Randal Malone
Encyclopedia
Randal Johnson Malone is an American
actor
.
farming empire dating back to the early 19th century, but he was more attracted to working in show business
and Hollywood than managing the family industry in Kentucky
. From the age of three, he spent his summers in Los Angeles
with his grandmother, Francis Malone.
, took to summer stock
. He toured with the theater - which included several stints on Broadway
. Still, he yearned for Los Angeles and moved to the city permanently in the late 1980s, where he did nightclub acts.
twice weekly with Lucille Ball
- up until two weeks before she died - and was described by Ginger Rogers
in the National Enquirer as her longtime pal. Malone thus became more active in philanthropic pursuits, following in his grandmother's footsteps. Amongst other accomplishments, he provided much needed assistance to the Motion Picture Home
- a home for retired or infirmed actors - raising and donating money for the home and arranging for inspirational visitations from other Hollywood star
s. He also worked closely with the late "Mayor of Hollywood", Johnny Grant, securing stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
.
and Anita Page
.
In April 2006, Malone received the Hollywood Personality of the Year Award at the SunDeis Film Festival at Brandeis University
.
show for Sunset After Dark Malone was discovered by producers from MTV
who cast him opposite Carmen Electra
on MTVs 1990s quirky hit show Singled Out
. For three seasons, Malone played a variety of characters in a series of comedic sketches. Most notably was the character of "Filmstar Randal Malone" - a male version of Sunset Boulevard
protagonist Norma Desmond. Singled Out host Chris Hardwick
remarked that Malone and, particularly his character "Filmstar" was the funniest element in the show's history. After Singled Outs cancellation, Malone hosted segments for the Game Show Network
until his grandmother's health declined to the point that he had to quit the day to day schedule of television in order to care for her full time.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Early life
Malone was born as the sole living heir to a tobaccoTobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
farming empire dating back to the early 19th century, but he was more attracted to working in show business
Show business
Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz, is a vernacular term for all aspects of entertainment. The word applies to all aspects of the entertainment industry from the business side to the creative element ....
and Hollywood than managing the family industry in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. From the age of three, he spent his summers in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
with his grandmother, Francis Malone.
College years and nightclub act
Upon graduation from college, Malone, a theater majorAcademic major
In the United States and Canada, an academic major or major concentration is the academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits....
, took to summer stock
Summer Stock
For the article about the theatre genre, see Summer stock theatre.Summer Stock is a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical made in 1950. The film was directed by Charles Walters and stars Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Eddie Bracken, Gloria DeHaven, Marjorie Main, and Phil Silvers...
. He toured with the theater - which included several stints on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
. Still, he yearned for Los Angeles and moved to the city permanently in the late 1980s, where he did nightclub acts.
Philanthropic work
Malone was forced to cut back on the rigors of live performance to care for his ailing grandmother. Amongst other rare activities, he played backgammonBackgammon
Backgammon is one of the oldest board games for two players. The playing pieces are moved according to the roll of dice, and players win by removing all of their pieces from the board. There are many variants of backgammon, most of which share common traits...
twice weekly with Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball
Lucille Désirée Ball was an American comedian, film, television, stage and radio actress, model, film and television executive, and star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy and Life With Lucy...
- up until two weeks before she died - and was described by Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers was an American actress, dancer, and singer who appeared in film, and on stage, radio, and television throughout much of the 20th century....
in the National Enquirer as her longtime pal. Malone thus became more active in philanthropic pursuits, following in his grandmother's footsteps. Amongst other accomplishments, he provided much needed assistance to the Motion Picture Home
Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital
The Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital is a retirement community, with individual cottages, and a fully licensed, acute-care hospital, located at 23388 Mulholland Drive in Woodland Hills, California...
- a home for retired or infirmed actors - raising and donating money for the home and arranging for inspirational visitations from other Hollywood star
Movie star
A movie star is a celebrity who is well-known, or famous, for his or her starring, or leading, roles in motion pictures. The term may also apply to an actor or actress who is recognized as a marketable commodity and whose name is used to promote a movie in trailers and posters...
s. He also worked closely with the late "Mayor of Hollywood", Johnny Grant, securing stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
.
Film career
One of his first movie acting forays was the film Sunset After Dark where Malone co-starred with Oscar winner Margaret O'BrienMargaret O'Brien
Margaret O'Brien is an American film and stage actress. Although her film career as a leading character was brief, she was one of the most popular child actors in cinema history...
and Anita Page
Anita Page
Anita Evelyn Pomares , better known as Anita Page, was a Salvadoran-American film actress who reached stardom in the last years of the silent film era. She became a highly popular young star, reportedly at one point receiving the most fan mail of anyone on the MGM lot...
.
In April 2006, Malone received the Hollywood Personality of the Year Award at the SunDeis Film Festival at Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
.
Television career
At an ensuing autographAutograph
An autograph is a document transcribed entirely in the handwriting of its author, as opposed to a typeset document or one written by an amanuensis or a copyist; the meaning overlaps with that of the word holograph.Autograph also refers to a person's artistic signature...
show for Sunset After Dark Malone was discovered by producers from MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
who cast him opposite Carmen Electra
Carmen Electra
Tara Leigh Patrick , professionally known as Carmen Electra, is an American glamour model, actress, television personality, singer, and dancer...
on MTVs 1990s quirky hit show Singled Out
Singled Out
Singled Out was a game show that ran on MTV from 1995-1998. Each episode featured a group of 50 men and a group of 50 women competing for a date with one main contestant of the opposite sex.The original hosts were Chris Hardwick and Jenny McCarthy...
. For three seasons, Malone played a variety of characters in a series of comedic sketches. Most notably was the character of "Filmstar Randal Malone" - a male version of Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard is a street in the western part of Los Angeles County, California, that stretches from Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Coast Highway at the Pacific Ocean in the Pacific Palisades...
protagonist Norma Desmond. Singled Out host Chris Hardwick
Chris Hardwick
Christopher Ryan "Chris" Hardwick is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, musician, podcaster, television personality, and voice artist...
remarked that Malone and, particularly his character "Filmstar" was the funniest element in the show's history. After Singled Outs cancellation, Malone hosted segments for the Game Show Network
Game Show Network
The Game Show Network is an American cable television and direct broadcast satellite channel dedicated to game shows and casino game shows. The channel was launched on December 1, 1994. Its current slogan is "The World Needs More Winners"...
until his grandmother's health declined to the point that he had to quit the day to day schedule of television in order to care for her full time.