Edna Stillwell Skelton was an American author whose fame resulted from her marital union with Red Skelton. Her ex-husband was an American entertainer who was popular because of his national radio and television shows between 1937 and 1971. He was the host of The Red Skelton Show, which began and ended on NBC, but aired on CBS for 16 years. His work on radio and television earned him stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. So, why did Edna Stillwell and Red Skelton divorce? Did they have any children? This article will uncover more details about Edna’s personal life and biography,
Edna Stillwell Skelton Bio
Edna Stillwell was born on 25 May 1915 in Missouri, United States, to George Vincent Stillwell and Dollie Belle Tarwater. She had three older siblings: Frances, Orville, and Ethel. He parents divorced at some point in her life, but little is known about Edna’s childhood and upbringing.
By 16, Edna worked as an usherette at Loew’s in Kansas City, where she met Red Skelton. Edna claimed that it took a while for Skelton to impress her, and they eventually hit things off with a kiss. They got married on 1 June 1932. At this point, the couple was struggling financially, but Edna was already working as Skelton’s comedy material writer.
Edna eventually joined the Avalon Time radio show‘s cast alongside her husband and worked on the show until late 1939. By 1942, Edna was also Skelton’s manager. In September of the same year, she separated from Skelton, giving up her job as his wife but keeping his wife as his manager and gag writer. Their divorce was finalized in February 1943, and they left the Hall of Justice’s arm in arm that day. Theirs was an amicable divorce, and Edna continued to be Skelton’s writer years later.
On 25 November 1945, Edna married Hollywood director Frank Borzage. She divorced him on 18 July 1949 for “mental cruelties.” In 1952, Edna ended her working relationship with Red Skelton.
Her third marriage was to Leon George Pound on 10 December 1963. They remained married until George died in 1976. Edna died of cancer at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance, CA, on 15 November 1982.
Edna Stillwell’s Ex-Husband’s Bio
Richard Red Skelton was born on 18 July 1913 in Vincennes, Indiana. He was the fourth and youngest son of Joseph Elmer, a grocer, and Ida Mae Skelton. Unfortunately, Joseph died two months before Red was born. His elder brothers were Denny Ishmael Skelton, Christopher M. Skelton, and Paul Fred Skelton. Red was forced to work from age seven to support his mother.
At 10, he developed his comedic and pantomime skills and became part of a traveling medicine show. His radio career began in 1937 when he appeared on Fleischmann’s Yeast Hour. He then began hosting Avalon Time in 1938 and The Raleigh Cigarette Program in 1941.
Red also appeared in numerous musical and comedy films; starring in 19 films, including Ship Ahoy, I Dood It, Ziegfeld Follies, and The Clown.
His The Red Skelton Show premiered in September 1951 on NBC, then moved to CBS and was renamed The Red Skelton Hour in 1962. CBS canceled the show in 1962 despite its high ratings, but Red moved it back to NBC, where he ended it with a regularly scheduled show in 1971.
Wrapping Up
In Red Skelton’s words, he would be a cabbage if not for Edna’s persistence and support in the early years of his showbiz.
