A Dean Martin style red carpet celebrity roast took place on Sunday, June 1 at the Beverly Hilton for one of America’s best known icons for his 80th birthday: Pat Boone.
Boone celebrated his illustrious career as a singer, actor, entertainer and humanitarian as the target of some of this nation’s wittiest and funny celebrities who turned out to roast him unmercifully.
Celebrity roasters and guests included Larry King, Shirley Jones, Norm Crosby, Tom Dreesen, Rich Little, Louise Duart, Debby Boone, Wink Martindale, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., Lee, Lou Ferrigno, Rosey Grier, Terry Moore, Michael O’Neil (Extant, CBS ), Jon Voight, Tessa Ferrer (Gray’s Anatomy), Peter Marshall, Rebecca Holden (Knightrider), Gavin Macleod, Anne Jeffreys, Chuck McCann, Teri Copley, Judy Tenuta (Comedy Central), Isadora Goreshter (Shameless), Ruta Lee, Emily Capehart (The Pledge), Susan Stafford, Bill Oberst Jr. (Criminal Minds), Estelle Warren (Planet of the Apes), Lee Dewyze (Winner of American Idol 2010) Gaius Charles (Gray’s Anatomy), and Branden James (runner up of the X-Factor 2011).
There were special tributes by Mike Love, Stan Lee, Shirley Jones, Marty Ingels, Ray Romano, Carol Burnett, and Kathy Lee.
“It was not easy to get him to give in to the spotlight for a big party like this for him,” said Lindy Boone Michaels, Pat’s daughter. “However, knowing that it will be a fundraiser for the charity founded after his grandson Ryan’s traumatic brain injury in 2001, Ryan’s Reach, he agreed to be roasted unmercifully.”
A VIP reception where sponsors had the opportunity to meet Pat Boone along with the other celebrities preceded the dinner and roast.
Along with this night of comedic ridicule, Debby Boone, Pat’s award winning recording artist daughter, performed a special birthday set for her father along with a reunion song with all 4 daughters and wife Shirley.
Pat’s beloved Harley Davidson was inside the party and auctioned off for the Ryan’s Reach charity. The bike went for $22,500.
The entire evening was dedicated to raising funds and awareness of Ryan’s Reach-The Ryan Corbin Foundation.
Ryan is Pat and Shirley Boone’s first grandchild and the foundation is named in his honor (Ryan suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2001). Because Ryan is financially secure, all donations to Ryan’s Reach are directed for the care of others.
The foundation is dedicated to the rehabilitation, retraining and support of individuals who have been devastated by traumatic brain injury (TBI).
The proceeds from the evening’s celebration, estimated close to $500,000, will enable Ryan’s Reach to continue caring for those we serve as well as addressing long term goals of establishing a group home for TBI survivors.
To learn more about Ryan’s Reach go to www.ryansreach.com
