David Frye

David Frye, (AP) – Comic David Frye, whose impressions of Presidents Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson and other political figures propelled to popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, died in Las Vegas, his family confirmed Saturday. He was 77.

Frye died at his home Monday of a cardiac arrest, Clark County Coroner Mike Murphy said.

Frye’s sister, Ruth Welch of Boynton Beach, Fla., said he was a genius born comic who wrote his own material and began to imitate the neighbors in Brooklyn, NY, where they grew up.

“He had an eye for people’s movements and an ear to their voice,” Welch told The Associated Press on Saturday. “He could really get people manners and intonations.”

Among other places, Frye made in colleges and clubs across the country and on television programs like the Ed Sullivan Show “and” The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson. ”

He reached the peak of his popularity to exaggerated impressions of Nixon, with his shoulders hunched and his face tilted down. He also spent several albums Nixon before Nixon resigned as president in 1974 following the Watergate scandal.

Known for his impressions of President Richard Nixon, died in Las Vegas, New York Times. He was 77.

Frye, who was born David Shapiro, became popular in the years 1960 and 1970, when he portrayed Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, Nelson Rockefeller and other politicians in the public eye.

Frye career took off when Nixon began his presidency. Some of the television, he appeared on included The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. When Nixon resigned, the career of Frye has gradually disappeared, but he kept at it, recording comedy albums David Frye presented the Great Debate (1980) and Clinton: An Oral History (1998).

A spokesman for the coroner’s office of Clark County’s told the Times that Frye died of cardiac arrest Monday.

Frye is survived by his sister Ruth Welch, who said he got his start by imitating the neighbors while living in Brooklyn.

Comics David Shapiro was born in June 1934 in Brooklyn, NY. He has released compilations and albums such as the 1969 comedy “I’m the president,” the 1971 “Radio Free Nixon” and “Richard Nixon Superstar.” In 1973, he published “Richard Nixon: A Fantasy,” followed by “David Frye presented the Great Debate” in 1980 and “Frye is Nixon” in 1996. He was eventually featured on “Clinton: An Oral History ‘in 1998.

Frye has been a popular guest on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.” As he rose to fame while Nixon was campaigning, then it disappeared when Nixon resigned. A spokesman County Coroner’s Clark said that Frye died of cardiorespiratory failure.