Phyllis Diller: St. Louis Legend Dies at 95
The Webster Groves native has a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame in the Delmar Loop.
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Phyllis Diller, a former resident of Webster Groves who got her start in St. Louis comedy clubs, died Monday, Aug. 20, 2012. Diller turned 95 on July 17.
Diller has a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame in the Delmar Loop in University City. According to her Walk of Fame biography, she made her name in clubs like the Crystal Palace in the old Gaslight Square area of St. Louis.
She moved to the area in 1961 and lived on Webster's Mason Ave.
According to The New York Times, Diller "became famous for telling jokes that mocked her odd looks, her aversion to housekeeping and a husband she called Fang."
The paper reports she made her professional debut at the Purple Onion, a San Francisco nightclub, in 1955.
In 1992, Diller played the Wicked Witch in The Muny's production of The Wizard of Oz.
She retired from the stage in 2002.
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St. Louis Walk of Fame
6504 Delmar Blvd, Saint Louis, MO -
University City City Hall
6801 Delmar Blvd, University City, MO
Gentry Moss Moellenhpff
5:20 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
As co-chair of the Webster High student council assembly committee, I had the privilege of hosting Phyllis the day she came to the school to give a show. She did this on a volunteer, not charge basis! Her routine was very funny and her demeanor and humorous comments backstage before the show were even funnier. She was delightful and that morning with her is one of my favorite high school memories. Gentry Moss Moellenhoff, Fort Collins, CO