Michael Jackson Funeral | 07/07/2009 4:05 pm

Lily Tomlin (aka Tommy Velour) Remembers Michael Jackson in Her Own Special Way (Video)

wOw’s Lily Tomlin has dug into her archives to share this wonderful original video in remembrance of the King of Pop.

I was touched by Michael Jackson’s sudden death as were millions of others around the world. Upon hearing the news, I immediately thought of when I first met Michael, back in the early ’70s. When he was just a teenager, Michael came with Diana Ross to visit the set of "Laugh In." He was shy, and observed everything with a sly, delighted smile.

The next time Michael and I were in the same space, it was in 1997 at Elizabeth Taylor’s 65th birthday party. I performed that evening as Tommy Velour. As Liz’s escort, Michael sat beside her, watching my performance with that same sly smile, that same shy response. I’m lucky enough to have the evening – and Michael’s laughter – caught on tape.

I’ve just now watched Michael’s child Paris at his memorial say "good-bye" to her dad and I am moved to tears for a child’s loss.

33 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Oh Ms. Tomlin. I love you! You are so talented and always make me laugh and Tommy Velour is one of my favorite characters.

By Rebecca G on 07/07/2009 9:55 pm

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Lily,

I’m so glad you posted that video. It’s so nice to see Michael enjoying himself.

As for you, I’ve loved you ever since you were "Edith Ann"!!

By Grace K on 07/07/2009 10:35 pm

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Dear Lily,

Thank you for sharing your memories with us. You are such a special woman. We are so lucky to have you! :)

Lindi

By Linda Rolf on 07/07/2009 11:19 pm

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I am about the same age as Michael Jackson, so I grew up listening to him since ABC was produced. I guess like everyone else, my opinion of him became less in this decade, but today I heard of a man I really did not know in humanitiarian efforts and what he was really passionate about. I cried when Usher, Brooke, and his brothers did, and I cried with Paris at the end, remembering the pain of losing my own Dad I felt way too early in life. I thought it was a beautiful service, as did the journalists in thier opinions by the time it was over. After all the commentary Fox News was making prior, and remembering again Michael’s problems, at the end he just said how he had almost forgotten that Michael was daddy also. RIP Michael.

By Linda Myers on 07/07/2009 11:43 pm

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Tom, Tom, Tom, oh Tommy my boy, you are the Bomb!

By Mugsy Peabody on 07/08/2009 1:55 am

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Lily - that was funny! Thank you.

I was also moved by MJ’s daughter’s words at his funeral, but at the same time felt that Michael himself would not have liked her face to be so public as he had taken such measures to hide her and his other children from the public glare. I am suprised, and not suprised, that the family decided to encourage such a public display when she could have expressed herself at the private funeral instead.

However for me it laid to rest any doubts that Michael was a good father, doubts which I had especially after reading in The Sunday Times here in the UK, what the children’s nanny has said. And I suppose that might have been one reason for the family putting her in the spotlight like that.

By Chrissy Smith on 07/08/2009 5:51 am

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Hi Lilly:) I enjoyed the Rosemary Clooney’special I worked on with you:)

Paris Broke my heart. I hope for a moment all the people who point fingers and call names seen just what it was. A memorial for a father,son,brother and friend. He was a persona but he was also a person.

By S G on 07/08/2009 7:33 am

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Michael Jackson was a man of extraordinary talent and an amazingly tender heart. He will be missed by the world. I think, however, we can all learn something from his death. In America we are “obsessed” with our idols, often forgetting that they are just as human and just as susceptible to the evils of the world as are we “regular folks.”

By Serena . on 07/08/2009 8:31 am

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that was fabulous Lily. You have serious balls!

By Chrome Toe on 07/08/2009 8:47 am

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Oh Lily, thanks so much for sharing with us!

By Tee Zee on 07/08/2009 10:49 am

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Ms. Lily,

You are and always have been truly amazing!

Love, Dice the Nice

By Dice the Nice on 07/08/2009 2:25 pm

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Fabulous Lily! Tommy Velour is one of your most hilarious and entertaining alter-egos! Elizabeth was obviously loving it all, though Michael looked very self-conscious. He always seemed ill at ease off stage to me. During yesterday’s memorial, I was most moved by the photos of Michael as a little boy - his eyes seemed so sad.

By Maurine H on 07/08/2009 7:44 pm

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Hi Lily! Lu here…I miss MJ & tommy…but you know who I miss more? Purvis Hawkins…I cannot find him on YouTube or even your website…where’s Purvis?

By Luanne Withee on 07/09/2009 2:53 pm

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Lily I just have to say your video brought back so many memories. And you are so ridiculous and sexy as that character I wonder why you ever stopped playing him on stage. He was a big improvement over some of Elizabeth Taylor's actual husbands. It was fabulous to watch you and Elizabeth as you played him. Love to you Lily girl. LIZ SMITH A FAN.

By Liz Smith on 07/09/2009 6:50 pm