean Martin and
Jerry Lewis, whom Mitchell and Petrillo physically resembled), which
led to Lewis taking legal action. The suit was later dismissed.Movie
producer Jack Broder intended to star Mitchell and Petrillo in a
feature-length comedy. Petrillo later recalled his suspicion that
Broder never really intended to make the film: Broder expected
Paramount Pictures to pay him off, but when Paramount dropped the
lawsuit, Broder had to follow through. The resulting film was Bela
Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla, a jungle-themed comedy. Mitchell had
a small appearance in the Martin and Lewis film Sailor Beware
(1952).After Mitchell and Petrillo parted ways, Mitchell stayed in
show business, performing at nightclubs in New York, Las Vegas,
Seattle, Palm Springs, Chicago (opening for his friend Lenny Bruce),
and The Cloisters, Crescendo and Coconut Grove in Los Angeles and
began directing self-financed independent films such as Massacre Mafia
Style (1974) and Gone with the Pope (1976), which have since developed
a cult following. In 1960, Mitchell provided the singing voice of Fred
Flintstone for his friends William Hanna and Joseph Barbera on The
Flintstones episodes "Hot Lips Hannigan" and "Girls' Night Out".
actor, slapstick comedian, crooner and independent film director of
1970s gangster movies starring himself. Mitchell often performed his
nightclub act in and around Palm Springs, California, and anointed
himself the "King of Palm Springs."Mitchell was born Dominic Salvatore
Miceli in Farrell, Pennsylvania. In 1951, he teamed with comic Sammy
Petrillo for a nightclub act. Mitchell's cabaret-style crooning and
Petrillo's manic, rubber-faced clowning bore more than a passing
resemblance to the popular team of Martin and Lewis (Dean Martin and
Jerry Lewis, whom Mitchell and Petrillo physically resembled), which
led to Lewis taking legal action. The suit was later dismissed.Movie
producer Jack Broder intended to star Mitchell and Petrillo in a
feature-length comedy. Petrillo later recalled his suspicion that
Broder never really intended to make the film: Broder expected
Paramount Pictures to pay him off, but when Paramount dropped the
lawsuit, Broder had to follow through. The resulting film was Bela
Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla, a jungle-themed comedy. Mitchell had
a small appearance in the Martin and Lewis film Sailor Beware
(1952).After Mitchell and Petrillo parted ways, Mitchell stayed in
show business, performing at nightclubs in New York, Las Vegas,
Seattle, Palm Springs, Chicago (opening for his friend Lenny Bruce),
and The Cloisters, Crescendo and Coconut Grove in Los Angeles and
began directing self-financed independent films such as Massacre Mafia
Style (1974) and Gone with the Pope (1976), which have since developed
a cult following. In 1960, Mitchell provided the singing voice of Fred
Flintstone for his friends William Hanna and Joseph Barbera on The
Flintstones episodes "Hot Lips Hannigan" and "Girls' Night Out".
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