American comedian Rip Taylor has died aged 84.
The star, who was known as "The Crying Comedian" and "The King of Camp and Confetti", passed away on Sunday in Beverly Hills.
The comedian's passing was confirmed by his publicist Harlan Boll but no cause of death has currently been released.
Rip's most famous routine saw him douse his audiences in tonnes of confetti, and he was recognised for his thick handlebar moustache.
He also had a flamboyant dress sense, often choosing to don sequined suits and loud jewellery.
Rip, real name Charles Elmer Taylor Jr, was born in Washington DC in January 1935.
A survivor of child abuse, Rip worked as a congressional page before serving in the Korean War while in the US Army Signal Corps.
He first broke into the entertainment industry with appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Merv Griffin show in the 1960s.
He went on to host a number of different game shows, and was best known as the host of the $1.98 Beauty Show, which had guests compete in a pageant style format.
As well as presenting dozens of TV shows, he also acted in The Brady Bunch Variety Hour and Santa Barbara, as well as picking up smaller roles in a host of other shows.
Rip was also known as a big screen star, with roles in Wayne's World 2, Indecent Proposal, Chatterbox!, Jackass 3D and Tom & Jerry: The Movie.
Tributes have poured in as Hollywood's biggest stars remembered Rip with fondness, with Simpson's writer Tim Long leading the thoughtful messages.
Taking to Twitter, Tim wrote: "In addition to being a kind and hilarious man — AND a brave spokesperson for survivors of childhood abuse — Rip Taylor was also the subject of, for my money, the funniest Simpsons joke I’ve ever heard pitched in the room."
He continued: "It was for 'Treehouse of Horror XIX' the segment where dead celebrities rise from their graves to complain that their images were being used to sell products.
"Someone pitched using Rip Taylor, on the mistaken belief that he was already deceased.
"When it was discovered that Mr Taylor was very much alive, Marc Wilmore pitched the following, which got the biggest roar I’ve ever heard for a usable, non-filthy pitch at the Simpsons."
American actor and comedian Henry Winkler, famed for his role as the 'The Fonz' in Happy Days, tweeted: "RIP TAYLOR was an original and bursting with funny and energy .. good bye !!"
Canadian comedian Scott Thompson wrote: "Rip Taylor played Buddy Coles uncle in a long sketch we did called Chalet 2000.
"He spent a week in Toronto hanging out with my friends and we had such a blast.
"He was hilarious, gracious, tireless and brave. Thanks for the laughs Uncle Rip. It was an honour to have known you."
Despite his explosive on-stage and on-screen persona, Rip was notoriously private about his personal life.
He was briefly married to Las Vegas showgirl Rusty Rowe, but later came out as bisexual and lived his last days with long-term partner Robert Fortney.
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@trinitymirror.com or call us direct 0207 29 33033
