Patrick Layton "Pat" Paulsen was an American comedian and satirist notable for his roles on several of the Smothers Brothers TV shows, and for his campaigns for President of the United States in 1968, 1972, 1980, 1988, 1992, and 1996, which had primarily comedic rather than political objectives, although his campaigns generated some protest votes for him. Paulsen was born in South Bend, Washington, a small fishing town in Pacific County. He was the son of Beulah Inez and Norman Inge Paulsen, a Norwegian immigrant who worked for the Coast Guard. When he was 10, the family moved to... California. After graduating from Tamalpais High School, in Mill Valley, Paulsen immediately joined the United States Marines during World War II. Paulsen returned home after the war and worked several jobs, including working as a posting clerk, truck driver, hod carrier, selling Fuller brushes, toiling in a gypsum mine. Later, he was employed as a photostat operator for several years. After attending San Francisco City College, Paulsen joined an acting group called "The Ric-y-tic Players" and formed a comedy trio which included his brother Lorin.
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