Charles "Charlie" Dornan Charles "Charlie" Dornan , a Brockton entertainer known for his side-splitting comedy routines, died Friday at Good Samaritan Medical Center following a long illness. He was 97. He was the beloved husband of the late Gertrude (Twohig) Dornan for 44 years. Born in Randolph, he was the son of the late Charles and Margaret (Moran) Dornan. His father was an accomplished magician known as "The Handcuff King", who once performed with Harry Houdini. Charlie took violin lessons as a child, becoming a proficient violinist by the age of 12. While still in his teens, he formed a musical trio with his Brother Leo and his sister Mary. All three teens sang, and Charlie played a ukulele type instrument called a tipple. The trio performed all over the United States and Canada in theaters, hotels, and nightclubs. They lived in Hollywood for three years, and during this time they starred in a series of short musical movies. These movies were shown on coin-operated machines called "Nickelodeons", and were the forerunner of todays music videos. In the 1940s, Mary left the act to raise a family, and Charlie and Leo formed a new act called `The Dornan Brothers", with the emphasis on comedy. The brothers frequently performed at the famous Coconut grove nightclub in Boston. On November 20, 1942, they were walking across the Grove's huge main dining room. Charlie, noticing how clutter and overcrowding impeded their progress, commented to Leo, "Boy, if there was ever a fire in this place it would be a disaster." Eight days later, a flash fire sweep through the nightclub, killing 492 people. Fortunately, the brothers were working elsewhere that night. During World War II, they enlisted in the army and were Assigned to a medical unit. They were given their own jeep, with their name painted on it, and traveled all over Europe entertaining injured troops in medical tents, often dangerously near the front lines. Following the war, they became a $2500 a week act headlining at top-flight nightclubs and hotels, including the Waldorf Astoria and Plaza hotels in New York, the Desert Inn in Las Vegas, the Fontainebleau in Miami, the Queen Elizabeth in Montreal, and the Savoy in London. The highlight of their act was a routine Charlie called "The Five Man Bit. They would select five men of various shapes and sizes out of the audience. Then, having the men sit in a row a chairs on the stage, they would put ill- fitting hats and wigs on their heads. Charlie would crouch behind the men and, using his skills as a ventriloquist, speak in five different voices, while the men moved their lips silently, The act usually left the audience doubled over with laughter. New York columnist Earl Wilson reviewed the act and wrote: "Charlie Dornan is without a peer in the field of audience participation," while Johnny Carson said: "Charlie Dornan is the funniest act you can get for your show." They were guests on several television shows, including The Colgate Comedy Hour, The Dorsey Brothers Show, Keep Talking, The Jerry Lewis Telethon, and more than thirty appearances on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, Charlie starred in television commercials for Prestone Antifreeze, Ariens snow blowers, Pepperidge Farms muffins, and Buck Wheat cereal. Charlie and his wife Gertrude hosted yearly tours to Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, Hawaii, San Francisco, and Las Vegas. Thanks to Charlie's humor, the tours were so much fun that some people went on the same tour several times - more for the good times they had than the scenery. Following Gertrude's death in 1988, Charlie continued to run the tours with his, good friend Bob Kane a former Brockton City Counselor. A devout Catholic, he was an active member of Cur Lady of Lourdes Church in Brockton for more than 50 years. At various times he served the parish as a choir member, altar server, lecture, and Eucharistic minister. He and fellow parishioners Fred Hodnett, Bob Kane, Al Atwood, and Chris Papineau would frequently visit the VA Medical Center and local nursing homes, where they would bring Holy Communion to the residents, as well as entertain them. He was a member of the American Guild of Variety Artists, the American Federation of Television and Radio Performers, and the Screen Actors Guild. For the last year of his life, he was a resident of Baypointe Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center. Even as his health failed, he never lost his sense of humor as he brought laughter and cheerfulness to the residents and staff of Baypointe. Perhaps his life was best summed up by his good friend and fellow entertainer, Paul O'Donnell of Quincy "Charlie Dornan was the funniest and most talented comedian that ever came out of New England. He reached the pinnacle of success by being on national television shows. He was the finest gentleman you could meet, People felt better just knowing him. He also was a gifted dancer, musician, singer, and a joy to watch. The first time I saw Charlie perform in 1949 at John Hancock Hall, he inspired me to become a comedian. I will miss his dapper looks, his bright smile, and most of all, his hilarious sense of humor." He is survived by a son, Robert Dornan, with whom he made his home; two sisters, Mary Houghton of Quincy, and Marjorie Hopkins of Milton; his loving friend, Eleanor Fuller of South Easton, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Leo Dornan, formerly of Holbrook, and a sister, Helen Heffernan, formerly of Weymouth. Funeral Information A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday at 9:00AM in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 439 West St. Brockton. Burial with military Honor Guard will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Brockton. Calling hours in the Russell Pica Funeral Home Thursday 4:00-7:00PM.