Charlie Hall

Inducted: 2017
Charlie, as he prefers to be called, is a versatile comedian, writer, showman, artist, and political activist. In 2012, Charlie was the first person inducted into the newly-established Rhode Island Comedy Hall of Fame. His induction was the culmination of over thirty years of laugh-making through a variety of avenues including stand-up, writing, theater, and art. He is a true Renaissance man, and some say, a Rhode Island icon.

Charlie started his stand-up comedy career in the early 1980s and quickly rose through the ranks to become a New England headliner. His clean, clever style lead to national TV appearances on Star Search, The Joan Rivers Show, Evening at the Improv, Caroline’s Comedy Hour, America’s Funniest People, The MTV Half-Hour Comedy Hour, and many more.

His cleaner style of stand-up humor also made him a favorite to open-up top acts like those of Jerry Seinfeld, Chicago, Natalie Cole, The Temptations, Sam Kinison, Frankie Valli, Reba McIntire, Charlie Daniels, Jon Stewart, and Englebert Humperdink. Actually, Charlie has opened-up for more headliners at the famed Warwick Musical Theater than any person, ever.

In 1992 Charlie created a bunch of song parodies, political musings, and localized skits that became the longest running show in the state’s history. It was appropriately named the “Ocean State Follies.” He followed that with a Bay State version called “Mass Hysteria” and co-created a local sketch show on NBC-10 called “Rhode Bytes.” For years Charlie also ran the “Rhode Island Comedy Festival,” as well as booking and managing several comedy venues, including Perwinkles, Rhode Island’s first comedy club.

In 1993, 1997, and 1998 Rhode Island Monthly Magazine voted “Ocean State Follies” as the state’s Best Comedy Show, and in 1994, 1995, and 1996 the magazine voted Charlie Rhode Island’s Best Comedian. He is truly our state’s Good Humor Man!

This multi-talented Rhode Island School of Design grad is also an award-winning political cartoonist and a TV news courtroom artist. On the more serious artistic side, he has completed numerous wall murals throughout New England. Charlie is also the publisher of two cartoon books on life and politics in Rhode Island called Hot Sketch and Hot Sketch 2.

Charlie grew up in the Elmhurst section of Providence and attended Classical High School where he played hockey. As an adult, he made the long trek to North Providence where he resided for many years in proximity to the Louisquisset Golf Club. Here his considerable talent as a golfer is often exhibited.

Charlie now operates the trendy paint party company called “Drink and Dabble,” where he teaches wanna-be-artists how to do a two-hour painting while they snack and sip cocktails at the area’s top restaurants. Bachelorhood has afforded Charlie ample time to spread his ample talents throughout both Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Now, if all of this was not enough, in 1995 Charlie penned the words for a song called “Rhode Island’s It’s For Me” (inspired by second cousin Buddy Cianci) that is now the official state song of Rhode Island.

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