Skip E. Lowe

Sammy Labella (June 6, 1929 – September 22, 2014), better known by his stage name Skip E. Lowe, was an American stand-up comedian, talk show host and actor.

Career
Before adopting his now familiar stage name, LaBella worked as a stand-up comic, impressionist and master of ceremonies. In 1958, he performed in a number of Pittsburgh venues, most notably Lenny Litman's Copa, where he opened for Lambert, Hendricks and Ross and Dakota Staton. The following summer saw a number of engagements in New York State, and it was in July 1959 that LaBella made his first appearance as Skip E. Lowe at Glen Casino in Williamsville, New York.

Beginning in 1978, he hosted Skip E. Lowe Looks at Hollywood, a weekly talk show for public-access cable television that aired in Los Angeles and New York City.

He appeared in the films Black Shampoo (1976), The World's Greatest Lover (1977), Cameron's Closet (1988), and A-List (2006). In 2001, Lowe wrote The Boy with the Betty Grable Legs: A Showbiz Memoir.

Martin Short cited him as the inspiration for his character Jiminy Glick.

It is estimated that Lowe conducted some 6,000 cable-television interviews from 1978 to 2014.

He was openly gay.

Death
Lowe died in Los Angeles, at age 85, on September 22, 2014, from emphysema.

According to his former website, Lowe was cremated and had his ashes scattered at Ventura Pier on November 23, 2014.