Shecky Green, legendary comedian, has died at the age of 97

Cheeky Greene, a Las Vegas stand-up comedy legend, has died at the age of 97, his wife of 41 years, Mary Musso Greene, announced. Las Vegas Journal Review.

He is known for his numerous appearances and guest hosting gigs The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonGreen's work has also extended to other films and television projects, including films such as… World History, Part One And programs like fighting! And Laverne and Shirley.

Green's widow told RReview-Journal She added that her husband died of natural causes on Sunday morning, noting that “he always made humor as much as he could.”

A representative for Greene did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Greene, perhaps best known for his stand-up and as a lounge act pioneer, worked alongside the likes of Frank Sinatra during his extensive career. He appeared frequently on talk shows and game shows from the 1950s through the 1970s, and was a particular guest on Tonight show Widespread throughout Carson's tenure. for every diverseHe was a guest in more than 60 episodes of the program.

During his decades in Vegas, Green's headlining shows often highlighted his improvisational skills, as his sets were “tailored to his audience,” according to his website. Personal Biography.

Born Fred Sheldon Greenfield in 1926, Green began his career in Milwaukee by way of Chicago, later leaving for Miami when Martha Raye asked him to play for her club, his biography says. Eventually, he made it to Las Vegas, where his long list of accomplishments included introducing Elvis Presley to his first Vegas audience as Green's opening act in the 1950s.

According to the Las Vegas Journal ReviewGreen began his six decades in Vegas when he opened Dorothy Tea in 1954, and later celebrated his final shows in the city in 2011.

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Among the many notable stories about Greene's life used for the material, perhaps the most famous include him driving his car into the fountain in front of Caesars Palace and Sinatra saving his life while five men were beating him, per New York times.

On television, Greene starred as a soldier. Braddock at ABC fighting! for eight episodes, and later appeared in Scapegoat And Team A In the eighties. His film credits include appearances in the 1970s God of Love1976 Won Tun: The Dog That Saved Hollywood And Mel Brooks' hit in 1981 World History: Part One, In which he played the role of Marcus Venedictus.

Writer Allison Martino, a friend of Green's family, remembered the comedian X (formerly Twitter) As “one of the coolest comics ever.”