PPB Diamond Circle inductee Connie Sawyer

Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters Board Member Christopher Thomas presented the organization's Diamond Circle Award to Connie Sawyer at the January 22, 2010 luncheon for Andy Williams. Below are Mr. Thomas' remarks introducing Ms. Sawyer:

Today's honoree is in her sixth decade of entertainment. Our honoree is a singer, dancer, standup comedian and a character actress. She's worked in vaudeville, night clubs, radio, television, motion pictures and on Broadway.

Her career started in San Francisco radio on KFRC with Al Pearce and his Comedy Gang. This led to her solo comedy act at the celebrated Club Moderne, the 365 Club and vaudeville at the Orpheum and Warfield Theatres. In 1940, she headed for New York, the William Morris Agency signed her and before long she was performing in the swankest of nightclubs and theatres: The Rueben Blue, the Blue Angel, Versailles, Café Society Downtown, The Palace, touring with Stan Kenton and his Band. She played them all.

During the war, she toured with the USO both here and abroad entertaining our troops. When vaudeville ended, our gal continued her career on radio in the long-running "True Romances." Her early television work included "Studio One," "CBS Playhouse," "The Colgate Comedy Hour" and "The Jackie Gleason Show."

In 1956, after playing London's posh "The Colony Club," she returned home, but didn't want to go on the road anymore. So, she decided to became a character actress. In no time, she was cast in the Broadway productions of "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn," "The Time of The Cockoo" opposite Shirley Booth and "A Hole In The Head." Our gal has shared the stage and cameras with such stars as Milton Berle, Phil Silvers, Bert Lahr, Jack Carter, Joey Lewis and with her mentor, the great Sophie Tucker. Then came Hollywood and working with Frank Sinatra in the film version of "A Hole In The Head".

Since that time, our honoree has made numerous appearances in such films as "When Harry Met Sally," "The Man In The Glass Booth," "True Grit" and "Oh God." Television movies include "Majority Of One," "Flight 90," and several PBS Specials. She has delighted audiences in many hit television series ranging from "Seinfeld," "Bob Newhart," "All In The Family" to "Hill Street Blues," "Murder She Wrote" and "In The Heat Of The Night." Among her many characters are: The nosey neighbor, the bag lady, the nun and my favorite…the waitress from hell!

Our honoree apologizes for not attending the last luncheon -- you see, she was working on the new Robert Downey, Jr. movie "Due Date" and while she was on the set, she was also celebrating her birthday.

It is with great pleasure that Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters presents it's Diamond Circle Award to the amazing…Connie Sawyer .

Christopher Thomas (left) presents the award to Connie Sawyer