Skip to main content

Buddy Hackett Drops a Bombshell Johnny Carson by Revealing His Real Name

Two men, one in a red suit, are seated and laughing on a talk show set with a backdrop of greenery.

Hey there, fellow Johnny Carson fan! Let's take a little trip down memory lane to May 4, 1989, when Buddy Hackett was on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. Remember that time? Oh, it was a hoot!

In 1989, we had George H.W. Bush as our President. A gallon of milk costs around $2.50; a new car would set you back around $15,000. And who could forget the top tunes like "Like a Prayer" by Madonna or catching the latest episode of "The Cosby Show"? The average mortgage payment was around $800, and we were all shelling out $4 for movie tickets.

A man in a red suit jacket and blue shirt is speaking, with tropical plants in the background.

Now, let's talk Buddy Hackett! You and I both know how great this guy was. He always knew how to get a laugh, didn't he? We all knew Buddy's real name was Leonard Hacker, but did you know that he started as "Butch Hacker" before finally becoming Buddy Hackett? He was even a boxer for a bit – imagine that!

Butch, Buddy, Leonard – whatever you want to call him – he made us laugh until we cried. And those Catskills memories! Hackett's experiences there as a tumbler, and even his "delicate" first experience in his 20s, always got the crowd roaring. Oh, how we laughed when he told that story about thinking everyone would naturally start speaking with a Yiddish accent as they aged!

A man in a red suit sits while another in a gray suit gestures animatedly during a talk show.

So, before you hit play on this classic Johnny Carson clip from MadlyOdd, remember the laughter we shared during those golden years of late-night TV. Let's share that joy with others because it's not every day you get to relive such hilarious moments. Enjoy the video, and remember to like and share!

You might want to revisit Buddy Hackett. AmazonAd has a good selection for you. Each sale through our link helps us keep this place running smoothly.