Bill Saluga

American comedian

William "Bill" Saluga (September 16, 1937 – March 28, 2023) was an American comedian. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio. He was a founding member, along with Fred Willard, Michael Mislove, George Memmoli, and Patti Deutsch of the improvisational comedy troupe Ace Trucking Company.

Bill Saluga
Born(1937-09-16)September 16, 1937
Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
DiedMarch 28, 2023(2023-03-28) (aged 85)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
MediumStand-up, movies, television
GenresSketch comedy, Improvisational comedy, Character comedy
Subject(s)Self-deprecation, Everyday life
InfluencesRedd Foxx, Billy Barty, Fred Willard, Slappy White
InfluencedDavid Steinberg, Jerry Seinfeld, Robert Townsend, Tim Allen
Notable works and rolesfounding member of the Ace Trucking Company comedy troupe
created the stage character Ray J. Johnson

Saluga was best known for his cigar-smoking, zoot-suit-wearing television character “Raymond J. Johnson, Jr.”. He was famous for his catchphrase "You can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay, or you can call me Raymond J. Johnson, but you doesn't hasta call me Johnson!"

Saluga died of cardiopulmonary arrest in Los Angeles, California on March 28, 2023, at the age of 85.[1]

References

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  1. "William Saluga, Youngstown-born comedian, dies at 85 in Los Angeles". tribtoday.com. Retrieved 2023-05-06.

Other websites

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