Kalla Pasha

Kalla Pasha

Photo of Pasha in Film Fun (May 1922)
Born Joseph T. Rickard
(1879-03-05)March 5, 1879
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Died June 10, 1933(1933-06-10) (aged 54)
Talmage, California, USA
Occupation Wrestler, Vaudevillian and Screen Actor
Years active 1919–1931

Kalla Pasha (March 5, 1879 June 10, 1933) was an American professional wrestler, vaudeville comedian, and film actor active during the silent era.

Biography

Kalla Pasha was the stage name of Joseph T. Rickard, a native of Detroit.[1] He was the professional wrestler Hamid Kalla Pasha, whom the press called "The Crazy Turk" [2] before performing on vaudeville and appearing in 74 films between 1919 and 1931. Rickard's success with Mack Sennett enabled him to be a free-spender, claiming later he would often go about town with a 150 thousand dollars strapped around his waist.[3] The money did not last though, and not long afterward he was arrested for striking a man over the head with a milk bottle during a dust-up involving five-cents. As a result, Rickard was sent to Mendocino State Hospital for psychiatric care, where he would die a little over a year later from heart disease.[4][5][6]

"Married Life" (ca. 1920)
Kalla Pasha caricature far right

Selected filmography

References

  1. US Passport Application (Joseph T. Rickard ) January 14, 1915
  2. The Daily Review, (Decatur, Illinois) December 18, 1909 | Page 3
  3. Ogden Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah ) April 03, 1932 | Page 6
  4. Redwood Journal (Ukiah, California) May 27, 1932 | Page 1
  5. Ogden Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah ) April 03, 1932 | Page 6
  6. Washington Post, June 11, 1933
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