Phyllis Diller and her fictional husband Fang

Abstract

Legendary comic Phyllis Diller carved out a career in a male dominated field by goinginto spaces where women were not typically allowed. She created a stage persona thatgave her the ability to make fun of life and society. Part of her stage act was her fictional husband Fang and his cartoon-like family members including an obese mother, an alcoholic father, a scheming brother, a tooth-pick thin sister, a half-wit uncle, a midget cousin, and a slew of other family members of various design. Relying on Diller’s 52,000 joke cards archived at the Smithsonian Institution and her videotaped performances, this paper will track the history of Fang and his family and how they fit into the comedic work of Diller. A deep dive into Fang’s real and fictional history will reveal the complex worldview Diller imparts about husbands, marriage, and men in general and about American culture and life.